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Social Problems
Social Problems
August 15, 2024

The Social Problems Resource Collection highlights a number of resources suitable to Introduction to Social Problems. 

A fountain pen writing on paper
Jeff Shelton
Exploring Policy Solutions to Today’s Problems
August 23, 2024
Subject Area(s):
Applied Sociology/Evaluation Research, Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems, Policy Analysis, Public Policy, Social Change, Social Welfare/Social Work
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 300, College 400
Class Size(s):
Medium, Small
Abstract:

Through feedback and revision, this writing assignment will help students develop writing, library research, and critical thinking skills. This assignment consists of three submissions over two topics. The first brief requires two submissions: an initial and a...

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A stack of newspapers
Matt Reid
Individual v Structural Frames of Social Problems: News on Cooking, Eating, and Obesity
May 21, 2024
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems, Medical Sociology, Qualitative Methodology
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This activity has students replicate Merin Oleschuk’s (2020) content analysis study which demonstrated how our culture favors individual-level causes and solutions to larger social problems in the context of the obesity epidemic. The study analyzed news articles...

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Kyla Walters
Planning "Real Utopias" through Federal Spending
June 18, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Social Welfare/Social Work
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
The late sociologist Erik Olin Wright’s work on "real utopias" highlights actualized examples of social transformation. In this class activity, the concept of real utopias offers students a way to creatively envision how emancipatory alternatives might abound. This...
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Stephanie Marie Baran
Let’s Build a Prison: Exploring Structural Functionalism
June 4, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Social Organization
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This in-class activity centers around how students understand the creation and construction of prisons within the United States. Suited for any level of sociology or criminology courses, this activity could be utilized in a criminology course or in a sociology...
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Zach Rubin
Panel Discussions – A Gentler Introduction to Debating Social Problems
February 21, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This activity is a group presentation without group work that will take place over the middle segment of the course. It happens in two stages: one where students will create discussion questions for some of your classmates to answer, and one where students will...
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DaShanne Stokes
Rule Making, Rule Breaking, and Power Assignment
November 25, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Political Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
Laws have a profound and complex impact on our lives and those around us. In this assignment, students work with a fellow classmate to write a short, collaborative paper in which they will evaluate their experiences or perspectives with a law of their choosing in...
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Stephanie Medley-Rath
EVICTED READING QUIZ QUESTIONS
August 1, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assessment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
I assign Evicted in Introductory Sociology. We read the book throughout 3-4 weeks of the course. I do not lecture on Evicted, but instead, I place students in small discussion groups. They discuss the book in their group for 15-25 minutes, and then we discuss the...
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Stephanie Medley-Rath
Evicted Activities
August 1, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
I assign Evicted in Introductory Sociology. We read the book throughout 3-4 weeks of the course. I do not lecture on Evicted, but instead, I place students in small discussion groups. They discuss the book in their group for 15-25 minutes, and then we discuss the...
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Amy Baumann Grau
Relativity of Deviance
April 8, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Deviant Behavior/Social Disorganization
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
A group based activity that challenges students to think about the relativity or degrees of deviance through manipulation of the context in which the deviance occurs. Students are exposed to many examples of the concept of the relativity of deviance and thus reflect...
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Rena Zito
"Why Don't They Just Leave?": An Immersive Role-Playing Activity on Intimate Partner Violence
March 9, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Family
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This in-class activity requires students to take on the role of an individual making decisions about whether to stay or leave an abusive relationship. It is designed to demonstrate the constrained choices that complicate leaving decisions, thereby addressing a common...
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