1Analyzing Controversial IssuesSociology 220Prof. Pamela OliverPamela Oliver Sociology 220Plan for class General lecture on concepts Interweave with American Indian issues especially Black Hills as examples for conceptsPamela Oliver Sociology 220Issues for project 1, debate Is it appropriate to use race or ethnic profiling in policing and security enforcement? Is it OK for sports teams to use American Indian [Native American] mascots? Should U.S. immigration law be changed to allow more workers from Mexico? Should English be the only language of instruction in U.S. public schools? Pamela Oliver Sociology 220Sources We give them to you for project 1, you find them for project 2 FIRST you do research, THEN you develop an argument. ◦ NOT find sources to support your own ideas Opinionated or “biased” sources, people who really advocate each side; not just academic sources Sort your sources into “sides” and notice what claims are being made on each side. ◦ Ok to have some “neutral” sources but you also need real advocates for each sidePamela Oliver Sociology 220TWO SIDES We want opinions from BOTH/ALL sides◦ No “straw men”◦ BOTH “mainstream” (White) sources AND ethnic/racial minority sources◦ BOTH “professional” or “expert” sources AND non-expert possibly biased sources◦ You are the judge or analyst trying to understand both sides as fairly as possible, NOT the lawyer advocating for one side You need to understand why people genuinely advocate each side, what makes sense to THEMPamela Oliver Sociology 220Major Dimensions of analysis1. Factual claims: assertions about reality2. Value claims: assertions about justice or morality3. Interests: who stands to gain/lose 4. Rhetoric & Discourse: how language is used to persuade, to position the issue with respect to other issues or principlesAdded in project 21. Resources 2. PowerPamela Oliver Sociology 2202Factual Claims What people say “the facts” are Most times, the different sides disagree about facts People may make factual claims about which the evidence is non-existent, in dispute, or contrary Important to look for factual claims & the evidence supporting themPamela Oliver Sociology 220Factual Claims What people believe is true about the world *** A factual claim is an empirical statement, it can be tested against evidence and found to be true or false *** SOME factual claims are FALSE◦ There is evidence and the evidence contradicts the claim SOME factual claims are TRUE◦ There is substantial evidence in support of the claim SOME factual claims lack solid evidence one way or the other◦ There is mixed and contradictory evidence or no good evidencePamela Oliver Sociology 220Factual disputes: “cognitive disagreement” The different sides often disagree about facts◦ Direct disagreement: A versus not A, only one can be correct◦ Indirect disagreement: Each side emphasizes different facts, they might both be right (or wrong) “You don’t get to choose your own facts”—importance of evidence Look for factual claims & the evidence supporting them◦ People may make factual claims about which the evidence is non-existent, in dispute, or contrary◦ Experts are important for giving evidence about factual claimsPamela Oliver Sociology 220Facts: statistical patterns and individual experiences Social research seeks to find general statistical patterns, the “usual” experience Individual experiences are facts: what happened to you really happened◦ One personal exception does not disprove a statistical pattern◦ Your personal experience does not disprove someone else’s personal experience◦ Personal experiences may be misleading or may help explain a statistical pattern◦ Different people have had different individual experiencesPamela Oliver Sociology 220Legal facts What the law is vs. what the law should be The problem of judicial interpretations & controversies The problem of non-judicial interpretations of the law Land claims: the big problemPamela Oliver Sociology 220Facts about history What happened?◦ Historians sometimes debate what did happen e.g. differing accounts of exactly what happened at Wounded Knee in 1890 ◦ Respect for historical evidence Interpretations about which historical facts are relevant◦ Meaning & significance of Wounded Knee in 1890? Why did soldiers get medals?◦ What is the meaning & significance of Custer’s incursion into Lakota territory & his defeat by Crazy Horse?◦ What is the meaning & significance of the Santee Dakota uprising of 1862?Pamela Oliver Sociology 2203Value Claims Assertions about core principles of justice, fairness, equality, morality Both sides advocate positive values◦ Sides may invoke different values or weigh them differently◦ Sides may agree on values but disagree on how to accomplish them Some people’s core value is narrow selfish self-interest: me first Most people have general values beyond self-interestPamela Oliver Sociology 220Analyzing values about Black Hills Whose values & beliefs matter the most? How to weigh values? Spiritual values Economic values Assimilation: positive or negative? Response to facts of military defeatPamela Oliver Sociology 220Interests What people stand to gain or lose from different policies◦ Money◦ Jobs◦ Political Power◦ Prestige, sense of superiority◦ Cultural comfort: your sense of belonging or being right is not challenged People may disguise their interests under claims of general principles◦ This may be entirely unconsciousPamela Oliver Sociology 220Social Location & GROUP Interests Common social locations common or group interests◦ Social location = place in society Policies ALWAYS affect people differently, depending upon social location◦ No policy is equally good for everyone◦ A matter of balancing interests & principles. People may think what is good for them is good for everyone, genuinely unaware of others’ interests & needs◦ May even become angry at being asked to consider others’ interestsPamela Oliver Sociology 220Pamela Oliver Sociology 220Interests: Three meaningsObjective Interests: Actual circumstancesSubjective Interests: Knowledge of circumstances + valuesInterest Groups: People advocating particular policies Discuss Interests Who has an interest in title to the Black
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