Social Work 360K, Sociology 352, Anthropology 324L Professor Teaching Assistant D.J.Johnson Course Description Course Requirements Course Grades Course Readings Course Calendar Week Two: September 7 Week Three: September 12 and September 14 Week Four: September 19 and September 21 Week Five: September 26 and September 28 Definitions of Poverty (cont.): Theoretical Approaches and Their Affects * Deprivation * Culture and What it Means Week Eight: October 17 and October 19 Week Nine: October 24 and October 26 Week Ten: October 31 and November 2 Movie Viewing: November 4 Week Eleven: November 7 and November 9 Week Twelve: November 14 and November 16 Week Thirteen: November 21 and November 23 Week Fourteen: November 28 and November 30 Week Fifteen: December 5 and December 7Social Work 360K, Sociology 352, Anthropology 324L Studies of United States Poverty Unique Number: SW 64540, Soc 45638, Ant 28602 Class Time: Monday, Wednesday, 10:00 – 11:00 (Utopia Theater) Alternate Fridays, 1:00 – 3:30 (Pharmacy 2.110) Professor Laura Lein Office: SSW 3.212D Office Hours: M and W 11:00-12:30 or by appointment Phone: 471-9248 [email protected] Teaching Assistant D.J.Johnson Office Hours: To Be Announced, TA Office in Social Work or by appointment [email protected] Course Description This course will explore the implications of persistent poverty in the United States, drawing on a range of approaches including both qualitative accounts of poverty and statistical analyses. We will review the major social theories that have contributed to definitions and explanations of poverty. We will explore the kinds of approaches social scientists take to the study of poverty and the kinds of explanations that result. Furthermore, we will discuss the ethical issues that emerge from undertaking research on other people, particularly those impoverished, and then releasing the findings to them and to others. We will emphasize, in particular, the diverse groups that make up the United States and their distinctive experiences with poverty marked by gender, race, and ethnicity. In all of our studies, we will examine the impact of poverty research on current social stereotypes, social policies, and institutions in the United States. The course will draw on lecture presentations, exercises, and the viewing and discussion of images of poverty in film. At the end of the course, each student should be able to: 1. Review the basic threads of social theory that have led to current definitions of poverty; 2. Distinguish among and critique diverse definitions of poverty; 3. Discuss and critique the social science techniques that have been brought to bear on the study of persistent poverty; 4. Discuss the impact of poverty on individuals, families, and communities; 5. Define a number of key concepts in social welfare policy; 6. Relate public perceptions of poverty to the development of policy.Course Requirements The course requirements include: * Three exams: Two exams will be scheduled during regular class periods, and the third exam will be scheduled during final exams. * Four exercises exploring services for and experiences of impoverished families in Austin; * A journal of reviews of films on poverty. CLASS ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend class regularly, including the Friday film viewings. Class presentations will assume you have heard the lecture materials, viewed the films, and completed assigned readings. The lecture notes will be provided to students each week, after the lectures, on the course web site. However, these are notes: If you do not attend the lectures, the notes will not make much sense. Students missing a class will be responsible for consulting with either the faculty member or the teaching assistant about catching up with material that was missed. FILMS: Films reflecting the portrayal of poverty in film will be presented on alternate Fridays. Students missing a film will be responsible for arranging to see it at another time. TESTS: Two tests will be given on regular class days, and the final will be given during the regular final exam period. Each test will include both multiple choice questions and short essays. JOURNAL ENTRIES ON POVERTY: In the course of the semester, students will respond to four exercises related to the experience of poverty. Some of these will involve visits to a community site; some will respond to in-class exercises; some will involve research on services available for low-income families. JOURNAL ENTRIES ON FILM: We will be viewing seven films in the course of the semester, and students will respond to each film with an answer to questions specific to that film and also drawing on materials from class. Course Grades Grades for each assignment will carry the following weight toward the final grade. First Test 15% Second test 15% Final test 25% Journal Entries 5% each, for a total of 45%All assignments must be typed and turned in on time on paper at the beginning of the class when they are due. Assignments may not be turned in through e-mail or the course web site. No late assignments will be accepted, but the lowest two journal grades will be dropped (including a zero if the assignment was missed). Make-up exams will only be given in the event of a serious illness or emergency, and documentation is required. Final grades will be assigned according to the following scale: 90 and above = A; 80-89.5 = B; 70-79.5 = C; 60-69.5 = D; below 60 = F. All assignments must be submitted (except for the two dropped journal grades) in order for a grade to be assigned. Course Readings The required textbook is: Diana M. DiNitto. 2000. Politics and Public Policy. Longman. Supplementary readings are also assigned each week as noted in the syllabus. Readings will all be available electronically on the course web site. Additional readings may be added periodically. The course web site is on Blackboard, and it will be demonstrated during the first meetings of the class. It includes a forum for asking questions of the faculty, an electronic grade book, access to the lecture notes for each class presentation, as well as access to supplementary readings. Announcements concerning the course will also be made on the web site. Students in the class are responsible for checking the web site regularly. The formal announcement