UW-Madison SOC 220 - Analyzing Controversial Issues

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1Sociology 220Prof. Pamela OliverPamela Oliver Sociology 220PO4 Is it appropriate to use race or ethnic profiling in policing and security enforcement? Should US sports teams be prohibited from using Native American names, logos or using Native American names, logos or mascots?  Should U.S. immigration law be changed to allow more workers from Mexico and other countries? Should English be the only language of instruction in U.S. schools? Pamela Oliver Sociology 220 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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 220 We want opinions from BOTH/ALL sides No “straw men” BOTH “mainstream” (White) sources AND ethnic/racial minority sourcesBOTH “professional” or “expert” sources AND BOTH “professional” or “expert” sources AND non-expert possibly biased sources You are the judge or analyst weighing both sides fairly, NOT the lawyer advocating for one side You need to understand why people genuinely advocate each side, what makes sense to THEMPamela Oliver Sociology 2201. 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 220 General lecture on concepts Discuss some college admission issues as examples for concepts Move into broader college admissions issues NOTE: These concepts will ALSO help you have tools for understanding what is happening in disagreements in class discussionsPamela Oliver Sociology 220Slide 1PO4 2/2/10Pam Oliver, 2/2/20102 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 220 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)“Y d ’t t t h f t ”“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 220 Assertions about core principles of justice, fairness, equality, morality Both sides advocate positive values Sides may invoke different values or weigh them differentlythem 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 220 Interest as a social science concept is different from casual usage NOT “I’m interested in modern art” NOT “I’m interested in him” Specifically refers to what you stand to gain or lose from a particular policy or social arrangement This is generally obvious to sociology, political science, economics majorsPamela Oliver Sociology 220 What people stand to gain or lose from different policies Money JobsPolitical Power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 220 Common social locations  common or group interests Social location = place in society Policies ALWAYS affect people differently, depending upon social locationpgp 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 2203Objective Interests: Actual circumstancesSubjective Interests: Knowledge Pamela Oliver Sociology 220Subjective Interests: Knowledge of circumstances + valuesInterest Groups: People advocating particular policies  The words that are used, how the issue is compared to others The two sides usually use different words and examples Often purposeful, sometimes unconsciouspp , Evoke emotions: anger, sympathy, fear, compassion Ties to larger religious, political or philosophical belief systems Non-ethnic example: pro-life vs pro-choice. Different ways of framing what abortion is “about” This isn’t bad: it is how you persuade othersPamela Oliver Sociology 220 Easier to “see” it when you disagree with it Train yourself to “see” the rhetoric on “your” side Helpful if groups include people with different blifbeliefs “Neutral” or “scientific” language is ITSELF a rhetorical stragegyPamela Oliver Sociology 220 The ability to control a situation or outcome.  Varies with the object of the situation. Institutional control Electoral control (votes) Court decisions Economic powerPamela Oliver Sociology 220 The things that help you get power or what you want Money PeopleInformation channelsInformation channels Allies Public opinion (support) Organizations, networks: support collective action These resources support collective action, collective action helps you change power situationsPamela Oliver Sociology 220 Open discussion of different concerns (~10 minutes) Specific collection of arguments for & against


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UW-Madison SOC 220 - Analyzing Controversial Issues

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