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 ideasNOT 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 JobsPolitical PowerPolitical 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 PeopleInformation 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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