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Rationale
The purpose of this assignment is to help you define and understand what constitutes a social problem. By reading about the problems that you consider important, you develop a better awareness of your social world. You can choose a problem in your local community, in the nation, or a more global issue that affects everyone. Writing critically about the problem you select and attempting to come up with solutions will help you clarify our own perspective and values. You will be able to look at how the problem originated and examine what can be done about it.
Instructions
- Read an article on a current social problem for a daily newspaper (local or national), a weekly news magazine (such as Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and so on), or a regularly published journal (such as Social Problems, Social Work , and so on). It does not have to be a problem that we discuss in class, but it should be an issue about which you are concerned.
- Cut out the article (or copy it) and attach it to a paper on which you have addressed all of the following questions:
- Why is this issue considered a social problem?
- When, how, and where did the problem originate?
- What other social problems are related to this problem?
- What groups are affected by the problem?
- Who is hurt by it?
- Who benefits (or stands to gain) from the problem?
- How does it affect you personally?
- What can be done, and by whom, to alleviate the problem?
- Your report should be clear, brief, and concise (no longer than two typewritten pages). You can list the questions and answer them or organize the report in a narrative form.
Grading
You will be graded on your understanding of the social problem, your critical analysis of it based on the instructions, and your ability to communicate your thoughts in writing. If you have any questions on whether a certain issue constitutes a social problem, please see the instructor.
Worksheet
A social problem is a condition that threatens the quality of life for people in a society and their most cherished values. It is a condition that a significant number of people believe should be remedied through collective action (Kornblum and Julian, Social Problems , 1998).
Answer the following questions in your paper:
- Why is this issue considered a social problem?
- When, how, and where did this problem originate? Has it been around a while? Are we just seeing it publicized more?
- What other social problems are related to this one? List all of the social problems that are related to the problem that you chose – both as a cause of it and as an effect of it.
- What groups are affected by this problem?
- Who is hurt by it? Is anyone immune?
- Think critically: Who benefits (or stands to gain) from this problem?
- How does it affect you personally? Think about your own life and how this problem intersects with it. Address this question even if you have never encountered the problem yourself.
- What can be done, and by whom, to alleviate the problem? Address all possible solutions that you can think of. Most experts might be baffled, so do not be afraid to use your imagination and to list whatever you think will work.
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