SOAN 453B: SENIOR SEMINAR:
 Senior Seminar:  Issues in Contemporary Sociology:
 Social Problems in Global-Historical Perspective
 WED 2:45-5:15 AL 432
 Colgate University
 Fall 2004 Professor Thomas Hall
 Office:  408 Alumni, x7083, email:  tdhall@mail.colgate.edu
 OFFICE HOURS:  Tu 2:45-4; W 1:30-2:30 & 5:20-6, Th 12-1, & by appt
SCHEDULE:  Subject to Change!
Last Updated 10-13-04

Week 1 September 1
Introduction and Overview
I. What is Senior Seminar
II. What is a Thesis?
     What you think your topic might be:  Round I
III. Readings overview per Syllabus
IV. Overview of world-system theory, Chaps.by Hall & Grimes in A World-Systems Reader in ALUM 430
V.  Alternative Views:
A.  Clark Systems
B.  Sklair Globality
see review by Hall, Thomas D. and Erica McFadden.  Globalization: Capitalism and Its Alternatives.  By Leslie Sklair.  Journal of World-Systems Research 9:1(Winter, 2003):187-189.[http://jwsr.ucr.edu/archive/vol9/number1/pdf/jwsr-v9n1-brevs.pdf]
VI.  Examples
A.  Courtwright on "Drugs"
B.  Lappe et al on Hunger
C.  Ward et al on Women & Work
VII. What you think your topic might be:  Round II
VIII.  Planning  Readings assignment for Week 2; activities for Week 3
IX.  Name of Social Problem due September 8
X.  Annotated Bibliography Due Sept 22

READINGS for Weeks 1 & 2:

1. Hall, Thomas D.  2000.  "World-Systems Analysis: A Small Sample from a Large Universe."  Pp. 3-27 in A World-Systems Reader: New Perspectives on Gender, Urbanism, Cultures, Indigenous Peoples, and Ecology, edited by Thomas D. Hall. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. 
Grimes, Peter.  2000.  "Recent Research on World-Systems."  Pp. 29-55 in A World-Systems Reader: New Perspectives on Gender, Urbanism, Cultures, Indigenous Peoples, and Ecology, edited by Thomas D. Hall. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield  IN ALUM 430

These two chapters give you an overview of the reader and of world-system theory.   They will give you sufficient information to help you begin thinking about your social problem, and think about which subsequent chapters we will examine in depth.

2. Ward Introduction and Overview, pp. 1-22 in Women Workers and Global Restructuring, edited by Kathryn Ward.  Ithaca, NY:  ILR Press. TEXT

3.   Ritzer, George.  2004.  "Social Problems:  A Comparative International Perspective."  Pp. 3-13 in Handbook of Social Problems:  A Comparative International Perspective, edited by George Ritzer.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage. [will be in ALUM 430 by Tues 9/7]

RECOMMENDED:
4.  Pyle, Jean L. and Kathryn B. Ward. 2003.  "Recasting Our Understanding of Gender and Work during Global Restructuring."  International Sociology 18:3(Sept):461-489. [uncorrected page proofs] In ALUM 430

5.  Best, Joel.  2004.  "Theoretical Issues int he Study of Social Problems and Deviance."  Pp. 14-29 in Handbook of Social Problems:  A Comparative International Perspective, edited by George Ritzer.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage. [will be in ALUM 430 by Tues 9/7]

6.  Denzin, Norman K., and Yvonna S. Lincoln.  2004.  "Methodological Issues in the Study of Social Problems."  Pp. 30-46 in Handbook of Social Problems:  A Comparative International Perspective, edited by George Ritzer.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage. [will be in ALUM 430 by Tues 9/7]

7.  Blackman, Tim and Roberta Woods.  2004.  "Social Problems and Public Policy."  Pp. 47-66 in Handbook of Social Problems:  A Comparative International Perspective, edited by George Ritzer.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage. [will be in ALUM 430 by Tues 9/7]

READINGS FOR WEEK 2:
Student Led Discussions/Summaries on:
1.  Sklair Ch 2  ASHLEY
2.  Sklair Ch 2  KATIE
3. Courtwright Ch 1 SONIA
4. Courtwright Ch 2 ERIKA
5. Lappe Chs. 1 & 2 REED
6. Ward Ch 2 KIM
7. Ward Ch 3 AMY

Week 2, September 8
Thesis Proposal Due Sept. 15.
Annotated Bibliography Due Sept 22
I.  Continuation/conclusion from week 1
II.  "Globalization" as a social problem: SKLAIR
III. "Drugs" as a global-historical problem: Courtwright Chs. 1 & 2
.....
VI. Discussion of Thesis Proposal  due next week & Annotated Bibliography due in two weeks
VII. Pick Readings for weeks 3, 4 & 5 on basis of intros and interests

Week 3, September 15
Thesis Proposal Due
I.  Questions, follow up from previous week
II.  What is a Social Problem [Ritzer Ch 1; 2, 3, 4  rec as useful] on RSV
III. READINGS:  These will actually take us well into week 4.  I would like to get to at least #7 next week if we can.
1. Lappe Chs. 1 & 2 REED 1
2.  Lappe Chs. 3&4  Ashley 2
3.  Ward Intro:  Hall
4. Ward Ch 2 KIM 1
5. Ward Ch 3 AMY 1
6. Sklair 4 Katie 3
7. Courtwright 3 Michael 1
IV.  Another round on thesis topics & the thesis proposal
V. Discussion of & Annotated Bibliography due next week [9/22]
VI.   readings for next weeks

Week 4, September 22
Annotated Bibliography Due
I.  Questions and Issues and Announcements
II.  Readings
1.  Sklair 5  TDH
2.  Sklair 6  Katie & Ashley
3.  Ward 4 & 6  Reed
4.  Ward 5  Kim
5.  Lappe 5&6 Sonia
III.  How are topics going?
IV Reading and Scheduling Rest of Term
V. Presentation slots?

Week 5, September 29
I.  Announcements and Questions 
II. Readings
1.  Courtwright 4, 5  Amy [3]
2.  Courtwright 6  Michael [2]
3 & 4.  Sklair 7, Katie [4] & Michael [3]
5.  Sklair 10 Katie [5]
6.  Clark 1  Hall
7.  Clark CS1 Erika [3]
8.  Clark 2 Hall
9.  Clark CS2 Sonia [3]
III Reading and Scheduling Rest of Term
IV. Presentation slots?

Week 6, October 6
I.  Announcements and Questions 
II. Readings
1.  Lappe 7 & 8 Ashley [4]
2. Lappe 9 & 10 Reed [4]
3. Ward 7 Ashley [5]
4. Ward 8 Kim [4]  NEW
5.  Courtwright 7 Sonia [5]
6.  Courtwright 8 Erika [4]
7.  Clark 3 Hall
8  Clark CS3 Amy [4]
Backup Volunteers May carry over to Week 7:
L 11 &12 Erika NEW [4]
IF we can do two more they will be:
Clark 4 Hall
Clark CS 4  Michael [4] NEW
IF we can do only one more, it will be:
C9 Michael [5]
W9 OPEN
Volunteer for W9 come from Reed, Amy, Sonia
III Reading and Scheduling Rest of Term

Week 7, October 13
Introduction and Discussion of the Problem Due WEDNESDAY October 20 in Seminar.
I.  Announcements and Questions 
II. Readings
1.  Ward 8  Kim
2.  Ward 9 Reed
3.  Lappe 9&10 Reed
4.  Courtwright 9, Michael
5.  Sklair 11 Katie
Clark 5  Hall 
6. Clark CS 5 SONIA
Clark 6  Hall
7.  Clark CS 6 AMY

Week 8, October 20: 
Introduction and Discussion of the Problem Due WEDNESDAY October 20 in Seminar.
I.  Final reading reports/discussions
1. Clark 7  Hall
2. Clark CS 7 AMY
3 & 4.  Meyer et al.Ashley & Kim
4.  Lappe 171-178, Discussion Leader Erika
5.  Courtwright 10, Discussion Leader  Sonia
6.  Prisons Reed
7.  Gender Summary  Kim
8.  Sklair 12, Discussion Leader  Michael
II.  Discussion of how to write a thesis in detail, form etc.
See What is a Thesis?, Thesis Style and Format, and How to present your thesis to the seminar
III.  Commenting on Theses
IV.  Finalizing presentations 

Week 9, October 27:  individual meetings

Week 10, November 3
PRESENTATIONS: 
These presenters have drafts of the analysis, conclusion, and amelioration due the Monday before, Nov 1, and complete drafts due by FRIDAY Nov 12
Kim, Sonia, Michael

Week 11, November 10
PRESENTATIONS:  
These presenters have drafts of the analysis, conclusion, and amelioration due the Monday before, Nov. 8, and complete drafts due by FRIDAY Nov 19
Ashley, Katie, Amy

Week 12, November 17
PRESENTATIONS: 
These presenters have drafts of the analysis, conclusion, and amelioration due the Monday before, Nov. 15, and complete drafts due by FRIDAY Dec 1 OR SOONER
Erika, Reed

Week 13, November 24
THANKSGIVING, NO CLASS!

Week 14, December 1
If needed:  final presentations
Otherwise, individual meetings to discuss drafts.

Week 15, December 8
I. Brain storming problems on theses
II. Summing up
A. What have we learned about Social Problems?
B. Could/Should we have a 200, 300, 400 level course on social problems in a global perspective?
III.  Adjournment for celebration of end of seminar.

IV.  All Final Drafts due by 5pm, *Friday December 17, OR SOONER! [at end of scheduled final time: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 3-5pm].

Send comments or questions to tdhall@mail.colgate.edu  
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