Transcript American Dilemmas - St. Edward's University

American Dilemmas
Section 3
Dr. Smith
CLEARLY COMMUNICATED
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Clearly Communicated Learning
Objectives: Part I
• Through the analysis of material presented
and the writing of a critical paper on a current
social problem, each student will demonstrate
the ability to:
• Accurately describe the social, economic, and
political dimension of major problems and
dilemmas facing contemporary American
society;
Clearly Communicated Learning
Objectives: Part II
• Critically analyze social problems by identifying
value perspectives and applying concepts of
sociology, political science, and economics;
• Use knowledge and analyses of social problems
to evaluate public policy, and to suggest policy
alternatives, with special reference to questions
of social justice, the common good, and public
and individual responsibility.
OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS
COURSE CONTENT
Office Hours
• The University Requires faculty hold 5 hours a
week
• I hold 14 hours a week
Office Hours
• When
– Monday and Wednesday 10-2
– Tuesday and Thursday 11-2
– And by appointment
• Where
– Doyle 206
• Phone – 428-1294
• Email- [email protected]
ABOUT THE CLASS
From The Syllabus
• Textbooks
• Class attendance
• Expectations about Student Work
What American Dilemmas should Not
Be
• This should not be a course where you are
made to feel guilty about who you are.
• A course where the instructor preaches about
why the United States is the worst nation in
recorded history.
What American Dilemmas is
• A course that understands that no
nation/policy/government is perfect
• A course that understands that there are serious
social/political/economic problems facing the United States
• A course that examines SOCIAL PROBLEMS and their
solutions objectively and in the context of reality. This
means looking at things analytically and critically.
• We do this by using methods from sociology, political
science and economics.
What is a Social Problem
• It must harm a significant number of people
or an influential segment of the population
• It must occur frequently
• It must be able to be remedied by collective
human action (this means Government).
What is Not a Social problem
• Something that is produced by natural or
biological conditions (hair loss, earthquakes)
• Something that is purely a private issue
(outside of the direct control of government)
• Something that is a pure ethical or moral
argument (should cloning be legal?)
Social Problems need to be solved
by Social Policy
• What is social Policy?
• Types of Social Policy
– Preventive Measures
– Intervention
– Broad Social Reform
Should We Solve the Problem?
• Can We afford the Direct Costs?
• Does it create spillover effects?
• Is it Feasible?
Policy makers find that doing nothing is often
the best solution!
The American Dilemmas Paper
The Biggest Challenge
You want to pick a topic that has a
solution and decision makers are
actively trying to solve it
Vetoed Topics
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Abortion – court issue
Juvenile Court System- state issue, too many policies
Lowering the Drinking Age
Affirmative Action- high school issue, not on the agenda
Medical Marijuana/War on Drugs/legalization- too normative
Pornography Capital Punishment/Death Penalty- high school topic, 50 state policies
Same-sex marriage/Civil Unions/same-sex adoption- states have resolved this
Cloning/Stem Cell/Eugenics- ethical issue
School Prayer- Engal v. Vitale, court issue
Euthanasia- ethical issue
Obesity- no two sides, lifestyle choice, local-state policies
TV/Media/Internet Regulation- court issue
Gun Regulation – effectively dead for now (DC vs Heller)
Animal Rights/medical use of animals- not on agenda, already strict laws, ask Ron Mexico
Good Topics are Open ended
• The thesis is stated in the form of a question
because your Capstone paper explores both
sides of a controversy without bias.
• Check your topic question for neutral
language. Avoid words like “wrong,”
“prevent,” “avoid” that indicate you hold a
position on the topic.
Good Topics are Normative
• The Opposite of Empirical
• Based on what we think should be
• Usually involves the words “should” or “ought
to”
“Should the Federal Government close tax loopholes on oil companies”
Good Topics are controversial
• They do not involve symbolic politics
• There are real people (interest groups,
legislators, political parties) who care about
your topic
• The above groups will answer yes or no to
your question
Good Topics Have A Real Policy
Solution
• A political controversy without a solution, is
just Drunk Talk
– Who is/was the best president?
– A lion vs. a bear in a cage match
• Real Solutions take the form of policy outputs
(laws)
Good Topics have a clear level of
analysis
• A good topic has some level of government
actively working on it
• A theoretical “government” solution is not a
good topic
What is a unit of analysis?
• The Level of Government that has jurisdiction
over the social problem
• Not all governments are powerful in all areas
• Which means that saying the “government”
simply isn’t enough?
A Good Topic has Two Clear Sides
• You need to pick a topic that has legitimate
decision makers on both sides.
• You need to pick a topic that has
disagreement
– No legitimate decision makers are in favor of
human trafficking
What is a good Topic?
Can you answer yes to these?
• Is it being actively being discussed by legitimate
policy-makers?
• Does it have a clear unit of analysis?
• Is it not primarily an ethical dilemma?
• Does it have at least two well-articulated sides?
• Is there a legitimate policy solution to your
problem
Can you write 12-15 pages on it?
Topics That Tend Not To Work
• High School Topics
• Dilemmas from other nations
• Lopsided Topics and Culture War issues
• Conspiracy theories (short on evidence)
• Issues not subject to government regulation in some way
• Sports Issues: i.e. BCS policies, playoffs, drug testing of athletes
THE AMERICAN DILEMMAS PAPER
The Paper
This is what American Dilemmas is all about
1. Identify and discuss the history of a social
problem (Paper I)
2. Identify a normative solution to that problem
(Paper II)
3. Identify arguments for and against the solution
and discuss whether it is a moral solution
(Paper II and III)
4. Determine whether it is worth doing and how it
could be done (Paper III)
Social Problem: Paper 1
Controversy: Paper 2
1st research
the social problem
2nd research
the controversial issue
(aka the controversial solution)
Examples:
Social Problem
Controversial Solution

Immigration
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DREAM ACT

Global Warming
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CAP and TRADE

Failing Public Schools
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Race to the Top

Discrimination based on
sexual orientation

Enact tougher federal hate
crime laws.
What is a Normative Solution
• The Opposite of Empirical
• Based on what we think should be
• Usually involves the words “should” or “ought
to”
“Should the Federal Government enact a windfall profits tax on oil
companies”
THESIS QUESTION:
The controversy
• A “normative” or “should” question about a specific solution to your social
problem.
• Should be narrow and specific (this will develop)
– Unit of Analysis
– Controversial Solution
Examples:
• Should the Texas legislature prohibit Sanctuary
Cities?
• Should the city of Austin construct an Urban Rail
System?
Why The Paper?
• Practical Reasons
– Employers value writing skills
• Academic Reasons
– It prepares you for Capstone
• Personal Reasons
– a sense of accomplishment
• University Reasons
– The mission of the university
Paper Proposal
• Due in class on 2/7/12
• 5% of your final Grade
• Involves submitting 2 Parts
– Worksheet
– 2 page paper