Discovery Seminar DSP 110-001

Can Money Buy Happiness?

Exploring Social Inequalities and Social Justice

Dr. Joanna M. Badagliacco

Office: 1501 POT

Phone: 257-4335

Email: jmb@uky.edu

Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Teaching Assistant: Alecia Fields

Ms. Fields’ office hours: Wednesdays 12 to 1 p.m., 224 Funkhouser

Ms. Fields’ email address is: Alecia.Fields@uky.edu

Course meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11-12:15, Room 211 CB

Associated UK101 course: UK101-065, Wednesdays 11-1:50, 345 CB

Course Description: A seminar is defined as a “group of supervised students doing research or advanced study, as at a university” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1996). In this seminar we will explore issues of social inequality and social justice. We will examine poverty in Kentucky, in particular families experiencing financial and residential distress. Participants will learn about core concepts used in Sociology to help us interpret the situations that we observe. We will explore issues regarding poverty, including such topics as who is poor, how individuals define “family,” patterns of interpersonal relationships, childhood experiences, kin support, parenting, family violence, substance abuse, education, employment, and access to medical resources. Students will examine and contrast urban and rural poverty, as well as how U.S. poverty is part of the global picture. There will be readings, films, short papers, a field trip, and oral participation.

Course Objectives: By the completion of this course you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of (i.e., be able to discuss using a sociological approach) the topic of family poverty in a global perspective, U.S. society and, in particular, in Kentucky. You will learn about sociological research, and you will use analytical techniques in your work. In addition, you will strengthen your skills in reading, writing, comparing, critically examining, evaluating, and summarizing journal articles, readings, and other textual materials.

Required Readings: 1) please purchase the following books, which is available at the university bookstores or on-line.

1) Ehrenreich, Barbara, 2002. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

2) Currie, Janet M. 2006, The Invisible Safety Net: Protecting the Nation’s Poor Children and Families

3) You will also have readings on-line and receive readings in class.

Course Requirements and Grading:

Your grade will be based upon a 500 point scale, and will be determined using several measures. Note: Instructions on assignments mentioned below will be fully detailed in separate handouts.

1. Readings: You are expected to read all of the assigned readings before the due date, and be prepared to discuss them in class.

2. Collaborative work/Participation: Attendance and participation in class and collaborative work and discussion is worth up to 50 points (10% of your grade). Please note that these points are NOT automatic.
   
   Participation in the seminar includes having done the readings before we discuss them in class (see the schedule) and being able to discuss them and other issues in class, and doing in-class assignments satisfactorily. You are responsible for all reading assignments, even if we do not fully discuss the topic or article in class. Just coming to class does not ensure that you will receive any points; you are expected to have done the readings and to participate in class, group, and team discussions. If you are shy or have some special need, please talk to me about it.
   
   Your attendance at all class sessions is essential, and I will take attendance. If you cannot make it to class, please contact me (electronic mail is a good way), and explain why you will be out. It is assumed that if you cannot make it to class, it is for a very good reason, such as an emergency or serious illness See the handbook Student Rights and Responsibilities, which is also on-line at [http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/code/].
   
   
3. Other issues about participation:
   a) The class will be divided into working groups fairly often during the semester. You will work together throughout the semester, in various ways. b) We will be using email together as a class group. You are required to use your UK email for this course. All messages will be sent to your UK account and you are expected to send any mail to me or the teaching assistant from your UK account.
   
   
4. Class Etiquette
   Members of the course are expected to respect each other. Sometimes we will differ with regard to our philosophical, religious, or political understanding of an issue. It is fine to offer differing opinions but always be sure to show respect for another’s view.
   
   
5. Office visit: Each student is required to have at least one office appointment to meet with me before the midterm of the semester. Of course, you are always welcome, so please feel free to contact me and stop by my office during my office hours noted above.
   
   
6. In-class Assignment: There will be one in-class project, worth 75 points (15% of your grade that will take time over several class periods. Anything you do not finish in class you must complete outside of class time. There is also a short paper attached to this project, which you will do on your own.

7. Practicum/service/internship: Students are required to spend at least 5 hours working at one or more community service projects beyond projects that we might do together. As Kahil Gilbran (1883-1931), among the most important Arabic language authors of the early twentieth century once wrote: “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Note: sorority or fraternity projects DO NOT count toward this requirement. I have lots of ideas (as I’m sure you do) on how to do this service. You may do this collaboratively with other students but it is not necessary to do so. You will receive 5 points toward your grade for every hour spent in service, up to maximum of 25 points. There will be a separate handout on this part of the course.
   
   
   
8. Onepagers: (Okay, so I coined a new term…..) You will be assigned 10 short one-page essays as a way for you to reflect on your readings, our discussion, experiences in service work, the assigned and other readings, films, topics, issues under discussion, points raised in class, reactions to presenters, new ideas, etc. You will be asked to consider what is important in the materials, think critically, analyze your observations, and integrate your experiences into a sociological perspective. Onepagers will be spread throughout the term, and each is worth 10 points, for a total of 100 points, or 20% of your grade.
   
   For Onepagers and all other work that you hand in to me: Please use the folder that I have provided. Always return the folder to me with all the previous work included. I would expect one page minimum, using 12 point type, with one inch margins, with spacing of 1.5 lines (that is, not single spaced, and not double spaced).
   
   
9. Final Paper. Each participant will write a final paper. Details to follow! There is no final exam.
   
   
10. Field Trips: We will be taking a few field trips over the semester, depending on my ability to schedule them. These are NOT optional. Please put this in your planner now: We will have an all day 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. trip to Eastern Kentucky on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12. Details will follow. Field trip participation is worth 10% of your grade (50 points).
    
    
11. Extra Credit Savings Bank: There will be ways for you to earn extra credit points toward your overall grade. Each student will have a virtual savings bank with me into which she/he can put extra credit up to 25 credits. You may not use extra credit as a replacement for any of the assignments or examinations. What constitutes extra credit will be determined by me. For example, attendance at a public lecture, or participating in Discovery Seminar Program activities.

Summary of points:

Points Percent of grade

1. Exam 1 75 15
2. Onepagers 100 20
3. The Blues & the Whites 75 15
4. Service work 25 5
5. Participation 50 10
6. Field trip participation 50 10
7. Final paper 125 25

Total 500 100%

Grades will be determined as follows:

A = 90% or better = 450 - 500 points

B = 80 - 89% = 400 - 449 points

C = 70 - 79% = 350 - 399 points

D = 65 - 69% = 325 - 349 points

E = less than 65% = 0 - 324 points

Note: Policies related to excused absences, cheating/plagiarism, withdrawal, incompletes, final exams and pass/fail options can be found on-line or in your copy of Student Rights and Responsibilities. As students and faculty in the University of Kentucky, we are all responsible for adhering to these policies.

Schedule, Readings, Important Dates

Wk		Date		Readings, Activities
1	R	Aug. 23	Introductions all around: the Course, Syllabus, Students, Teaching Assistant, Professor, UK101, UK	Please read the syllabus in detail and note any questions you have
2	T	Aug. 28	How do we think about the poor?	Read Ehrenreich p. 1-49 Onepager # 1, due in class Aug. 30
2	R	Aug. 30	How can do we think about the poor?	Continue Ehrenreich book, p. 52-119 or 121-191 Onepager # 2, due Sept. 6
3	T	Sept. 4	Who is poor in our world?	You can help explore internet for information, bring to class
3	R	Sept. 6	Introduction to Theory	Instead we did some theory here, so no writing just yet!
4	T	Sept. 11	Who is poor in America? How do we measure the poor in America?	Various websites
4	R	Sept. 13	Who is poor in America? A closer look at what we know	Maps and statistics Onepager #3, due Sept. 18
5	T	Sept. 18	Dr. Tannenbaum re: Field Trip Measuring Poor Americans	Lies, Damn Lies, & Poverty Statistics handout
5	R	Sept. 20	Guest speaker: Ginny Ramsey, Catholic Action Center	“After Welfare” by Katherine Boo Handout Onepager #4 due Sept. 27
6	T	Sept. 25	Urban & Rural Poverty Discuss: Urban Working Poor: “After Welfare” by Katherine Boo
6	R	Sept. 27	Discuss: Rural Poverty: “One Man wants to buck trend, leave dole behind”	“One Man wants to buck trend, leave dole behind” handout
6	R	Sept. 27	7 p.m. Film Motherland Afghanistan, Kentucky Theatre; stay for discussion with filmmaker	You are expected to attend. Onepager # 5, due Oct. 2
7	T	Oct. 2	Can Money Buy Happiness? The Blues and the Whites	In class project begins
7	R	Oct. 4	Theories of poverty, review	Review for exam
8	T	Oct. 9	Exam 1

Schedule, Readings, Important Dates

8	R	Oct. 11	Preparing for Owsley Co.; a look at the county	Onepager #6, due Oct. 16
8	F	Oct. 12	All-day Field Trip to Boonville	Mandatory trip; no exceptions
9	T	Oct. 16	De-constructing poverty in Eastern Kentucky; review of our trip
9	R	Oct. 18	What is a “safety net”? Working to survive: Does Money Buy Happiness?	Currie, introduction and Ch. 2
10	T	Oct. 23	Healthcare Issues	Onepager #7, due Oct. 25 Healthcare
10	R	Oct. 25	Healthcare Issues	Currie, Ch. 3
11	T	Oct. 30	Food Insecurity	Onepager #8, due Nov. 1 Food Insecurity
11	R	Nov. 1	Food Insecurity	Currie, Ch. 4
12	T	Nov. 6	Housing: Are we entitled to housing?	Onepager #9, due Nov. 8 Housing
12	R	Nov. 8	Housing: Are we entitled to housing?	Currie, Ch. 5
13	T	Nov. 13	Children, Childcare and Poverty	Onepager #10, due Nov. 27 Childcare
13	R	Nov. 15	Childcare and Poverty	Final Paper handed out, due Dec. 13
14	T	Nov. 20	Research Day	Currie, Ch. 6; Duncan, Conclusion, handout Ehrenreich, 193-221
14	R	Nov. 22	Thanksgiving Day - holiday	Happy Thanksgiving!
15	T	Nov. 27	Social Policy Implications of Poverty: What’s next?	Work on your Final Paper
15	R	Nov. 29	Social Policy Implications
16	T	Dec. 4	(How) can there be social justice in America? The world?
16	R	Dec. 6	Last class: Happy Holidays! Do well on your examinations!
16	R	Dec. 13	Final Paper: Due by noon; papers will be accepted earlier	Don’t delay!