Spring 2025 - SA 200W D100
Power, Conflict and Change in Canadian Society (SA) (4)
Class Number: 2605
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Madelyn Prevost
madelyn_prevost@sfu.ca
Office: AQ 5069
Office Hours: Friday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Via: In person and zoom
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Examines Canadian society from the perspective of the social sciences. Students apply sociological and anthropological concepts to analyze issues in modern societies, focusing on Canada as a case. Topics include class structure, the nature of Canada's population, regional variation, gender relations, multiculturalism, and colonialism. Students with credit for SA 100W are not eligible to take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course explores and scrutinizes the myths, assumptions, and ideologies underlying Canadian society, the role of power in maintaining them, and the modes of resistance that oppose them. Through developing a “sociological imagination” and practicing critical thinking, reading, and writing skills, students will critically evaluate texts, media, and discourses that surround key issues in modern society, including: colonial legacies; racism, immigration, and multiculturalism; queer and trans rights; labour; capitalism, neoliberalism, and the meritocracy; disability justice; and the climate crisis. Using Canada as a case study, this course draws on current and local issues to understand broader structural forces using sociological and anthropological perspectives.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- Critique representation of Canadian societal values in mainstream media using relevant sociological and anthropological theory
- Challenge longstanding myths about Canadian fairness with reference to specific historical and contemporary evidence
- Identify significant challenges facing Canadian society with reference to course material
- Effectively write about key issues in Canadian society
Grading
- Weekly Online Discussion 20%
- Current events group presentation 15%
- Participation 10%
- Essay Proposal 15%
- Peer Review 10%
- Final Essay 30%
NOTES:
Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.
Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:
A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Jessica Antony, Wayne Andrew Antony, and Leslie Samuelson, eds. (2022) Power & Resistance: Critical Thinking About Canadian Social Issues, seventh edition. Fernwood Publishing.
Additional required reading, viewing, and listening available in Canvas modules each week.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.