Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2024 - SA 340 D100

Social Issues and Social Policy Analysis (SA) (4)

Class Number: 2037

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Lindsey Freeman
    lindseyf@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: Mondays, 1:00 – 2:00 pm [or by appointment]

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 101 or 150 or 201W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

How do environmental challenges, the contradictions of capitalism, and histories of violence shape contemporary life? How do social issues affect our identities, communities, and sense of belonging? Students learn how to wield sociological and anthropological concepts and theories through clear and analytical communication and writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

In this course we will grapple with social issues by thinking with the affects and effects that truck along with the vicissitudes of belonging, exclusion, visibility, and invisibility that categorize our social relationships. Beginning with W.E.B. Du Bois, we will ask the often “unasked questions” such as “How does it feel to be a problem?” Through our questioning we will consider contradictions of capitalism, institutional challenges, and bureaucratic fatigue. We will pay close attention to hierarchies of power and the variances of ableism, colonialism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and classism they produce.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The aim of the course is for students to sharpen their understanding, imagination, and critical thinking with respect to social issues and analysis. With this focus, students should be able to wield sociological and anthropological concepts and theories, and to communicate and write clearly and analytically about social issues.

Grading

  • Participation (includes: showing up, being a good citizen of the classroom and Canvas discussion space, active listening, reading your own work and responding to others) 10%
  • Responses in Canvas discussion page 30%
  • Longer paper of exactly 3,000 words. 50%
  • Path of research essay, a short paper that describes the path of reading, research, and sources that accompanies the longer paper, like an ur-text. 10%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw 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 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

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All texts will be available online through SFU library or will be uploaded as pdfs on Canvas.


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