(CRJU/SOCI369 Fall 2007)
This course examines the relationship between alcohol, drugs and crime. We will begin with a discussion of the chemical properties of drugs, where they come from, and how they impact individual and group behavior. Next is a history lesson about the shifting cultural ideals and practices concerning mood-altering substances in the United States from the latter 1800s to the present. Lectures and readings will review the political, economic, and social factors that produced the major pieces of drug legislation shaping United States policy today. Next is a review of the leading indicators of alcohol and drug consumption. Comparing rates of substance use between diverse population sub-groups is important for dispelling misconceptions about the problem and creating effective policy. From here, we move onto theoretical perspectives, which help us better understand substance use and abuse in society and how to deal with it. Our focus then shifts to the many parallel consequences associated with substance use and abuse. Specifically, we will study the relationship of alcohol and drugs to health-related problems—HIV, STDs and violence—and to crime. We will review our country’s and other’s responses to such problems and the individuals involved. We then turn to a review of prevention and treatment programs that attempt to preclude or terminate substance abuse. Harm reduction (e.g., decriminalization and legalization) strategies will be considered. Class subject matter will be presented from a sociological perspective that highlights the political, economical, and institutional influences on the alcohol, drugs, and crime problem in the U.S. and abroad. Problems among individual abusers, users, and offenders will be studied from this more macro-oriented perspective.
Total Class points = 400 points
The University of Delaware’s peer institutions include Rutgers University, University of Iowa, and University of Minnesota. Dr. Anderson will perform at this level and expects the same from students. Therefore, this course will require considerable investment. Dr. Anderson takes the course seriously and has invested a lot of time in its preparation. She is responsible for consulting students about coursework during office hours, grading exams and papers within a reasonable timeframe (i.e., typically one to two weeks), and preparing stimulating and informative lectures. Dr. Anderson will communicate with students via email occasionally- making class announcements and transmitting readings. Therefore, students MUST regularly check their UDEL accounts for class notices. Dr. Anderson will return student emails between 9am and 6pm—Monday through Friday. Students are responsible for attending class regularly and on time, being prepared for class, exams and assignments (this includes reading and studying the materials by the dates listed on the syllabus), thinking pro-actively about course material, and taking responsibility for their own learning. They are also responsible for proper classroom decorum and professional interaction with Dr. Anderson. Students’ grades will be based on four multiple choice exams (200 points), four group assignments (100 points) and one 1,500 word research paper (100 points). Three 100 exams comprise 75% of your class grade. Each is based on a given part of the course. They are not cumulative. They will consist of 50 multiple choice questions (1.5 points each) and one 25 point essay question. All exam questions will be taken from information covered in your book, lectures, internet readings, and audio-visual information viewed in class. The exams will be administered during the first half of class, with students remaining for the second half to complete the group assignments (see below). Students are required to write a 1,500 word paper, i.e., about 6-8 pages. Topics and research questions must be approved by Dr. Anderson by the first week in October. Your papers will be due in class during the last week of the semester. Please see the schedule below for the exact date. Papers must be type-written, double-spaced with conventional margins (one inch all around, with 12 point font), and paginated. Shorter and significantly longer papers will be penalized. Only stapled printed copies of the papers will be accepted. Thus, students cannot email or provide a disc/cd/drive of their work for grading. Late papers will be penalized at five points per day, including weekend days. Papers must contain a title page (with paper title and student’s name, social security number, and codename), a 1,500 word body of the paper, and a reference section. Papers MUST come complete with a reference section that follows the Chicago style of referencing for the social sciences. Sources MUST be academic or scientific in nature and MUST be found on one of your library’s academic databases. Use of information from websites/pages is forbidden and will be penalized. The only exceptions are government pages with a .gov URL. Students can use no more than two of these as sources. Your paper must include cites in the body of the text (where appropriate) and corresponding full citations in a reference section at the end of the paper. You learned about this in your English writing class. Failure to provide adequate referencing will penalized. Further guidelines for the papers will be discussed and distributed in class.
At the beginning of some classes, Dr. Anderson will distribute a short quiz with questions on the assigned readings for that class period. Students will answer the questions for possible extra credit points. Usually, the questions will be multiple choice items, but may also require short answers. Students will, therefore, be able to accrue extra credit points as long as they stay up to date on their assigned readings. This will also better prepare them for exams. There are no make-up provisions for extra credit. These are “extra” points not a formal part of your class evaluation. Concerning class lectures, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes, handouts and assignments if he or she has missed class or does not understand something. The following also apply:
Aug 28-29 Sep 4, 6, 11 Sep 13 Sep 18-20 Sep 25 Sep 27 - Oct 2 Oct 4 Oct 9-11 Oct 16-18 Oct 23-35 Oct 30 Nov 1-6 Nov 8-13 Nov 15, 20 Nov 22 Nov 27, 29 Dec 4 Dec 6 Dec 11 |
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