Sociology Class
Students will select and analyze one of the following books (not previously read), in order to identify and track contemporary policy issues and their impact on the lived experiences of individuals and communities:
· Desmond, M. (2016). Evicted: Poverty and profit in the American city. Broadway Books.
· Land, S. (2019). Maid: Hard work, low pay, & a mother’s will to survive. Hachette Books.
· Vargas, J. A. (2018). Dear America: Notes of an undocumented citizen.
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to explore a text that is broadly read (beyond the clinical or technical lens of policymakers, policy analysts, and academics) and consider how it contributes to our understanding of policymaking decisions and their impact and consequences. This assignment gives students the opportunity to examine and evaluate the impact of one or more social welfare policies in the everyday lives of the individuals and communities they intend to impact and to apply knowledge about policymaking, analysis and evaluation to a specific and contemporary social welfare policy issue.
Knowledge
This assignment is designed to help students expand their knowledge and understanding of one or more contemporary social welfare policies, to examine intended and unintended consequences of those policies, and to seek and evaluate evidence from multiple sources.
Skills
This assignment will also help students practice skills necessary for policy analysis, evaluation and advocacy, including the following:
· Identify and describe social welfare policy/ies at the local, state, and/or federal level that aim to address or resolve a social problem and/or policies that played a role in the creation or perpetuation of a social problem
· Assess how social welfare policies impact well-being, service delivery, and access to social services
· Analyze struggles over equality and equity as they relate to contemporary social problems
Tasks
Drawing on the themes and ideas discussed in class and in assigned readings, write a 3 to 5 page analysis of, and reflection on, the book and its value to policymakers and policy advocates. Incorporate assigned readings from class, as pertinent, in addition to at least two additional scholarly sources. Use 1-inch margins, double-space, and APA guidelines to cite sources within the text and include a separate reference list (no need for APA-style running head, title page, or abstract).
The purpose of this paper is to draw from this text to examine and evaluate the impact of an identified social welfare policy in the everyday lives of individuals and communities. In doing so, you may consider some of the following questions:
· What is the main argument of the book? How does the author support the argument?
· How are social problems identified and discussed, and which social welfare policies and programs have been developed as responses? How do these reflect past social welfare policies and programs?
· How do the identified social welfare policies impact the everyday lives of individuals?
· What dynamics of power, privilege, and structural oppression can be seen in the text? What groups are disproportionately impacted by the policy, and how is this connected to racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ageism, ableism, xenophobia, and/or transphobia?
· How might the author’s experiences and social identity have shaped the text and argument?
· Are there narratives or perspectives missing from the argument that would complement it or contradict it?
· Why should policymakers care about this book? What are the implications of this book for social workers and other social welfare policy advocates?
· How did this book inform and/or change your own position on the policy issues at hand?
Criteria for Success
· Paper is well-organized, clear, free of typos and grammatical errors
· Main arguments are clearly presented and supported throughout
· Sources are appropriately integrated throughout the paper and are cited using APA style
· Content indicates synthesis of ideas, in-depth analysis and demonstrates original thought and support for the topic
