MODULE 4: FINAL: ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS

The final module will look at the different ways that social change can be brought about, including grassroots activism, conventional politics, and nonviolent protest. We will also discuss well-known movements that have occurred. The idea is to examine the landscape of America and determine what small steps we can take that will bring us closer to realizing James Truslow Adams’ American Dream.

Reading/Viewing: Our reading and viewing list may include but is not limited to:

  • Watch Requiem for the American Dream by Peter D. Hutchison
  • Multiple readings from Political Activism edited by Tom Landsford
  • “Inequality and Economic Growth” by Joseph Stiglitz
  • “The Real Problem with Immigration...and the Real Solution” by Kirk Johnson and Tim Kane
  • “Paths to Social Change: Conventional Politics, Violence and Nonviolence” by Brian Martin

In-class Dialog, Group Discussion, and Exploratory Writing: We will begin this module writing a response to the question “Which social problem have you been most effected by? As we progress through the module, we will examine the many ways in which Americans and others have brought about social change. This module will require more writing, as we will be walking ourselves through the final project. To help facilitate our class discussions and project development, we will find and share current examples of social change from local, national, or international sources. From these examples, we might ask ourselves:

  • What makes this social change?
  • How did people make change or how do they intend to make change?
  • Who is affected by the change being made? Is it the ones creating the change or others?
  • Do you think the change that is being made is positive or negative?
  • What are some of the potential pitfalls that might be created from this change?

Reading Response Blog Postings: All readings will be assigned as homework. These homework assignments will not be considered complete until you have added a reading response post to the course blog if one is assigned for that reading. This is an informal posting but should be a thoughtful response, and posts will be taken up at length in class.

Final Essay: For the final essay, you will choose a social problem that is important to you or that you are most affected by—a problem that is restrictive and prevents a particular group, including you, from realizing something of significance in your life. The problem does not have to be as big as those discussed during the course. As long as there is a marginalized group component, it is likely an acceptable problem. This final assignment is an argument essay of 5–8 double-spaced, typed pages that will include:

1.  An introduction: a brief explanation of the problem and a statement of your claim to solve the problem

2.  Background information: the foundation for proving your argument; for example, summary of works being discussed, definition of key terms, explanation of key theories

3.  Supporting evidence collected from research that suggests your solution is a viable one (include alternate views as well)

4.  A conclusion that restates and readdresses your claim

OR you may elect to complete the final assignment titled “Engaging in Activism: Three Small-scale Action Steps.” If you think this is something you’d like to do, early notification is required, as it will take some time to complete the steps. For this assignment, you will take three action steps to address a social problem you choose. The problem could be poverty, homelessness, violence, access to health care, school lunch, or child welfare. The action steps could include writing a letter to the editor, donating or volunteering with a local nonprofit, joining a local group or student organization, attending a protest or rally, or lobbying your legislator about a current bill. Once these steps are completed, you will write a reflective paper explaining what they did and the significance of your actions for the group as well as for the community. The significance of your actions should be based on outside information we’ve discussed or you’ve researched. The reflection essay is 3–5 double-spaced, typed pages that will be turned in with other documents such as letters to the editor or literature collected from organizations. More discussion in class.

Click here to download assignment sheet.