Syllabus

Seminar: Social Psychology - Social (In)Justice

47.473
Spring 2016
10-Week Accelerated Course

General Course Information

Instructor:
Jana Sladkova, Associate Professor University of Massachusetts Lowell
Course Chat Schedule: Every Thursday 7-8 pm EST
E-Mail address (for use only when Blackboard is down):
jana_sladkova@uml.edu
Course Description:
This course introduces you to theoretical, philosophical, and experiential
frameworks for thinking about social justice. It includes an examination of the
experiences of diverse groups, especially traditionally oppressed groups and
individuals. This course is designed to engage you in a process of introspection
and self-examination about issues such as racism, sexism, classism, and
homophobia. Emphasis will be placed on challenging our own worldview and the
way it fits into institutional oppression. In the end of the course, you should be
able to identify where you stand in terms of race, gender, sexuality, etc. You
should also be able to hear and understand people from other points of view, and
engage in constructive discussion on those issues.
EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT LEARNING:
Students will demonstrate knowledge of and/or skill in the majority of the
following criteria:
1. The purpose, context and audience for writing.
2. Demonstrate clarity in writing using style that is well-suited to the context of
the discipline and assignment, including appropriate voice, tone, and levels of
formality.
3. Selecting compelling and appropriate content.
4. Organizing and advancing a written argument and coherently supporting that
argument with evidence.
5. Citing source materials according to the appropriate disciplinary style, when
necessary.
6. Delivery of originally composed material in a PPT presentation.
7. Identifying moral questions as a distinct type of question.

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8. Identifying, analyzing and defending ones own attitudes and beliefs towards
key societal issues.
9. Evaluating the impact of actions taken by individuals and organizations that
have made or attempted to bring about change for social good.
10. Designing and implementing a project that addresses a community need,
explaining and defending the importance of that project from a moral
standpoint.
11. Applying moral reasoning to concrete ethical problems in their social context,
showing an awareness of the competing values at stake and the implications
of the moral decision.
12. Evaluating a solution, considering the history of problem, logic/reasoning
behind the solution, the feasibility of the solution, and the impacts of the
solution.
13. Identifying the diversity and commonality of moral values across cultures.
The Psychology department has determined that this seminar will satisfy each of
the following Core Curriculum Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs):
Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE), with each of the following expectations:
o Identifying moral questions as a distinct type of question about right and
wrong conduct. We will be examining hiring practices of companies in
terms of race, sexual orientation, etc. Social psychological research shows
that bias often influences hiring decisions to the detriment of minorities.
We will be asking ourselves how it is possible that this is taking place at
this time and place. We will discuss the morality of our own biases.
o Evaluating the impact of actions taken by individuals and organizations
that have made or attempted to bring about change for social good. We
will study the Fair Trade movement and read a number of academic
articles that evaluate its effectiveness to date in different contexts.
o Identifying, analyzing and defending ones own attitudes and beliefs
towards key societal moral issues. Students will be examining their own
biases in the context of this society, their family, community, school, etc.
Students will track how their (mostly unconscious) biases surface in their
everyday behavior and how it impacts others. They will assess their own
willingness and ability to change their behaviors.
Written and Oral Communication (WOC), with each of the following expectations:

Demonstrate clarity in writing using style which is well suited to the context
of the discipline and assignment, including appropriate voice, tone, and
levels of formalitystudents will prepare a major term paper that adheres
to the conventions of APA style.
Selecting compelling and appropriate contentthe paper must be based
on multiple relevant sources from scholarly and scientific publications in
Psychology and related fields.

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Organizing and advancing an argument and coherently supporting that

argument with evidencethe paper will have to present and argue in
support of a specific thesis, supported by appropriate scientific evidence.
Citing source materials according to the appropriate disciplinary style,
when necessaryall sources used in course requirements will have to be
carefully cited in accordance with the requirements of APA style.
Presenting findings of research to the rest of the class using PPT
Contribute to class discussion on weekly basis

This course counts as a Social Science (SS) under General Education

requirements, which apply to non-Psychology majors admitted to the university
prior to Fall 2015 and to all students who are admitted through Continuing
Education. Students admitted on or after Fall 2015 to the University (i.e., on
campus, day students) must meet Core Curriculum requirements for graduation,
rather than General Education (note that the Core Curriculum does not apply to
students in the division of Continuing Education yet). Under the Core Curriculum,
non-Psychology majors may count this course toward the breadth of knowledge
distribution as a Social Science (SS) Perspective. For more information, please
see: http://www.uml.edu/Academics/undergraduate-programs/Gened

Student Responsibilities:
During this course you should:
Read assigned material each week. (Required.)
Watch films/videos when assigned (Required.)
Read online lecture notes when presented. (Required.)
Respond to prompts/questions about a topic weekly (Required.)
Reply to another students post weekly (Required.)
Read everyones comments and replies weekly (Required.)
Respond to questions that arise from your post weekly (Required.)
Complete midterm exam in Week 5. (Required. This exam is worth 12% of
your course grade.)
Write a short paper on a topic assigned to you from a list of topics on
this syllabus (Required. Worth 10% of the course grade.)
Conduct a literature review on a selected topic (Required.)
o Submit 9 academic sources on agreed upon topic. (Required.
Worth 2% of the course grade.)
o Submit most important points of the sources. (Required. Worth 5%
of the course grade.)
o Submit a basic/short outline of presentation/paper on your chosen
topic based on your sources. (Required. Worth 5% of the course
grade.)

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Submit a detailed outline of presentation/paper. (Required. Worth

6% of the course grade.)
Create a PowerPoint Presentation on your topic. (Required. 10-12 slides.
Includes notes section with text that would have been spoken out during
an in-person presentation. Worth 10% of the course grade.)
Write a final paper (Required. Based on your research work and
presentation. Worth 20% of the course grade.)
Take final exam in week 10. (Required. Worth 12% of the course grade.)
Participate in weekly chat session. (Not required.)
o

Required Texts:
Hurst, C. (2012). Social Inequality: Forms, Causes, and Consequences.
Pearson; 8th edition.
Prerequisites for the Course:
General Psychology & Research I
Course Materials Release Day:
Each week of this course begins on a Monday and ends on a Sunday, except
Week 10, which ends on Saturday and Week 1 whish starts on Tuesday. On
Monday mornings (12:01 am ET), new online material for each week will become
accessible to you. The course calendar at the end of this syllabus provides
additional details about the course schedule. Your midterm exam will be
assigned during Week 5; you may take the exam at any point during that week.
Your final exam will be assigned during week 10; you may take the exam at any
point during that week.

Interaction Guidelines
Overall Guidelines:
During the semester, we will interact with each other on Discussion Boards, Mail,
and Chat. Your participation is the most important part of this course. Without it,
the course would really not be meaningful. Due to the topic of the course, we will
inevitably run into sensitive topics and will have differing viewpoints influenced by
different life experiences. Thus, please treat others the way you would want to be
treated, professionally and respectfully. Harassment will not be tolerated. Please
stay on topic. Should any concerns arise, please post about it to all of us and
explain what you think/feel was offensive. Use the I format i.e., I feel that;
Marys post made me think of, etc. Feel free to privately contact me as well if you
feel too uncomfortable to discuss with the whole class.

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Discussion Board (Discussion Board on the course menu):

Discussion Boards provide a forum for students to discuss topics at hand, to ask,
and to answer questions. When posting, make sure the subject of the thread
expresses what your post is about. It will make our discussions easier.
Every week, I will post prompts/questions regarding our topic and particular
reading or video. You will need to reply to my prompts/questions and share other
thoughts on the topic. In addition, you will need to comment on someone elses
reflection. Your comment should be specific with the reading in mind. Comments
should be analytical and capable of extending learning. If someone asks you a
question about your post, you need to respond to it within 2 days.
Mail (My Messages)(Mail on the course menu):
You are always welcome to Mail me with any questions or concerns that may
arise. Please do so utilizing Blackboards internal email system (Mail My
Messages). Please do not use your own, external email. You can expect to hear
back from me within 24 hours. Please check your messages at least every other
day, so you do not miss any important course correspondence.
It is best to post most of your questions to the Discussion Board. By posting in
the Discussion Board, everyone can benefit from the answer to your question,
and other students may know how to solve the problem. Mail is best reserved for
private, personal matters that are not appropriate for class-wide discussion.
Chat (Chat on the course menu):
Chat is voluntary for this course, but I highly recommend it in order for you to get
the most out of this course. It is a "real time" discussion of issues relating to the
course. For this course chat will take place weekly on Thursdays during the
course from 7pm 8 pm Eastern Time. While questions are welcome and
encouraged, please note that software, syllabus or assignment questions and
issues should be directed to the Discussion Boards.
We will be using Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing for chat. It is an
audio, video, and text-based chat tool. I will be using all 3 features. Feel free to
turn on your microphone and web-cam if you have one, or, if you'd prefer, you
can simply use your keyboard and chat in a text-based mode.
To access the chat room, click on the Chat tool in your Course Menu, and then
the link to the chat room itself.

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Chat room guidelines:

Students are welcome to chat amongst themselves, but please keep the
subject matter related to the course material.
When you are "talking" to someone in particular, please begin your statement
with that person's name, followed by a colon (if typing). For example, if you
wanted to ask John Smith a question, your statement would look something
like: "John: what do you think about..."
Netiquette
Netiquette stands for Network Etiquette. It refers to proper behavior while
interacting online. The golden rule of netiquette is essentially to treat your
classmates as you would want to be treated. Please be polite and considerate.
Be careful about how your words can come across because misunderstandings
can be common online. Feel free to use emoticons to show your tone.

Description of Assignments:
Discussion

Large part of this course is discussion of the topics we will be reading and
watching videos about.
Every week, I will start a discussion on the covered topic. You will need to
contribute to the discussion every week utilizing the reading, videos, and your
lived experience. The contribution should be between 150-300 words and should
be posted as a new thread on Discussion Board. All of my prompts/questions
need to be addressed in your discussion contribution.
You will have to comment/respond to someone elses post each week as well.
Your comment should be made with the reading for that particular topic in mind.
Comments should be analytical and capable of extending learning. They should
not be vague or solely expressing agreement or disagreement. They must be
respectful of the original comment.
If someone asks you a question regarding your post, you must answer with 2
days.
This is the bare minimum. I hope that the discussion will be richer than that
Your original comment must be posted by Thursday (11:59pm, EST) of each
week. Your reply must be posted by Saturday (11:59pm, EST) of each week
unless stated otherwise.
Short paper
At the beginning of the semester you will be assigned a topic from the syllabus
about which you will write a short paper. This is a reflection on the topic and
assigned materials and should be written from the I point of view. I am not
looking for a chapter summary here. Rather, I would like to know what surprised
you, what you think the author misrepresented, how your life experience reflects

Social (In)Justice / Online Accelerated Course / Summer 2015

the authors views or how it does not. The short paper should be minimum of
700 words and should be submitted through the Assignment tool.
Each short paper must be submitted by Sunday at 11:59pm EST on the week
BEFORE the topic is discussed. For example, if we are discussing race week 6,
the paper must be submitted by the Sunday of week 5.
They should be uploaded using Blackboards assignment tool. No direct
quotations are permitted; the paper must be entirely in your own words.
Midterm Exam
This exam will be due at the end of Week 5 (it must be completed by February
21st at 11:59pm EST) and will test your knowledge of the material covered to this
point in the course. It will include 30 multiple-choice, T/F, and open-ended
questions and you will have 60 minutes to complete it once you start it. When
completing this exam, you may consult your notes and the course readings, but
you are not permitted to consult other people nor other sources. (Stay away from
Wikipedia! Take my word for it! Itll only lead you astray on this stuff!) This exam
will be worth 10% of your final grade. It will be posted and completed on
Blackboard.
Research project/Literature Review
You will work on a research project during the semester. You will begin by
selecting your top choice from this list by 1/31 via Blackboard mail:

You will have a task to complete almost every week for the project. The
culmination of your work will be a presentation and a final paper all on the same
topic. (see below)

Gay Rights/Abuses in Russia

Islamophobia in the U.S.A.
Womens Rights/Abuses/Feminism in China
Race relations in Germany
Current caste system in India and its effects on socio-economic
opportunities in India
Genocide in Rwanda its origins, impacts on current society,
reactions/interventions from other countries, etc.

Upon having a topic you need to start your research, which is basically a
review of some existing academic literature on the topic. You are
responsible for finding and submitting a list of 9 academic sources. The list
of sources must be in APA style. Each source needs to be followed by its
official abstract. In the upper right corner please write your name. Refer to
the Sample Assignment folder in the Start Here folder for an example.
The list is due in the end of week 3 of class (February 7th, 11:59pm EST).

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Once I approve all your sources, you will be asked to read them and to
submit the most important points of each source, points that you will likely
use in your presentation and final paper. Submit it via Blackboard
assignment tool. It is due in in the end of week 4 of class (February 14th,
11:59pm EST). Refer to the Sample Assignment folder in the Start Here
folder for an example.

Once I approve of your main points, you will create a fairly simple outline
for your presentation and paper based on your sources and their main
points. Refer to the Sample Assignment folder in the Start Here folder for
an example. Submit it via Blackboard assignment tool. The outline is due
in the end of week 6 (March 6th, 11:59 EST).

Once I comment on your short outline, you will create a detailed outline of
the presentation/paper. Submit it via Blackboard assignment tool. The
detailed outline is due in the end of week 7 (March 6th, 11:59 EST).

Presentation
Once I have approved your detailed outline, you will prepare a PowerPoint
presentation. The presentation should be 10-12 PPT slides. In addition to the
slides (which should not be very crowded), the presentation should include
Notes section where you write out the text that would be spoken should you
present the PPT in person. It should be submitted via Blackboard assignment
tool. It is due on Sunday of week 9 (March 27th, at 11:59pm EST).
Final Research Paper
For your final assignment, you will write up the research you have done and
created a presentation on. The paper must be 14 pages long and include title
page, abstract, main body of the paper, and bibliography, all in APA format and
12 point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins on all 4 sides of the paper, double
spaced. The paper will be due on the last day of the course (Saturday, April 2nd
at 11:59pm EST). This final assignment will be worth 20% of your final grade. It
should be uploaded using Blackboards assignment tool. Refer to the Sample
Assignment folder in the Start Here folder for more details.
Final Exam
This multiple-choice and True/False exam will be due at the end of Week 10 (it
must be completed by Friday, April 1st, at 11:59pm EST) and will test your
knowledge of the material covered from week 6 to the end of the course. It will
include 30 multiple choice, True/False, and open-ended questions and you will
have 60 minutes to complete it once you start it. When completing this exam, you
may consult your notes and the course readings, but you are not permitted to

Social (In)Justice / Online Accelerated Course / Summer 2015

consult other people nor other sources. (Stay away from Wikipedia! Take my
word for it! Itll only lead you astray on this stuff!) This exam will be worth 12% of
your final grade. It will be posted and completed on Blackboard.

Final Grade Calculation

Requirement
Weekly Discussion Contributions (9 weeks,
each max 10 points)
Weekly replies (9 weeks, each max 10 points)
Final Research Paper
Research Presentation (1 slide max = 5 points)
Midterm exam
Final Exam
Short paper 1
List if academic sources
Main points of sources
Short outline
Detailed outline
TOTAL

Points
90 points
90 points
120 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
20 points
5 points
10 points
10 points
15 points
510

A total of 479 (94%) points or better will earn an A, 464 (91%) - 478 an A-, 449
(88%) - 463 a B+, 428 (84%) 448 a B, 413 (81%) 427 a B-, 398 (78%) 412
a C+, 377 (74%) 397 a C, 362 (71%) 376 a C-, 332 (65%) 361 a D+, 306
(60%) 331 a D, a total below 306 will result in a failing grade of F.

General Policies
Late policy:
Late assignments will be docked 1/3 of a letter grade for every day they are late.
Failure to complete any assignment (including weekly posts) will result in 0
points for the assignment.
Academic Integrity Policy:
UMass Lowell Online students are expected to be honest and to respect ethical
standards in meeting academic assignments and requirements. A student who
cheats on an examination or assignment is subject to administrative dismissal.
Please visit the Academic Integrity Web site for specific details regarding this
policy.

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Extra Credit:
Post your answers on discussion board the last week of class on the last topic.
This is optional. I will look at this extra credit in case someones grade is right
between two grades.

10

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Course Schedule

Week

1
1/19
1/24

2
1/25
1/31

Readings, videos

Assignments
Icebreaker due

Chapters 1 & 2: Class, Income, and Wealth

Wealth Inequality in the U.S.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM

Chapter 3: Poverty and Welfare

Video: Homeless Homed
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/lntv3q/the-homelesshomed

Chapter 4: Status Inequality

2/1 2/7

4
2/8 2/14

5
2/15
2/21

6
2/22
2/28

7
2/29 3/6

8
3/7 3/13

9
3/21
3/27

Chapter 6: Sex and Gender Inequality

Video:: Wage Gap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsB1e-1BB4Y

Chapter 7: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and

Inequality
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/my-lifewithout-gender-strangers-are-desperate-to-know-whatgenitalia-i-have
Film: Becoming Chez
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAf0xEtLZso

Chapter 8: Racial and Ethnic Inequality

Ted Talk: Verna Myers
https://www.ted.com/talks/verna_myers_how_to_overco
me_our_biases_walk_boldly_toward_them?language=en
#t-757465

Racial and Ethnic Inequality Continued

Film: The Color of Fear (provided by instructor)

Chapter 11: Consequences of Social Inequality

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 1/21 11:59

pm & Reply due 1/23 11:59 pm)

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 1/28 11:59

pm & Reply due 1/30 11:59 pm)
Topic of research project submitted (due 1/31, 11:59
pm)

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 2/4, /11:59

pm & Reply due 2/6, 11:59 pm)
List of academic sources for group work (due 2/7
11:59 pm)
Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 2/11 11:59
pm & Reply due 2/13 11:59 pm)
List of main points of sources (due 2/14, 11:59 pm)

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 2/18, 11:59

pm & Reply due 2/20 11:59 pm)
Midterm exam
(due February 21st, 11:59pm EST)

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 3/3, 11:59

pm & Reply due 3/5 11:59 pm)

Simple outline of presentation (due 3/6, 11:59 pm)

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 3/10, 11:59
pm & Reply due 3/12 11:59 pm)
Detailed Outline of presentation due (3/13, 11:59 pm)
Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 3/24 11:59
pm & Reply due 3/26, 11:59 pm)

Film: Unnatural Causes (provided by instructor)

th

Contribution to Discussion (Comment due 10/29 ,

st
11:59 pm & Reply due 10/31 , 11:59 pm)

Chapter 12: Consequences of Social Inequality

Film: Unnatural Causes (provided by instructor)

11

PPT presentation (due 3/27 , 11:59 pm)

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10
3/28 4/3
(ends on
Saturday)

Chapter 15: Justice and Legitimacy

Ted Talk : Lee Mun Wah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp5SNpCtiWk

12

Final Exam (due April 2nd, 11:59 pm)

Final paper
(due April 3rd, 11:59pm EST)