What is a commodity chain, and how does this conceptual device help us to better understand the social relations that undergird our food system? Compare and contrast the experiences of workers in the Thai shrimp industry with those in fruit and vegetable production in the United States. What similarities and differences do you see in their experiences?

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Labor and the Food System

As you learned this week, there is a disjunction between the relatively low prices consumers pay for food in the global north, and the conditions under which people in the global south labor to bring us that food. We’re exploring this disjuncture in this week’s materials, focusing specifically on what Lorr refers to as the “bottom of the commodity chain.” In a minimum of two single-spaced pages, please respond to the following questions:

First, what is a commodity chain, and how does this conceptual device help us to better understand the social relations that undergird our food system?
Second, compare and contrast the experiences of workers in the Thai shrimp industry with those in fruit and vegetable production in the United States. What similarities and differences do you see in their experiences?
Third, while this week’s materials focused on two different sets of workers in two different countries, their experiences cannot be explained in national terms alone. How might you apply what you’ve learned thus far in the course about the development of the modern food system to explain the global economic factors shaping labor exploitation in Thailand and the United States?
Finally, who do you think bears responsibility for the plight of the workers in the global south, and why?

In your analysis, be sure to engage with, provide specific examples from, and cite** all of the assigned materials from this week (this includes lectures, readings, videos, podcasts, etc.) to illustrate your points. Remember, these writing assignments are an opportunity for you to:

Demonstrate you understand the sociological concepts and perspectives examined this week;
Demonstrate an ability to synthesize information from multiple sources to make your claims; and,
Demonstrate an ability to use empirical evidence (specific examples) to support your claims.
Use the grading criteria to guide you as you write, and as always, please feel free to attend the optional discussion sections and/or sign up for office hours to get additional assistance.

Summarize Chantel Mouffe’s argument on hegemony, war of position, and agonistic politics. Discuss with your peers (each 150 words) whether you agree or disagree with Mouffe’s approach to gaining political power for social change.

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DQ 13: Hegemony & War of Position

  1. Summarize (a minimum of 300 words) Chantel Mouffe’s argument on hegemony, war of position, and agonistic politics. (Lecture Notes/videos).
  2. Discuss with your peers (each 150 words) whether you agree or disagree with Mouffe’s approach to gaining political power for social change.

 

Discuss the problem definition and formulation based on the theoretical orientation you have selected. Identify and describe two solutions from all the solutions possible. Remember, some of these solutions should stem from the theoretical orientation you are utilizing. Describe how you would implement the solution. Remember to keep the theoretical orientation in mind.

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Application of the Problem-Solving Model and Theoretical Orientation to a Case Study

The problem-solving model was first laid out by Helen Perlman. Her seminal 1957 book, Social Casework: A Problem-Solving Process, described the problem-solving model and the 4Ps. Since then, other scholars and practitioners have expanded the problem-solving model and problem-solving therapy. At the heart of problem-solving model and problem-solving therapy is helping clients identify the problem and the goal, generating options, evaluating the options, and then implementing the plan.

Because models are blueprints and are not necessarily theories, it is common to use a model and then identify a theory to drive the conceptualization of the client’s problem, assessment, and interventions. Take, for example, the article by Westefeld and Heckman-Stone (2003). Note how the authors use a problem-solving model as the blueprint in identifying the steps when working with clients who have experienced sexual assault. On top of the problem-solving model, the authors employed crisis theory, as this theory applies to the trauma of going through sexual assault. Observe how, the authors incorporated crisis theory to their problem-solving model.

In this Final Case Assignment, using the same case study you chose in Week 2, you will use the problem-solving model AND a theory from the host of different theoretical orientations you have used for the case study.

To Prepare

Review and focus on the case study that you chose in Week 2.

Use the Analysis of a Theory worksheet to help you dissect the theory. Use this tool to dissect the theory, employ the information in the table to complete your Assignment, and then submit it with your assignment.

Review the problem-solving model, focusing on the five steps of the problem-solving model formulated by D’Zurilla and the The integrated problem-solving model of crisis intervention

The writing on each slide should use bullet points, meaning no long paragraphs of written text should be in the slides.

The recording takes the place of fully written paragraphs, while the bullet points provide context and cues for the audience to follow along.

Be sure to review the Kaltura Personal Capture—QuickStart Guide item in the Learning Resources.

Your presentation should address the following:

Identify the theoretical orientation you have selected to use.

Describe how you would assess the problem orientation of the client in your selected case study (i.e., how the client perceives the problem). Remember to keep the theoretical orientation in mind in this assessment stage.

Discuss the problem definition and formulation based on the theoretical orientation you have selected.

Identify and describe two solutions from all the solutions possible. Remember, some of these solutions should stem from the theoretical orientation you are utilizing.

Describe how you would implement the solution. Remember to keep the theoretical orientation in mind.

Describe the extent to which the client is able to mobilize the solutions for change.

Discuss how you would evaluate whether the outcome is achieved or not. Remember to keep the theoretical orientation in mind.

Explain how well the problem-solving model can be used for short-term treatment of this client.

Describe one merit and one limitation of using the problem-solving model for this case.

Compare and contrast their thinking to each other. How does their approach to understanding social life to those used by Erving Goffman on one hand, and Michel Foucault on the other.

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Feminism

Our week on ‘feminism’ highlighted Dorothy Smith and Joan Acker. Compare and contrast their thinking to each other. How does their approach to understanding social life to those used by Erving Goffman on one hand, and Michel Foucault on the other.

Did the social worker demonstrate each step of the Generalist Intervention Model (7 steps)? Which stage(s) did she incorporate…give examples. Which stage(s) did she not include…why do you feel she did not incorporate the stage(s)? Identify 3-5 of the social worker’s strengths …give examples.

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Role play

Description

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alURx2HrSRg After observing the above video…discuss the following:

1. Did the social worker demonstrate each step of the Generalist Intervention Model (7 steps)? Which stage(s) did she incorporate…give examples. Which stage(s) did she not include…why do you feel she did not incorporate the stage(s)?
2. Identify 3-5 of the social worker’s strengths …give examples.
3. Identify 3-5 skills that the social worker utilized as identified in the textbook…give examples.
4. Did the social worker discuss the importance of confidentiality? Explain why or why not.
5. If given the opportunity to provide services to this family, what would you have done differently as the social worker? Explain.

review and analyze a peer reviewed journal article. Complete each section, at least one paragraph per section and summarize in your own words. Identify the hypothesis.

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Statistical Application

Directions: Students will review and analyze a peer reviewed journal article. Complete each section, at least one paragraph per section and summarize in your own words. Students may refer to their class notes or the textbook for clarity on terminologies.

1. Title of Article:
2. Summary (introduction, background about the article what is the article about, purpose, etc.):
3. Identify the hypothesis (if there is not one, formulate one):
4. Method (procedures, participates involved, techniques, instruments, way of collecting/analyzing the data, etc.):
5. Results (findings, what happened, outcome, achievement or failure, etc.)
6. Conclusion (overview of the article, considering all the facts-was the hypothesis true or false-explain, etc.):

Write a brief Literature review that sums up what previous studies have done. Describe the data that you will be using and the variables you are going to focus on.

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Sociological report

Form a sociological hypothesis/ research expectation about inequality in health, pensions, health behaviors and well-being and their link to stratification variables such as class, ethnicity, and gender.

1. You should aim to build on your Report plan using data from Lab sessions in weeks 23 and 25, the Understanding Society survey, however, it can be possible that your thinking has evolved, and you instead choose other data – describe in a sentence or two why you needed to use other data.

2. Link the hypothesis(es)/research expectation sand to existing literature (from class and/or additional sociological scholarship)

3. Write a brief Literature review that sums up what previous studies have done, max 300-400 words

4. Posit a potential mediator/moderator int his relationship.You are encouraged to posit a moderator as this is more challenging, and extra points will be given for attempting this. If not, remember that we learned to use mediators in Lab Practical Week 23.

5. Describe the data that you will be using and the variables you are going to focus on, 150-max 200 words. If needed, post a link to the where the data can be found there or from other websites from which it can be downloaded). We usually include such sections in papers because they mean that our analysis can be replicated.

B. Test your hypothesis with data

1. Create a table(s)which describes the distributions of your independent, dependent, and mediator/con founder variables. It is important to demonstrate:

i. appropriate variable choice and coding (return to previous labs for ways to recode. Remember dummy variables?).

ii. Appropriate format of descriptive statistics and/or frequencies (depending on the nature of your variable).

iii. Correct interpretation of table. Look for values in the min, max, and mean and what they say about your variables.

2. Create a table of linear regression results

i. At least two models: (1) simple or multiple regression (extra marks for multiple regression!), (2): 2 + one mediator or moderator main effect.

Remember to make explicit to the reader what your hypothesis was and reinstate, if needed, what effect you will expect from a moderator or mediator.

If multiple regression is chosen, look at Lab practical Week 25.

If a mediator is chosen, look at Lab practical Week 23.

If a moderator is chosen (extra marks!), look at Lab practical Week 25 (pages 7-8). Here you will also have to provide results for a third model that includes for the interaction effects.

ii. Correct interpretation of each model, and changes in coefficients between models (remember to look at your last two lab sessions for correct step-by- step guides to perform and interpret results).

C. Drawing conclusions from your work:

1. Is your hypothesis supported?

2. Can you provide an interpretation of why or why not?

Write an essay on how atoll dwellers in the Pacific are dealing with rising sea levels, how large manufacturing plants have affected Mexican workers and the relationships between San hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari and the state.

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Impact of global systems at a local level

For your term research paper, you will need to select a well-defined question, conduct library research, and present an analysis of your research. While the topic is relatively open, it must a) address the impact of global systems at a local level, and b) be anthropological in nature. The most straightforward way to approach this would be to consider a region or population of interest and one specific global issue that is impacting that region or population. For example, some topics to consider might be:

How atoll dwellers in the Pacific are dealing with rising sea levels.
Pollution in a specific area of the Chinese countryside.
How large manufacturing plants have affected Mexican workers.
Kurdish resistance in Turkey.
The relationships between San hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari and the state.

Consider what you have learned about the sociological imagination. Choose one of the following topics: war, unemployment, divorce, or poverty and provide an example of a public issue and a private trouble associated with the topic. Describe how the two influence each other. What characteristics are sociologists looking at when they refer to an individual’s socioeconomic status? How does the social class an individual is born into shape their life chances and choices?

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Mid Term Short Answer Questions

  1. Consider what you have learned about the sociological imagination. Choose one of the following topics: war, unemployment, divorce, or poverty and provide an example of a public issue and a private trouble associated with the topic. Describe how the two influence each other.
  2. What characteristics are sociologists looking at when they refer to an individual’s socioeconomic status? How does the social class an individual is born into shape their life chances and choices? Provide one example.
  3. Think about the functionalist perspective on culture. Based on this perspective, provide an understanding how functionalist would view one of these topics: sports, popular culture, religion. Be sure you clearly demonstrate the basic tenants of this theory when providing your reasoning.
  4. What is the difference between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism? Provide an example of each.
  5. How would symbolic interactions explain the social phenomenon of people standing in lines for days to get the latest iPhone?

Is the American Dream alive and well in modern American society? Is there mostly an equal opportunity for everyone to reach the American Dream, or are the odds stacked against certain groups in America? Explain. What obstacles and opportunities have you experienced in your own journey to achieve the American Dream? How have social structures and economic inequality impacted these obstacles or opportunities?

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The American Dream

Instructions
For this assignment, you will write a two-page essay that addresses the prompts below.

Is the American Dream alive and well in modern American society? Is there mostly an equal opportunity for everyone to reach the American Dream, or are the odds stacked against certain groups in America? Explain.

What obstacles and opportunities have you experienced in your own journey to achieve the American Dream? How have social structures (i.e., statuses, groups, and social class) and economic inequality impacted these obstacles or opportunities?

Support your essay with information from your textbook and at least one additional scholarly source. The two-page essay length does not count the title or reference pages that should be included.