SOC 320 Ash Courses / soc320dotcom

1. SOC 320 Ash Courses / soc320dotcom

2. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 1 DQ 1 Public Policy (Ash) SOC 320 Week 1 DQ 2 Republic or Democracy • Public PolicyConsider and explain the following statement, “Public policy is both what government does and what it does not do” (Theodoulou&Kofinis, 2012). • What determines whether policy is enacted or not? • Who holds the power and authority to make and change public policy? • Republic or Democracy? “…and to the republic for which we stand…” Review the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, discuss republicanism and democracy in U.S. government. Explain what this means in regards to public policy, social issues and its effectiveness and efficiency. Do you feel that our current government structure very closely approximates the intent of the Founding Fathers? If not, should there or should there not be an effort to return to our origins?

3. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 313 Week 1 DQ 1 Ability, Disability, and Chronic SOC 320 Week 2 Assignment Education in the United States (Ash) • Describe at least three reasons for studying gender and communication. Why is it beneficial to learn and understand about gender and communication in our society? • Cancer. Prior to completing this discussion, read Chapter 9 in the textbook, the “Introduction to the Miller Family” document, and review any relevant Instructor Guidance.

4. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 2 DQ 1 Policy Process Theories (Ash) SOC 320 Week 2 DQ 2 Problem Identification and Agenda Setting (Ash) • Policy Process Theories Describe the Stages-Heuristic theory of the policy process. What are the stages of policy development it includes? • Problem Identification and Agenda Setting Examine and evaluate the problem identification and agenda setting stages of the policy process in this week’s required reading assignment.

5. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 2 Journal Reflections on Education Policy (Ash) SOC 320 Week 3 DQ 1 MADD Grassroots Movement to Policy (Ash) • Reflections on Education Policy • For your journal entry, you will explore aspects of your personal experience and/or beliefs regarding significant public policies and what you have learned in this course. As you reflect this week, please discuss the following questions: • What are the current major issues relating to education? • How do you feel about related policies? • MADD: Grassroots Movement to Policy Given that grassroots organizations often do not have the expertise, stature, or other resources of larger, more institutional stakeholders, what tools do grassroots organizations have that enable them to successfully influence policy?

6. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 3 DQ 2 Social Security (Ash) SOC 320 Week 3 Journal Reflections on Federal Welfare Policy (Ash) • Social Security Public surveys indicate that ¾ of younger Americans think that Social Security is a “dead program.” What would make them have such a dim view? Does the strength of the American Association of Retired persons (AARP) play into this perspective? What are some alternatives to the program as it is now? Should alternatives be considered and why? • Reflections on Federal Welfare Policy • For your journal entry, you will explore aspects of your personal experience and/or beliefs regarding significant public policies and what you have learned in your readings. As you reflect, please address the following questions: • What are the major current federal welfare issues?

7. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 4 DQ 1 Lobbying (Ash) SOC 320 Week 4 DQ 2 Health Care Reform Explained • LobbyingIt is often said that lobbying is both an art and science. Imagine that because of your knowledge of the legislative process, you have decided to become more active in attempting to influence the legislative process. First, identify a current legislative issue being considered for policy adoption. • Health Care Reform ExplainedWatch Health Reform Hits Main Street: The YouToons Explain the New Health Law. Then, review the information available at Illustrating Health Care Reform: How Health Insurance Coverage Will Work.

8. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 4 Journal Reflections on Health Care Policy (Ash) SOC 320 Week 5 DQ 1 Obama and Romney on Immigration (Ash) • Reflections on Health-Care Policy • Watch Rebecca Onie: What if our healthcare system kept us healthy? For your journal entry, you will explore aspects of your personal experience and/or beliefs regarding significant public policies and what you have learned in your readings. As you reflect, please address the following questions: • What are the major current healthcare issues and policies (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - 2010)? • Obama and Romney on ImmigrationWatch Obama and Romney Debate Each Other’s Immigration Policy (2012 Presidential Debate #2). As a supporter of one side of this issue, identify the points made by the presidential candidate that most closely represents your perspective. Discuss policy changes that you would like to see and why?

9. SOC 320 AshCourses SOC 320 Week 5 DQ 2 Policy Termination (Ash) SOC 320 Week 5 Journal Reflections on Federal Immigration Policy (Ash) • Policy TerminationDon’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) was a compromise between the Clinton administration and its opponents in Congress and the military. Compromise sometimes yields good policy, but sometimes it produces internally inconsistent and counterproductive policy. • For your journal entry, you will explore aspects of your personal experience and/or beliefs regarding significant public policies and what you have learned in your readings. As you reflect, please address the following questions: • What are the major current federal welfare issues? • How do you feel about related policies?

10. SOC 320 AshCourses