Social Problem Presentation Guide
Overview
For this assignment, you will delve deeper into a social problem that really interests you. It can be one of the problems we have covered in the course, although it should be specific enough to find data at the state level (pick one state to research). You can choose a problem not covered in the class, but it should be social, NOT individual.
Assignment Instructions:
Craft a clear, illustrative presentation that describes your social problem and discusses ways to address/alleviate the negative consequences of the problem. You may use a presentation program of your choice, such as PowerPoint or any of these which offer free use: Prezi, Powtoon, Adobe Spark, Google Slides, Canva, Visme, Libre Office, Slidedog, or Haiku Deck. Please attach, embed, or provide a link to your presentation to submit it for grading. Also, include a Microsoft Word or PDF document with notes about the presentation – OR – you may narrate your presentation in an audio file.
NOTE: If you were giving the presentation in person, you would include main points on the slides and then discuss each slide further. Since you are not actually giving the presentation, the Word/PDF document or audio file should detail your presentation discussion. What would you say beyond what’s included on the slides?
Your presentation must do the following:
- SLIDE 1: Include a title slide with the title of the presentation (incorporating your social problem), your name, the class and instructor, the date, and a visual representing your topic choice.
- SLIDE 2: Give a brief overview of the problem—what it is and what the negative consequences are. Explain why the problem is social versus individual.
- SLIDE 3: Present current data at the state level from a reputable source and from within the past five years. Include at least one chart.
Here’s an example. The following excerpt and chart came from Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition:
“In 2022, there were 2,135 overdose deaths. This was a decrease of over 5% from 2021.
The Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) states that overdose cases autopsied by the Office of the State Medical Examiner (OSME) and toxicology reports submitted by Kentucky coroners, that 90% of deaths in 2022 involved opioids. Illicit fentanyl continues to be the most prevalent drug contributing to overdose deaths, accounting for 72.5% nationwide in 2022. In 2022, a total of 2,135 Kentucky residents died from a drug overdose, representing a decrease of more than 5% from the 2,250 resident drug overdose deaths in 2021. A review of the resident autopsy cases by OSME and toxicology reports submitted by Kentucky.”
Numbers of Kentucky Resident Drug Overdose Deaths by Age Group, 2020-2022
Age2020202120220-4<5<555-14<50<515-2412713911725-3446348542635-4457267564345-5440449549855-6430437234165-7475828775-841451485+<5<5<5
- SLIDE 4: List two groups impacted by the social problem and discuss how they are affected. For example, if you are looking at drug addiction, you might analyze the impact of addiction on families, minorities, women, men, children, etc. Include a link to a current news story or website that supports your discussion.
- SLIDE 5: Identify one policy, program, and/or treatment at the state level (government-funded) that addresses the social problem. Describe how the problem is addressed and evaluate its effectiveness using evidence and critical thinking. Include a link to the program.
- SLIDE 6: Identify one policy, program, and/or treatment at the local level (non-profit) that addresses the social problem. Describe how the problem is addressed and evaluate its effectiveness using evidence and critical thinking. Include a link to the program.
- SLIDE 7: Suggest one or two innovative solutions to the social problem that draw on research, existing programs, and new technologies.
- SLIDE 8: Include a reference slide with full references in APA formatting listed in alphabetical order (by last name or organization).
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What specific social problem are you focusing on and why is it considered a social rather than individual issue?,
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What recent state-level data supports the severity of this problem and how can it be visualized (e.g. chart)?,
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Which two social groups are most affected by the problem and how?,
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What state-level policy or program addresses the problem and how effective is it?,
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What local (non-profit) initiative addresses the problem and how does it compare in effectiveness?
General requirements:
- Font Size: Between 18 to 24
- Include only bullet points in your presentation. You should not have massive paragraphs on your slides. Your discussion page or audio file should clarify and elaborate on your slides in paragraph form. (You may include more than eight (8) slides to cover your content, but you must have at least eight (8) slides.)
- View the grading rubric to understand how you will be assessed on this Assignment.
- Disclaimer- Originality of attachments will be verified by Turnitin. Both you and your instructor will receive the results.
- This course has “Resubmission” status enabled to help you if need to submit multiple documents as part of your Assignment. Resubmission of an Assignment after it is graded to attempt a better grade is not permitted.
- Due by Sunday 11:59 PM.
Submission Instructions:
- Please attach, embed, or provide a link to your presentation to submit it for grading.
- Also include a Microsoft Word or PDF document or audio file with notes about the presentation.
Assignment Rubric Name: SOCI212 Assignment 3: Social Problem Solutions Rubric & PLO2 Rubric [content page]
Assignment Resources & Supports
- Office 365 [webpage]: You have free access as an APUS student. Sign in with your MyCampus Email credentials.
- Submitting and Confirming a Submission: Watch this 3-minute video if you need guidance on submitting your assignment.
Associated CO & LO:
CO-2: Identify specific social problems and their cause-effect patterns.
- LO-2.1: Identify social problems in US society today.
- LO-2.2: Investigate the causes of identified social problems.
- LO-2.3: Analyze the effects of identified social problems on individuals and communities.
CO-5: Apply sociological theories to explain the occurrence and scope of these problems.
- LO-5.2: Utilize the sociological perspectives (and their relevant theories) to explain identified social problems. Each week, we want to give you the opportunity to discuss
- LO-5.3: Apply course concepts to support opinions about social problems.