social problems essay spm

1.2 Defining a Social Problem

Figure 1.2 Sociologist Anna Leon-Guerrero. We use her definition of a social problem.

When you think about the current issues facing our society and our planet, you might name war, addiction, climate change, houselessness, or the global pandemic as social problems. You would be right, sort of. Sociologists need to be more specific than that. Because they are trying to explain what social problems are or how to fix them, they need a much more precise definition. Sociology professor and author Anna Leon-Guerrero (figure 1.2) defines a social problem as “a social condition or pattern of behavior that has negative consequences for individuals, our social world, or our physical world.”(2018:4).

More concretely, it is not just that one person gets sick from COVID-19. The social problem is that our healthcare systems are overwhelmed with sick patients. People are experiencing different rates of exposure to COVID-19. Their health outcomes differ because of their race, class, and gender. Because social problems affect people across the social and physical worlds, the solutions to social problems must be collectively created. It is not enough for one person to get well, although that may really matter to you. Instead, we must act collectively, as groups, governments, or systems to identify and implement solutions. Our health is personal, but getting well depends on all of us.

To talk effectively about social problems, we must understand their characteristics. In this text, we will explore five important dimensions of a social problem :

A social problem goes beyond the experience of an individual.
A social problem results from a conflict in values.
A social problem arises when groups of people experience inequality.
A social problem is socially constructed but real in its consequences.
A social problem must be addressed interdependently, using both individual agency and collective action.

In the following section, we examine each of these five characteristics. Where these characteristics exist, social problems follow. Each component provides an additional layer of explanation about why any human problem is a social problem.

1.2.1 Social Problems: Beyond Individual Experience

Individuals have problems. Social problems, though, go beyond the experience of one individual. They are experienced by groups, nations, or people around the world. An individual experiences job loss, but the wider social problem may be rising unemployment rates. An individual may experience a divorce, but the wider social problem may be changing expectations around marriage and long-term partnerships. Solving a social problem is a collective task, outside of the capability of one individual or group.

Figure 1.3 Sociologist C. Wright Mills, pictured on the left wrote about the Sociological Imagination

In his book The Sociological Imagination , American sociologist C. Wright Mills helps us understand the difference between individual problems and social problems, and connects the two concepts (figure 1.3). Mills (1959) uses the term personal troubles to describe troubles that happen both within and to an individual. He contrasts these personal troubles with social problems, which he calls public issues . Public issues transcend the experience of one individual, impacting groups of people over time.

To illustrate, a recent college graduate may be several hundred thousand dollars in debt because of student loans. They may have trouble paying for living expenses because of this debt. This would be a personal trouble. If we look for larger social patterns, however, we see that as of 2021 about 1 in 8 Americans have student loan debt, owing about 1.6 trillion dollars (Federal Reserve Bank of New York 2021). The volume of this debt, the related laws, policies, and practices, and the harm that is being caused stretch far beyond the experience of a few individuals, resulting in student loan debt becoming a public issue.

In addition to differentiating personal troubles and public issues, Mills also connects them using the sociological imagination , a quality of mind that connects individual experience and wider social forces. He writes, “The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. This is its task and its promise” (Mills 1959:6).

In other words, when we use our own sociological imaginations, we connect our own lives with the experiences of other people. We consider how our own past actions and the historical actions of others may have contributed to our current reality. We use our sociological imaginations to consider what the outcomes of our actions or of social policies might be. When you use your sociological imagination, complicated social problems begin to make sense. When Mills linked personal troubles and public issues, he emphasized that individuals are acted upon by wider social forces.

View from inside a thick forest of trees.

Figure 1.4 A society consists of more than individual people, just like a forest consists of more than just individual trees: The forest around Cougar Hot Springs, Oregon—More than just individual trees. Tokyo, Japan—More than individual people.

Building on Mills’s concepts, current sociologists highlight the complex relationships of the social world. In the 2019 Society for the Study of Social Problems Presidential Address, Society president Nancy Mezey explores the topic of climate change as a social problem. Understanding and solving climate change requires a deep understanding of the relationship of people and systems. She emphasizes that “society is not just a collection of unrelated individuals, but rather a collection of people who live in relationship with each other” (Mezey 2020: 606). To make this point, she uses the work of sociologist Allan Johnson. In his book The Forest and the Trees, Johnson compares the physical world to our social world:

In one sense, a forest is simply a collection of individual trees, but it is more than that. It is also a collection of trees that exist in particular relation to one another, and you cannot tell what that relation is by looking at the individual trees. Take a thousand trees and scatter them across the Great Plains of North America and all you have is a thousand trees. But take those same trees and put them close together, and now you have a forest. The same individual trees in one case constitute a forest and in another are just a lot of trees. The “empty space” that separates individual trees from one another is not a characteristic of any one tree or the characteristics of all the individual trees somehow added together. It is something more than that, and it is crucial to understand the relationships among trees that make a forest what it is. Paying attention to that “something more” — whether it is a family or a society or the entire world – and how people are related to it lies at the heart of what it means to practice sociology . (Johnson 2014: 11-12, emphasis added)

Using this comparison, Mezey reminds us human society is made up of interdependent individuals, groups, institutions, and systems, similar to the living ecosystem of the forest. This similarity is illustrated in figure 1.4. The reach of a social problem can also be planet-wide. As the response to COVID-19 demonstrates, migrations between countries, vaccination policies and implementations for any nation, and the responses of health systems in local areas can all impact whether any individual is likely to get COVID-19 or to recover from it. A social problem, then, is one that involves a wider scope of groups, institutions, nations, or global populations.

1.2.2 Social Problems: A Conflict in Values

Social problems can also be defined as issues in which social values conflict. A value is an ideal or principle that determines what is correct, desirable, or morally proper. A society may share common values. For example, a society may value universal education, the ideal that all children should learn to read and write or, at minimum, be in school until they are 18. A different society may value practical experience, focusing on teaching children skills related to farming, hunting, or raising children. When core values are shared, there is no basis for conflict.

Social problems may begin to arise if people cannot agree on values. For example, some groups may value business growth and expansion. They oppose restrictions on pollution or emissions because following these regulations would cost money. In contrast, other groups might value sustaining the environment. They support regulations that limit industrial pollution, even when they cost more money. This conflict in values provides a rich soil from which a social problem may grow.

1.2.3 Social Problems: Inequality

A social problem can arise if there is a conflict between a widely shared value and a society’s success in meeting expectations around that value. For example, to sustain life, people need sufficient water, food, and shelter. To work well, a society values human life and creates infrastructure so that all members have water, food, and shelter. However, even at this most basic level, people experience significant inequality in their access to these resources.

Figure 1.5 In this chart, we see that women experience more food insecurity than men, in every region of the world. In Africa, more than half of all people experience hunger. This rate of food insecurity has also increased around the world between 2015 and 2020. How do you think COVID-19 might have impacted world hunger? Figure 1.5 Image Description

For example, the United Nations reports that one in three people worldwide do not have access to adequate food. That number is rising (United Nations 2020). As we can see in the chart in figure 1.5, women are more likely than men to experience hunger in all regions of the world. The related report also notes that 22 percent of all children worldwide are stunted because they do not have enough to eat (FAO 2021).

In another example at the local level, the Oregon Food Bank explicitly defines hunger as a social problem. They write, “Hunger isn’t just an individual experience; it’s a symptom of barriers to employment, housing, health care and more—and a result of unfair systems that continue to keep these barriers in place” (Oregon Food Bank 2021). In exploring who is hungry in Oregon, they note that communities of color experience greater housing instability and therefore greater food insecurity than White families (Oregon Food Bank 2019). Unequal access and unequal outcomes are both common in our world and fundamental to social problems.

1.2.4 Social Problems: A Social Construction with Real Consequences

Figure 1.6: This 10 minute video on social construction explores what it means to jointly create our social reality. What else do you see that is socially constructed? Note to Reviewers: This 10 minute video on social construction is under construction. The final version will be included with the final version of the book. At the same time, we welcome comments on this draft.

Sociologists delight in statistics, those numbers that measure rates, patterns, and trends. You might think that a social problem exists when things get measurably worse—unemployment rises, food prices increase, deaths from AIDS skyrocket, or gender-related hate crimes explode. Changes in the numbers, or objective measures, provide only part of the story. Sometimes these changes go unnoticed in the wider society and don’t result in conflict or action. Other times a local community takes action, but another local community with similar statistics does not.

To explain this difference, we turn to the fundamental sociological concept of social construction , the idea that we create meaning through interaction with others. This concept asserts that while material objects and biological processes exist, it is the meaning that we give to them that creates our shared social reality. The video in figure 1.6 provides more examples of this concept.

The term social construction was used in 1966 by sociologists Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann. They wrote a book called The Social Construction of Reality . In it, they argued that society is created by humans and human interaction. These interactions are often habits. They use the term habitualization to describe how “any action that is repeated frequently becomes cast into a pattern, which can then be … performed again in the future in the same manner and with the same economical effort” (Berger and Luckmann 1966). Not only do we construct our own society but we also accept it as it is because others have created it before us. Society is, in fact, habit .

For example, a school building exists as a school and not as a generic building because you and others agree that it is a school. If your school is older than you are, it was created by the agreement of others before you. In a sense, it exists by consensus, both prior and current. This is an example of the process of institutionalization, the act of implanting a convention or social expectation into society. By employing the convention of naming a building as a school , the institution, while socially constructed, is made real and assigned specific expectations as to how it will be used.

Another way of looking at the social construction of reality is through an idea developed by American sociologist W. I. Thomas. The Thomas theorem states, “If [people] define situations as real, they are real in their consequences” (Thomas and Thomas 1928). In other words, people’s behavior can be determined by their subjective construction of reality rather than by objective reality. For example, a teenager who is repeatedly given a label—rebellious, emo, goth—often lives up to the term even though it initially wasn’t a part of their character.

Figure 1.7 What do you think the person in the photo, gesturing “Thumbs up” is trying to say? Depending on his country, he may be saying great , on e, or five . Even our gestures are socially constructed.

Sociologists who study how we interact also recognize that language and body language reflect our values. One has only to learn a foreign language to know that not every English word can be easily translated into another language. The same is true for gestures. What does the gesture in figure 1.7 mean? While Americans might recognize a thumbs-up as meaning great , in Germany it would mean one , and in Japan, it would mean five . Thus, our construction of reality is influenced by our symbolic interactions. When we apply this idea of the social construction of reality to social problems, then, we say that a social problem only exists when people say they have one.

A crowd is walking down a street. One woman holds a sign that reads, " Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no."

Figure 1.8 In this picture of social protest, the protester is holding a sign “Whatever we wear, wherever we go, Yes means Yes and No means No” Over time our ideas about bodily autonomy, consent, and gender based violence are changing.

Let’s look at the crime of rape to understand this concept more clearly. Initially, rape was defined as a property crime. This view of women’s bodies is profoundly disturbing to us today but was common in seventeenth-century English law. Legally, women were considered the property of their fathers or their husbands. Therefore, rape was legally understood as decreasing the value of their property. Taking this model further, married women could not be raped by their husbands because consent was implied as part of the marriage contract.

When feminists in the 1970s challenged this legal definition, laws related to rape began to change. Rape, which included marital rape, became defined as a crime of violence and social control against an individual person (Rose 1977). In a more recent study, researchers examined how rape was defined in a college community between 1955 and 1990. Early descriptions of rape in school and community newspapers painted the picture that White women students were safe on campus. If they ventured beyond campus to predominantly Black neighborhoods, they risked being raped. Rape was considered a crime committed by a racialized other, a Black or Brown stranger rather than a member of a White student community. This perspective saw police as responsible for keeping women safe (Abu-Odeh, Khan, and Nathanson 2020).

With the work of feminist activists, the concept of rape and the response to rape changed. In the 1970s and 1980s, women’s centers and health professionals defined rape as an act of sexual violence that supported the structural power of men and an issue that threatened women’s health. The person who experienced rape began to be called a survivor rather than a victim . Men who raped or committed other kinds of sexual harassment could be identified as part of the campus community rather than being defined as a stranger or an outsider. The changes in the social construction of rape allowed for more effective community responses in preventing rape, prosecuting rape, and supporting the healing of rape survivors (Abu-Odeh, Khan, and Nathanson 2020).

Feminist activists continue this work. Black activist Tarana Burke founded the #MeToo movement in 2006 so that survivors of sexual violence could tell their stories. These stories highlight how common sexual violence is for women, men, and nonbinary people. It expands our conversation about rape to a wider discussion around the causes and consequences of sexual violence. If you would like to learn more about #MeToo from Burke herself, please watch this TED Talk, “ Me Too Is a Movement, Not a Moment .” Actor Alyssa Milano drew attention to this movement when she tweeted #MeToo in 2017. This movement has resulted in some changes in the law (Beitsch 2018) and in stronger prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence, in some cases (Carlsen et al. 2018).

In this constructionist view, the definition of rape, the actors in the crime, and the responsibility for fixing the problem changed over time, with significant consequences to the people involved. Even concepts like consent, active agreement to sexual activity (see figure 1.8), are taught and learned. A Cup of Tea and Consent [YouTube] teaches the concept (some explicit language). We will see the usefulness of the social construction of a social problem as we explore each social problem raised in this book.

1.2.5 Social Problems: Interdependent Solutions of Individual Agency and Collective Action

All life is interelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality. This is the way our universe is structured, this is its interrelated quality. We aren’t going to have peace on earth until we recognize this basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality.

—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., activist, sociologist, and minister

Figure 1.9 Video: Martin Luther King Jr. A Christmas Speech: . Martin Luther King Jr. asserts that we are all interrelated, another word for interdependence in his Christmas Speech from 1967. While watching the whole speech is optional, you may want to view from minutes 7:10-7:12 to listen to the quote that begins this section.

Our diversity can be a source of innovative solutions to social problems. At the same time, the ways in which we are different divide us. We see bullying, hate crimes, war, gender based violence, and other patterns of treating each other differently based on our social location. At the same time, many of us go to school, raise families, live in neighborhoods, and die of old age. How is it that we are able to maintain our sense of community?

We begin to answer this question by reminding ourselves that the sociological imagination helps us see that there are wider social forces at play in our individual lives. Interdependence is the concept that people rely on each other to survive and thrive (Schwalbe 2018). Martin Luther King Jr. asserts that we are all interrelated, another word for interdependence, in his Christmas Speech from 1967 in figure 1.9. While watching the whole speech is optional, you may want to view from minutes 7:10-7:12 to listen to the quote that begins this section.

Interdependence is everywhere, but specific examples of social, economic, and physical interdependence may help us see it more clearly. With social interdependence, we rely on other people to cooperate to support our life. We give the same cooperation to others in turn. For example, when you consider your own life, you might notice how many people helped you become the person you are. When you were very young, you relied on a parent or caregivers to feed you, to clothe you, to keep you warm, and maybe to read you bedtime stories. As we widen this picture, we see that your caregivers relied on store owners and doctors, farmers and truckers, business people, and friends to support the work of caring for you. You may not have had a happy life, yet you lived long enough to read these words. This book was brought to you by authors, editors, artists, videographers, designers, musicians, librarians, and other students like you. These relationships demonstrate our social interdependence.

In addition to social interdependence, we experience economic interdependence. As we shop for groceries this week, we see empty shelves and rising food prices. COVID-19 is disrupting the global supply chain. Farmers growing oranges in Mexico can’t find laborers to pick the fruit. U.S. car manufacturers can’t get electronic chips manufactured in China. Even when people in Vietnam sew T-shirts or factory workers in Korea build TVs, the ships that carry these products from one country to another wait for dock workers to unload them. Our experiences with COVID-19 underline the truth of our economic interdependence.

We express this economic interdependence in relationships that describe the power of workers and the power of business owners. In 2017, Francis Fox Piven, the president of the American Sociological Association, defined interdependent power, arguing that while wealth and privilege create power, workers, tenants, and voters also have the power of participation. We see interdependent power today in the Great Resignation, with people deciding to resign from their jobs rather than return to work. We see it in restaurants reducing hours or closing down because they can’t find workers to wait tables and bus dishes. We see this in frontline workers becoming even more critical in providing basic services to a quarantined public. We live in a globally interdependent economy.

Finally, and maybe foundationally, we are physically interdependent. I remember being on a boat in a glacial lake in Alaska. The tour guide, a biologist, was asking the people on the tour about how many oceans there were in the world. All of us were desperately trying to remember fifth-grade geography, and counting the various oceans we remembered. Atlantic, Pacific, Indian . . . wait did the Arctic and Antarctic count as oceans? Maybe five? Maybe six? Maybe seven? At each answer, the biologist shook her head, “No.” We were stumped.

A serene view of the ocean with seagulls walking in the sand.

Figure 1.10 The Pacific Ocean at Lincoln City, Oregon, or maybe just one view of our planet’s one ocean.

She revealed that scientists who study the ocean now say that we have just one ocean (even though the ocean in figure 1.10 happens to be the Pacific Ocean, a few blocks from my house). It contains all the ocean water across our entire planet. Debris from a tsunami in Japan washed up on beaches from the tip of Alaska to the Baja peninsula and Hawaii. Rivers contribute up to 80 percent of the plastics pollution found in the ocean. We see that the COVID-19 virus travels with people around the world as infections move from place to place. As we cross the globe on our feet, bikes, camels, trains, cars, and airplanes, our diseases travel with us. We are physically interdependent.

Two people wearing masks associated with avoiding spread of COVID 19 are bumping elbows in greeting.

Figure 1.11 When do we comply with the social norms of mask-wearing and elbow bumping?

Each of these ways of considering our interdependence matters when it comes to studying social problems and creating change. Because our actions affect one another, any social problem or solution ripples through our social world. For example, social scientists are examining mask-wearing during COVID-19.

In the video “ The Importance of Social Norms” (episode 8 on the website) , researcher Dr. Vera te Velde from the University of Queensland explores mask-wearing behavior around the world. She wanted to find out what would make mask wearing a social norm. Social norms are the rules or expectations that determine and regulate appropriate behavior within a culture, group, or society.

Dr. de Velde finds that when people trust each other and their government, they are much more likely to wear masks. Trust and shared agreement around social norms encourage consistent behavior. In other words, when we notice our interdependence and trust that others will follow social norms, we are more likely to follow them too. Sociologist Michael Schwalbe, in The Sociologically Examined Life, calls this mindfulness of interdependence. When we are aware, or mindful, of how our actions impact others, we are noticing our interdependence. We then often act for the good of all.

The interdependent nature of social problems also requires interdependent solutions. For this, we look at individual agency and collective action. The discipline of sociology always asks why? , but the sociologists who study social problems are particularly committed to taking action. They try to understand why a problem occurs to inform policy decisions, create community coalitions, or support healthy families. In the best cases, they seek to know their own biases and work to remediate them, so their research is used to create change. This challenge is explicitly stated by SSSP President Mezey:

The theme for the 2019 SSSP [Society for the Study of Social Problems] meeting is a call to sociologists and social scientists in general to draw deeply and widely on sociological roots to illuminate the social in all social problems with an eye to solving those problems. The theme calls us to speak broadly and widely, so that our discipline becomes a central voice in larger public discourses. I am calling on you, the reader, through this presidential address to focus on what is perhaps the largest social problem: climate change. Indeed, because we have been focusing on individual rather than social solutions regarding climate change—we are now facing grave and imminent danger. (Mezey 2020:606)

Society president Mezey tells us that studying problems is not enough. We must focus on the most critical social problem—climate change, to support all of us in taking action.

Addressing social problems requires individuals to act. Social agency is the capacity of an individual to actively and independently choose and to affect change. In other words, any individual can choose to vote, to protest, to parent well, or to be authentic about who they are in the world. Each act of positive social agency matters to that person and their community, even if the small waves of change are hard to see in the wider world.

Collective action refers to the actions taken by a collection or group of people, acting based on a collective decision. whose goal is to enhance their condition and achieve a common objective (Sekiwu and Okan 2022). These kinds of actions people take are creative responses to local issues. We typically think of collective action as a protest march or a social movement. Collective action can also be setting up the Salmon River Grange as the distribution center for food, clothes, and pizza for survivors of the Echo Mountain Fire. It could also be reinvigorating an Indigenous language or connecting businesses and nonprofits so you can provide digital literacy skills training. People, communities, and organizations imagine the future they want to see, and take organized action to make it happen.

To confront the social problems of our world, we need a both/and approach to their resolution. We act with individual agency to create a life that is healthy and nurturing and we act collectively to address interdependent issues.

1.2.6 Licenses and Attributions for Defining a Social Problem

1.2.6.1 open content, shared previously.

“Social Construction of Reality” is adapted from “ Social Construction of Reality ” by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang, Introduction to Sociology 3e , Openstax , which is licensed under CC BY 4.0 . Modifications: Summarized some content and applied it specifically to social problems. License Terms: Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-3e/pages/1-introduction

Figure 1.3. “ Sociologist C Wright Mills ” by Institute for Policy Studies is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

Figure 1.4a. Photo by Deric is licensed under the Unsplash License .

Figure 1.4b. Photo by Chris Chan is licensed under the Unsplash License .

Figure 1.7. Photo by Aziz Acharki is licensed under the Unsplash License .

Figure 1.8. Photo by Raquel García is licensed under the Unsplash License .

Figure 1.11. Photo by Maxime is licensed under the Unsplash License .

1.2.6.2 All Rights Reserved Content

Figure 1.2. “ Anna Leon-Guerrero ” © Pacific Lutheran University is included under fair use.

Figure 1.9 “ Martin Luther King, Jr., Christmas Sermon ” by Mapping Minds is licensed under the Standard YouTube License .

1.2.6.3 Open Content, Original

“Defining a Social Problem” by Kimberly Puttman is licensed under CC BY 4.0 .

Figure 1.5. “Chart of World Hunger” by Kim Puttman and Michaela Willi Hooper, Open Oregon Educational Resources is licensed under CC BY 4.0 .

Figure 1.6. “ Social Construction Video (Draft) ” by Liz Pearce, Kim Puttman and Colin Stapp, Open Oregon Educational Resources is licensed under CC BY 4.0 .

Figure 1.10. Photo by Kimberly Puttman is licensed under CC BY 4.0 .

Image Description for Figure 1.5:

Globally, and in every region, the prevalence of food insecurity is higher among women than men

A line chart shows moderate or severe food insecurity for both women and men in different regions of the world from 2015 to 2020. The lines are often close, but women are always more food insecure than men. Throughout the world, food insecurity has risen for both women and men (from around 20% in 2015 to over 30% for women in 2020). The two lines diverge the most for Latin America and the Caribbean, where food insecurity went from approximately 25% in 2015 to over 40% in 2020. Food insecurity rates for both men and women are highest in Africa (almost 60% for both men and women in 2020) and lowest in North America (between 10 and 15% in 2020).

Data source: State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021, prepared by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO.

This simplified version created by Michaela Willi Hooper and Kimberly Puttman and licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

[Return to Figure 1.5]

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Social Problems - Continuity and Change

(46 reviews)

ISBN 13: 9781946135230

Publisher: Saylor Foundation

Language: English

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Reviewed by Jen Cullen, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Bay Community College on 7/8/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book was incredibly comprehensive. Each chapter was devoted to a sole social problem, allowing for increased depth and understanding. I was especially impressed by the organization of each chapter, with the learning objectives for each chapter on the first page, an introduction to the problem, and then illustrating how the social problem has impacted both past and present.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

While the information in this text was certainly accurate at the time of publication, this book was published in 2016. While many of the social problems outlined in this text are timeless and universal, this book suffers by not being able to address the effects of the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, nor the Covid-19 pandemic.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Even though this textbook is approaching ten years old, the information it presents on society's most common social problems is comprehensive and relevant. As with accuracy above, this future editions of this book would be well served to included how social problems were impacted by world events from 2016 on, the text contains relevant information needed to understand social problems.

Clarity rating: 5

Extremely organized, detailed, and clear.

Consistency rating: 5

The text was well written and chapters were organized and structured similarly to each other.

Modularity rating: 5

This text was one of the better ones I have encountered in terms of modularity! Chapters are approximately 5-8 segments long, and very few pages are text only. The authors make good use of photos and tables to visually illustrate concepts in the chapters. After each segment, there is a note regarding key takeaways from the segment, and Chapters have excellent summaries.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

While I have already spoken in-depth on organization throughout my review, I will again praise this text's exceptional organization and structure. This chapter layout/format makes it less challenging to learn and understand the necessary information in a comprehensive yet concise manner.

Interface rating: 5

No interface issues during my review

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammar issues during my review

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

This was one of the more culturally competent and sensitive books I have seen. The authors took great care in showing how social location/intersectionality has affected the experiences and responses of historically marginalized and oppressed populations. The book also provides a breadth of information on the disproportionate representation for these groups in various realms (Criminal Justice System, Education, Medical Care, etc.)

Reviewed by Elise Randall, Adjunct Faculty Member, Rochester Community & Technical College on 6/19/24

This book covers all of the major areas of social problems that one would typically want/need to cover in a Social Problems course. It is very easy to find the topic you're looking for and there are several articles on each topic. The glossary is... read more

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The information is accurate and matches content found in textbooks from other established, reputable sources. The text is error-free and has been proofread carefully.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

The main flaw of this book is that the information is out-dated. The data is already more than a decade old. The data could certainly be updated because of the way the data is organized, but updates have not yet been made (at the time of writing). Social issues are something that shifts constantly, so it's extra important to keep this information updated and recent.

Clarity rating: 4

Overall, the text is very well-written and readable for a college audience. There is some jargon that is above the reading level of most undergraduate students and could be simplified to match the audience. (Examples: stymied, untenable)

The book uses the same terminology and theories throughout to provide a consistent frame of reference and understanding.

The text is extremely well organized. Each topic is broken into smaller portions and each page could be a stand-alone reading. Some of the readings are pretty lengthy, but they are divided into manageable chunks and are broken up with images and graphs.

The book is very well organized. You can navigate easily between readings and go back to the home page easily at anytime to select another topic. I especially like the boxes on the home page that provide easy access to the broad topic you'd like to view. From there, you can see the readings that pertain to the topic. The only downside is that the navigation on the homepage uses the same image for every topic. It would be great to have a different image/icon that represents the topic you're selecting.

Fantastic navigation! This is easier to navigate than any other OER text I've read. The charts and images create a good flow and break up the sections naturally. There were a few images that were too large for the page, but most were not.

I did not encounter grammatical errors in my reading of this textbook.

The book is culturally relevant for the most part. It is not offensive, but it will need to be updated to reflect present day terminology such as "LGBTQ+" rather than "LGBT."

Reviewed by Youngki Woo, Assistant professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 5/14/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This textbook comprises 16 chapters, delving into various aspects of social problems within sociology, criminology, and social work. Each chapter identifies the learning objectives and shows them in the beginning. At the end of each chapter, there are several sub-sections along with review questions for learners. Each chapter is comfortable to follow and addresses most of the learning objectives to provide a straightforward response to the discussion questions. In addition, each chapter covers ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and glossary.

The content is both accurate and presented in a manner that is easy to read and follow.

Despite being published in 2016, the sources and information in this textbook remain relevant for explaining various social problems. Each chapter addresses fundamental concepts crucial for students to understand issues prevalent in our society. I believe the text could be enhanced by updating the statistics, tables, and incorporating more visually appealing graphics.

The text is concise, simple, and clear, and content is informative and straight-forward.

Consistency rating: 4

The text maintains consistency in its terminology and framework. The author adeptly provides chapter summaries that align with the learning objectives outlined at the beginning of each chapter, enhancing comprehension and cohesion.

The well-structured chapters feature clearly demarcated subsections, which are conveniently hyperlinked for easy access. Dividing the topics into relevant sections aids students in understanding the broader scope of social concerns. Clear subheadings within the text enhance readability and direct the reader's attention to key topics. Additionally, special information that illustrates or expands on the issues is effectively differentiated from the main text, further enriching the learning experience.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The chapters follow a typical order found in textbooks on social problems, commencing with an introductory chapter covering research methods and sociological perspectives. This structure makes the text well-suited for introductory sociology or criminology courses as a prerequisite, which is ideal for exploring social problems. Subsequent chapters delve into poverty and various other forms of social inequality before addressing specific controversial areas of public life. This sequencing is optimal as it recognizes that issues of poverty and economic inequality underpin many other societal challenges, while emphasizing the central theme of social equality inherent in any course on social problems.

Interface rating: 4

The online text features intuitive navigation, with clear images and charts. Chapter or section summaries are thoughtfully highlighted in boxes with color backgrounds, enhancing visual accessibility and aiding in content navigation.

There are no typos or technical/grammatical errors that I am aware of in the textbook.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I find the textbook's exploration and description of social problems regarding cultural distinctions, crime, terror, and drug issues, family and child abuse, and race/ethnicity to be comfortable and comprehensive. I appreciate the author's sensitivity and fairness in handling topics that often involve prejudicial beliefs held by students. The text consistently challenges oppressive assumptions and beliefs about minority groups by presenting factual information, and prompting reflection in a more informed, objective manner. The integration of information about the association between social problems and various demographic categories enriches the discussion, fostering a deeper understanding of their prevalence and nature. However, I believe there is room for improvement in the coverage of concerns relevant to the LGBTQI population. Given that many students have personal experiences and sensitivities regarding these issues, it's essential for the textbook to use appropriate terms and provide current information.

Overall, this book provides valuable insights into current social issues, making it suitable for undergraduate intro sociology or criminology courses (or as a prerequisite). I believe the text could be enhanced by updating the statistics and incorporating more visually appealing graphics. This would not only improve the aesthetic appeal but also contribute to a more engaging learning experience for students.

Reviewed by Bodenhamer Aysha, Assistant Professor, Radford University on 1/13/23

This book offers a wide array of topics covered in great detail. The textbook has a table of contents that is easily navigable by clicking on each section; however, there is not a section for a glossary of terms. At the end of each chapter there... read more

The book offers a variety of sources cited throughout the material to support the arguments made throughout the textbook. I have not noticed any errors and the book does not appear to be biased.

Based on what I have read, the textbook is relevant and for the most part up-to-date, but I have not seen many citations beyond 2010, which means it likely hasn't been updated since then. The same can be said for most of the figures throughout the book with rely on data from 2010. There is room, especially now that we have completed the 2020 Census, to update many of the figures and add new and more relevant literature given that we have experienced a wide variety of social problems in the last decade. The text is written in a way that would make it easy to update the material and add newer examples.

I appreciate that the major concepts are in bold, followed by a clear pop-up definition. The book appears to be approachable and accessible without containing a lot of unnecessary jargon. One thing that I find distracting, however, is how the book cites references within the text. It distracts from the overall text and would be better noted as footnotes or endnotes so as not to distract the reader from the main purpose of the text.

Yes. Every chapter is well-written and researched. Some chapters, however, have more material than others, but that is to be expected, generally. The framework, definitions, summaries, and application are the same for each chapter.

Each chapter is divided into subsections that are easily demarcated and are hyperlinked for easy access. Within the text, there are clear subsections with with subheadings which help guide the reader and make it easier to focus on the major topics being discussed.

Yes. One thing that I like about the book is that it often offers a historical look at the problem first, which I think helps the reader realize that many social problems are not new, but perhaps have a longer history than many may realize. The chapters also contain a section on how the three major theoretical viewpoints (functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism) would approach each of the topics.

The interface is simple and easy to navigate; however, the charts/images are a bit small and could be enlarged. I am also unsure if a screenreader will be able to read all of the materials. I actually have a blind student this semester, so to be determined how user-friendly this textbook really is. I worry about some of the charts and tables, but again, I am unsure at this time as I do not have the software to test it. I wish it had a glossary section at the end of each chapter in addition to the summaries.

I have not noticed any grammatical mistakes.

I think cultural sensitivity is one area where this textbook excels. It does a good job of not being ethnocentric and focusing only on issues in the United States, instead in brings in global examples in multiple chapters. I appreciate the attention to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) issues throughout the text.

There are a number of aspects that I really appreciate about this textbook. For one, it does not shy away from difficult topics, but tackles them head-on. Two, I like how well organized and easily navigable the text is. Three, I appreciate that the text offers an applied focus, ways to get involved, and ways to help alleviate some of these problems. I feel this is super important so as not to leave students feeling dismayed and hopeless, but to empower them to take action. While I like this textbook and I plan to use it this semester, I think it could be improved by updating the figures and adding more visually appealing graphics. Most of the text is plain text, which is fine, but it may leave students feeling bored and restless with the readings. I would also like for the in-text citations to be more clearly demarcated or removed from the main body of the text, and revised as endnotes or footnotes. Doing so would help make the text easier to read and less distracting. Overall, I think the material is well-constructed, and I am excited to see how students respond to it this semester.

Reviewed by Rogerson Christine, Assistant Professor, Radford University on 1/5/23

Loved the comprehensiveness of this book including the variety of topic areas! read more

Loved the comprehensiveness of this book including the variety of topic areas!

Accurate up to date information

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Relevant to today's changing world

Easy to read and can be used with any level within higher education

Loved the consistency within the chapters. The way they were formatted made them easy to follow and find information.

Especially the online version, it was easy to click on modules or specific sections. This makes it easy to look back for specific information.

Clear organizational structure.

None noticed

None Noticed

Had an entire chapter on race and ethnic differences that covered historical views to today.

Reviewed by Christine Wilkey, Associate Professor of Human Services, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on 9/30/22

This text covers topics, and issues within these topics, that are typical of texts for college-level sociology courses in social problems. Its sixteen chapters can easily be fit into a typical 8- or 16-week semester format. A glossary or... read more

I found the information provided on social problems factually correct, with no significant errors. This text has good balance between historical information about social concerns and current data on attitudes, behaviors, and issues. It is consistent with the continuity-and-change model, focusing more on the enduring issues of controversy in society than the current details about those issues.

Aside from very recent events (e.g., the Dobbs decision, the COVID pandemic), this text is up-to-date with it publication date of 2016. It uses current sources to support factual information about social problems. Almost all sources used were published prior to 2010 except for standard or historical documents.

The writing is concise, clear, and objective throughout the text. Undergraduate students will find it easy to read and comprehend.

This text has a very consistent format among the chapters. It presents the three sociological theories/perspectives in the same manner in each chapter, and with equal attention across all the chapters (as well as equal attention to each theory in each chapter). Terminology is consistent throughout. The text is quite comfortable to use because of this predictable structure.

Within the chapters, content is clearly set off into very manageable sections in a way that could easily be re-ordered or selected. Special information that illustrates or expands on the issues is clearly differentiated from the main text.

Unlike some social problems textbooks, this one is not organized using larger, general sections that set off one general type of social issue (e.g., matters of inequality, problems in social institutions) from others. Dividing the topics into relevant sections is helpful to students in their grasp of he larger picture of social concerns. It can be useful in pacing and mentally organizing a course across the semester. However, instructors who are familiar with the subject could easily frame the topics in this way in the syllabus.

Chapters are presented in a typical order for texts on social problems, beginning with an introductory chapter that describes research methods, sociological perspectives, etc. This makes the text suitable for use with an introductory sociology course as a prerequisite, which I think is ideal for a course in social problems. This is followed by a chapter on poverty, then a series of chapters on other issues of social inequality and then several chapters on specific controversial areas of public life. I feel strongly that this is the optimal sequencing for a textbook on social problems, since issues of poverty and economic inequality run through all other issues, and the struggle of social equality is a central theme that must be explored in any course on social problems.

The online text is very easy to navigate. Images and charts are clear. Chapter or section summaries are set off in boxes with color backgrounds, so it is easy to visually find one's way in the content.

I found no grammatical errors.

I am comfortable with the way this textbook explores and describes social problems in regard to cultural distinctions and designations based on women's issues and race/ethnicity. Information about the association between social problems and various demographic categories is woven throughout the discussion, inviting the reader to gain a more complete understanding of the prevalence and nature of social problems. I appreciate the sensitivity and fairness with which the author handles topics about which students often hold prejudicial beliefs; the text consistently challenges oppressive assumptions and beliefs about minority groups by identifying myths, presenting facts that contradict these beliefs, and raising questions that allow students to reflect in a more informed, objective manner. Myth-busting is an essential component of any social problems course, in my view, and this text supports this aim very well. I would prefer to see appropriate terms and a more complete discussion in regard to the concerns of the LGBTQ+ population. Most students have a great deal of sensitivity to these issues, many because of personal experience. When a textbook does not use acceptable terms or fails to provide current information about these topics, it loses credibility with students.

Instructors who choose this text will find an objective, factual approach to learning about social problems through a sociological perspective. It offers a balanced approach to learning about a broad array of social concerns and would be suitable for many learning contexts. Throughout, the text identifies common misconceptions about who experiences social problems and raises thought-provoking questions about possible reasons for disparities among social groups. This gives multiple opportunities to challenge commonly held assumptions that are inconsistent with the facts about social problems, including beliefs that contribute to prejudicial views and oppressive responses. This is done with objectivity and an emphasis on having a clear and comprehensive understanding of the issue, and without taking any obvious political or ideological point of view. With a moderate tone and only a few illustrations (most of which illustrate the concerns in a neutral way), readers may find this text a bit "flat" compared to some textbooks on this subject that present social issues in a more evocative manner. However, this makes this text a neutral canvas in which students and instructors can discover their own views and voice. For instructors who wish to supplement with additional visual materials, or have students use factual material as a basis for further individual study, this text provides an ideal introduction to these topics. The text focuses on social problems in the United States with some comparative information from around the world. It discusses opposing views on the issues, although it could more fully emphasize the social and political processes through which solutions to social concerns are sought. However, it is an entirely adequate text that students will find easy to use as they gain understanding of social problems.

Reviewed by Chelsea Starr, Associate Professor, Eastern New Mexico University on 1/10/22

It covers all the areas a sociology of social problems text should cover. read more

It covers all the areas a sociology of social problems text should cover.

It's not an accuracy problem, it's that most of the charts and graphs/data date from 2012, making it a bit dated.

Data like poverty rates etc need to be updated

It is clearly written, though full in-text citations are distracting.

It is internally consistent.

Each chapter is divided into sub-chapters.

Chapters are organized topically.

Navigation is easy.

Text is free of errors.

I didn't notice any insensitivities.

Reviewed by Mortenson Robert, Instructor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on 1/6/22

very thorough! read more

very thorough!

Content Accuracy rating: 2

Research citations are very dated

good job of bringing in contemporary perspectives

Wel written and organized

Covers a wide range of social issues with lots of inforation regarding each issue.

Modularity rating: 4

Lay out is very clear - big vs little points are easy to assess.

Chapter ordering is ideal for social problems, as many problems are framed in the context of class, race and gender

Interface rating: 3

The "using what you know" portions help students learn proactive strategies.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Have not found any instances where editing is necessary

Discusses issues from various perspectives

Reviewed by Lisnic Rodica, Lecturer, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on 12/31/21

The textbook discusses in great detail the various aspects of social problems. The textbook doesn't have an index and glossary. read more

The textbook discusses in great detail the various aspects of social problems. The textbook doesn't have an index and glossary.

The content is presented in an objective/scientific manner and uses relevant citations for all the information.

The textbook contains relevant data that shows general trends over the past few decades, as well as some historical data. While some data is dated and needs to be updated, the overall meaning presented is relevant to the content. Some information about recent changes in social policies and government leadership that can be crucial to contemporary understanding of social problems also needs to be included.

All the sociological terms are clearly explained and highlighted in the textbook which helps the reader pay attention to the content that is most important. The sociological concepts are also explained using existing research.

The textbook uses the main sociological theoretical frameworks to help the reader understand social problems more in-depth. These frameworks are applied consistently throughout the textbook.

The textbook chapters are easy to read because they are divided into sections that have their own learning objectives. Each section is a stand alone sub-chapter that has its own references list. This makes it easy to rearrange the sections without changing the logical flow of the content.

The chapters are organized in easy to read sub-chapters/sections that have learning objectives. These objectives help the reader focus on the most important aspects of the reading. The end of section summary and reflection/discussion questions are helpful for the reader to remember the main points of the chapter.

The textbook is relatively easy to navigate. The images and charts are clear and easy to understand. It would be helpful if the table of contents was in the same file as the textbook.

I noticed no grammatical errors in the textbook.

The textbook is culturally sensitive and inclusive of a variety of social identities.

I enjoyed reading this textbook because it contains interesting discussions about ongoing social debates regarding the many social problems that exist both within the U.S. and globally. I like the examples of research and theory that help frame these ongoing debates and can be used by students to understand the complexity and meanings of social problems.

Reviewed by Robertson Valerie, Lecturer, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on 12/17/21

This textbook covers much the same material that my expensive textbook does. I especially appreciate how each chapter follows a consistent format, much the same as I use to write my online classes. I also like how the Learning Objectives highlight key topics at the beginning of major sections of the text. The summaries at the end of each chapter also are very helpful to students.

Would benefit from some updating, but I believe important key topics are well addressed.

The instructor should pay attention to outdated statistics. Updating should be easily implemented.

The organization of this textbook flows well. I really like the way each chapter can be free-standing. The writing is clear and I believe easy for students to understand.

As I stated before, the organization of this text is well done. It is easy to use. Topics are clearly stated and the summaries at the end of the chapter pull everything together.

Teaching online, I like the way the text can be broken up into smaller sub-sections. It looks to be very easy to teach in whatever order the instructor would like to cover and leave out chapters that they do not want to cover.

The textbook is organized in a logical way and is easy to follow. What I particularly like is how each chapter is framed with sociological theory. This keeps the class firmly grounded in sociology.

The text utilizes a simple layout. Charts and graphs are easy to understand.

I did not find any grammatical errors

I didn't come across anything that would be culturally insensitive. I believe this book can be read and understood by a diverse audience.

One of my favorite things about this textbook is that it can be broken up easily and put into modules. I will, of course, include updated research and statistics. One of my favorite features in this textbook is the “Using What You know” feature in each chapter. This feature helps the students think critically and connects them with the chapter’s theoretical discussion and real-life problems. I would like an up-loadable test bank. I do like the chapter powerpoints provided. They are rich in content and can be easily modified to what information the instructor would like to highlight. I believe in affordable education; this is a great alternative to expensive textbooks I have used in the past. The flexibility of this text allows for the instructor to update and teach what they think is relevant. I highly recommend this text.

Reviewed by Kelli Johnson, Professor/Librarian IV, Marshall University on 10/6/21

This textbook is very comprehensive and covers topics that I traditionally cover in my class and more. Each topic is addressed in detail and the boxes in each chapter (Applying Social Research, Lessons from Other Nations etc...) make the coverage even more detailed. The book also addresses intersectionality in a way I have not seen before but that is very helpful for students.

The book is unbiased and accurate with attention to detail, statistics and examples. I hope the authors update the stats with info from the 2020 census at some point for more relevant numbers.

I hope that the authors update the statistics from the Census with 2020 data when it is available and add information from what has been a tumultuous few years. That being said, this book is very relevant as it puts events in history in context.

I am very impressed with the organization of this book which makes it very accessible and clear. As a whole, the book works well however each chapter can also be free standing.

The chapters in the book all follow the same structure making it very consistent and therefore easy to use.

As stated above, the book is organized in such a way as to lend itself to reading as a whole or picking and choosing relevant chapters.

The topics in this book are organized clearly and logically. The chapters, which can be freestanding, can also be used as needed because they are broken down into smaller, easily navigated pieces.

I was very impressed with the ease of accessing the book as well as the option for viewing online or downloading a pdf. However, a hyperlinked table of contents would make the text even more accessible.

I did not find any spelling or grammatical errors.

The text is well modulated and addresses the topics, which could be viewed as triggering or otherwise difficult, well evenly and sensitively.

I was overjoyed to find this textbook. I had been searching for a book to support a course on social movements. With only a few days to cover a lot of background related to social issues, this text which is very comprehensive yet allows for instructors to easily pick and choose chapters, or even parts of chapters, that will serve the course best. The review questions are especially helpful.

Reviewed by cheryl sclar, Adjunct Professor, Roxbury Community College on 5/31/21

The topics are easy to follow in the sequence they are in. I feel the all the relevant topics to today's world are covered. The glossary definitions are in bold face and used in context making it easy for comprehension. Each unit and chapter is able to stand on its own and the flow of the books reads well whether or not you choose to use it in the order the chapters.

The book is indeed accurate with a non-biased approach to very sensitive subject matter. Historical facts are presented void of emotion. I wish there were more current events for relatability. I do take issue in that in Chapter 12 the Great Depression was discussed and reference was made to food pantries while there is no mention of The Free Breakfast Program for School Children was started by the Black Panther Party in 1969 which "underscored the inadequacies of the federal government's then-flagging and under-resourced lunch programs in public schools across the country". Failure to include that could be seen as bias.

The content is all relevant. Up to date issues should be included from 2020 21 e: COVID, George Floyd, BLM. I do feel the statistics call for revisions. In 3.3 many issues are addressed but I do not see the words anti-racist or Anti-Semitism. I would like to see content added from the past year and even updated statistics. I am happy to see Margaret Meade (3.7) and Matthew Shephard (5.3) as part of the discussion, however, we need current information such as Betsy DeVos and The Florida Nightclub Shooting of 2016 to be part of the conversation as well.

I feel the Learning Objectives are not only easy to comprehend but they are also malleable. They can easily be adjusted and because the content is so relevant to today I can see how easy it would be to adjust statistics and add content.

The book read as if someone is speaking. This makes it easier to follow and enjoy as if it were a novel rather than a collegiate text book. The author is engaging, does not over state and invites the reader to participate. The author even states (quotes) in the beginning that the subject matter may be doom and gloom in order to identify with the reader.

The text is certainly consistent and does not deviate from providing clear objectives, key takeaways and review items. The format is clean making it easy to navigate, The statistic charts vary but this works for each chapter.

The arrangement of the book makes sense.

The book makes sense. Each chapter can stand on its own and each unit in the chapters flow well.

The wording under the charts and images can be a little larger. There are a few photos that could be swapped for more engaging relevant ones, even memes that speak to todays learner. Example: 12.3 the image of the IRS with the lamp post out front.

Image in 12.3 and 3.3 states "Latinos" should actually be Latinx to be correct by 2021 standards. Other than that I see no issues.

The book is culturally sensitive. Image in 12.3 states "Latinos" should actually be Latinx to be fair.

I think the book reads well and serves well. The Review Questions are good and easy for the Instructor to apply and even edit for their individual classroom. If I were a student who is not easily engaged in reading texts (which I was), this book would work well for me. I would like to see an updated edition of the book,

Reviewed by Alexandra Olsen, Assistant Professor, Umpqua Community College on 5/27/21

This textbook does a great job of covering a wide range of topics that are appropriate for a social problems. It gives the instructor the ability to pick and choose the topics that they'd like to cover - especially in 10 week courses. Each of the chapters does a good job presenting the topic from a sociological perspective, different theoretical perspectives from which to understand the topic, and ways of addressing social problems that are ground in empirical research. While the content covered in each of the chapters provides plenty for the instructor to discuss, this textbook also still has room for the instructor to bring in more contemporary issues or aspects of social problems not covered in the textbook.

This textbook is accurate, draws from empirical research, and is great at encouraging critical thinking. It addresses a lot of controversial social issues in a way that encourages students to think deeper about how society should approach problems rather than having bias towards a certain perspective.

The content is relevant, but a lot of the statistics and examples are outdated. Similarly, there's been more recent legal developments (like the legalization of gay marriage or the legalization of marijuana) that need to be updated. Particularly, I've found that in the chapter on sexual orientation that I have to supplement with a lot of outside material to compensate for this. All of this being said, I believe that these updates would be very easy to make!

The textbook is very easily accessible. It provides clear definitions of terms that may be unfamiliar to students. It does a great job of introducing students to sociological thinking, while still challenging them to learn new vocabulary.

The chapters are all set up similarly. All chapters discuss the social problem, discuss theoretical perspectives on the problem, highlight debates on addressing social problems, and provide suggestions from empirical research for addressing that social problem.

This book is very modular. Each chapter is broken up into smaller sub sections with clear headings. Chapters, for the most part, can be assigned in whatever order the instructor prefers. It's also easy for the instructor to cover what they think is most relevant and leave out topics or sections of a chapter that they don't want to cover.

One of the best parts of this textbook is how well it's organized. Organization is consistent and every social problem is unpacked in a similar manner.

I have not noticed any issues with the interface. It is an easy textbook to navigate and I have gotten good feedback on it from my students.

I have not noticed any grammatical errors in the textbook.

This textbook does a great job of incorporating different examples from a variety of different cultures. They often provide comparisons not only between groups in the US, but also between the US and other countries. I also appreciate that even when they aren't discussing race/class/gender/etc. explicitly, they'll still discuss how groups view and are affected differently by social problems.

Reviewed by Deidre Tyler, Professor of Sociology, Salt Lake Community College on 2/22/21

This textbook covers every social problem that is covered in a standard intro-level social problems course. read more

This textbook covers every social problem that is covered in a standard intro-level social problems course.

The citations that are used in the textbook are accurate and they are balanced with various theoretical slants.

This textbook is arranged in a way in which updates are easily made. The knowledge is general and to the point.

Students will not have any problem reading the text because it is free of jargon.

The three major perspectives are covered adequately in this textbook.

The summaries at the end of each chapter provide the student with a quick glance of what they need to know.

The topics are organized in a manner in which they add knowledge to the students.

The text has easy navigational management that does not confuse the reader.

There are no grammatical errors in the textbook.

This book does not offend any person who reads it or makes anyone feel uncomfortable.

I would highly recommend this textbook because it is written in a way that does not confuse the student and it gives the basic information.

Reviewed by Laura Trull, Assistant Professor, James Madison University on 11/30/20

This is a very comprehensive text. It begins with defining social problems and even how we define social problems. Following this definition chapter are 15 chapters each focused on a major social problem. Major US issues are discussed, though there is not often an international perspective on these issues. Each chapter follows a consistent format of introducing the topic, providing theoretical grounding, detailing more specific aspects of the problem and closing with a summary. Each subsection of the chapter has learning objectives and key takeaways. The index is perfect and many key terms are highlighted throughout.

The content included is accurate and up to date with fairly recent examples and relevant, professional, recent images. It is free of bias and causes the reader to pause and consider rather than agree or disagree.

There are fairly recent examples and unfortunately, none of these social problems is going to be solved immediately so it will be relevant for some time.

While there are some advanced concepts discussed, the reader is brought along logically to the more advanced concepts and all concepts are explained thoroughly. Review questions are often included and very useful for reflection and/or incorporating into assignments. References are recent or seminal and provided in a list at the end of each subsection. A glossary of key terms would make a wonderful addition!

The format and writing style are completely consistent throughout making this a very easy text to navigate. It is a clear and concise flow without being too brief or lacking in depth. There are no interface issues and very few grammatical or typing boo boos.

. It is easy to opt out of some sections or subsections. For example, I have used this in a sophomore level social work class and skipped many of the theoretical sections that were too in depth for this level and too sociological for our course. I could easily arrange the reading to incorporate only the sections I wanted to include, and in the order I wanted to include them.

Very well organized and logical. One knows what to expect as they navigate each chapter.

No issues whatsoever on a variety of devices.

Clear and error free. Tables and graphics really add to the content.

The text is very inclusive of a variety of culture and subculture influences.

This is really a great text. Comprehensive and clear, even to be used in a non-sociology course. While the lack of an international perspective was one weakness, the other weakness was more discipline specific. The text is about social problems, so obviously there was a negative focus to the problems – after all, they are problems. However, in social work we at least consider the strengths perspective and empowerment model – which was lacking here. I did supplement this text with some change-focused, asset-based materials to shift the focus from strictly defining problems to taking on advocacy.

Reviewed by Marc Wagoner, Associate Professor, Worcester State University on 6/30/20

The book appears to to do a great job on covering material that can distress both individuals and the communities they are a part of. It appears to be comprehensive in it's definition and application of sociological theory and research. The content is well organized, with each chapter divided into sub-sections that make it easy for a reader to seek out specific information. As the year of publication is 2016, some of the example content is slightly out of date.

The content of the book appears to be solid and unbiased in terms of presentation of theory and its application. In addition, the explanations and examples are well-written and easy to understand.

The content from a theory and methodology standpoint is well-reviewed and organized. I think that much of that specific content will stand the test of time. However, given that it is a book that necessarily speaks so much to current events, it is challenging to have examples of application of such theory and methodology that do not have the potential to quickly shift. As such, some of the examples and references points in the book are a bit dated. This is not entirely bad from a teaching standpoint in that comparisons between present day and four years ago can be made in terms of examples of reasons for the research and applications of the theory. I do think that updates would not be too challenging to implement.

The text is well-written in a way that is easy to understand for a student. Jargon is sometimes necessary in an academic context, but the textbook does well in ensuring that any jargon written is also well-defined prior to being frequently used. I did not see any occasion in which terms were used improperly. I think the text is written in a way that invites more reading for the student.

The textbook is internally consistent. I observed no occasion where terms were defined one way and then used another in a different part of the text. Any visual aides or additional material, such as examples or reference points, seemed to be consistent with the point or argument the text was making.

The textbook is very well done in terms of modularity. There are a number of sub-sections throughout each chapter that can be read separately in order to learn something very specific. In addition, there are boxes of additional pertinent information spread throughout the book that add to what the reader can learn without actually filling up the space that is dedicated to necessary learning.

The chapters do have a topical logic to them in terms of organization, where it does make sense that the following chapter be there. While the book is dedicated to social problems and change, however, I do think it would be valuable to dedicate a chapter to strategies for researching/studying those topics before entering into the topics themselves.

In my perusal, I saw no issues with visual aides; everything looked clear and sharp. The display at large made it feel very much like a textbook on the screen. Additionally, it was a very good idea to include hotlinks to other parts of the textbook. As the content is compelling, this decision can teach the reader the important lesson of how linked and interwoven all of the content is. The final chapter also did a good job of making this clear.

I saw no grammatical errors in the text. Any use of quotes or phrases directly from or representing a source were presented properly.

I saw no culturally insensitive content in any way, and saw a clear attempt at maximal diversity. Given the purpose of the text, this becomes especially important.

Even though I am a social psychologist and not a sociologist, this is the kind of text that I have looked for to use in a psychology course on social change. Obviously, such a course on my part would feature different theoretical and methodological approach, but the content as well as the organization of the present text really does fit the bill, including the intention to speak to the interdisciplinary of quality research that does contribute to social change. This is an excellent alternative to expensive hardcopies that is now on my list for consideration.

Reviewed by Kimberly Fox, Associate Professor, Bridgewater State University on 6/29/20

The book covers all of the topics that I would like to have in a Social Problems text and is clearly and comprehensively organized. The subtopics within each chapter also cover most of what I would expect in a textbook for social problems. That being said, the material is quite out of date and more up-to-date information along with new directions in these areas would be helpful.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

While I did not see glaring errors in the textbook, many of the sections include overgeneralizations without a critical examination of the topic. For example, in the chapter on Families, the author cites research by Bradford Wilcox without including a critical lens on this political biases. Similarly, it does not include other research that challenges some of those claims. The general writing style will make it easy for students to digest but the overgeneralizations will leave students without an understanding of the debates within the field.

While the general topics and coverage are clear and cover topics that have been - and will continue to be - relevant, the research within those chapters needs to be updated. The research is at least 8 years old and so can provide a good grounding in the overview of the topic but does not keep up with the newest research. Since social problems emphasize current events and concerns, it would be helpful to have up-to-date examples in addition to more recent research to show the "continuity and change" in societal problems.

Clarity rating: 3

The book is accessibly written and clear for undergraduate students but as mentioned earlier, it is often overly general. Also, the generalizations lead to lack of context for some of the jargon. For example, the first chapter starts with a discussion of the objective and subjective aspects of social problems without providing a clear understanding of the underlying differences between them. Since this class is usually geared toward early stage undergraduates, I think it needs more specificity in the writing.

The book is mostly consistent in its organization with the chapters using the same framework and terminology. The majority of the chapters discuss the functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist theories but it is not included in the chapters that discuss race, gender, and sexual orientation without any indication of why. I generally like the chapter organization but find that odd.

The modularity of the text is good. Not only are the chapters small enough to consume but within each chapter there are subsections that can be used or skipped without loss of major points. That being said, I think it would be helpful to have the ability to reorganize it even more clearly.

The overall text is well organized with major overview topics first, followed by important identity concerns, and then necessary investigations into social institutions. The chapters flow well from one to another but could also be organized by individual faculty members without upsetting the flow.

The overall interface worked well but there were some issues with images or charts distorting or leaving too much white space before and/or after the pictures that made it somewhat awkward. Overall, it was not too disruptive.

There were no major grammatical errors.

The book includes examples from multiple racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. It covers topics sensitively and comprehensively.

I like the general sense of the book and would hope to have something similar in a Social Problems text. However, the overgeneralizations and out-dated material make it unlikely that I will adopt this book for classes at this time. I do think that a social problems book is an important one to have as an open text and hope that it will be updated in the future.

Reviewed by Ashley Palmer, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington on 1/2/20

The textbook covers foundational information on a multitude of social issues– particularly the characteristics, causes, and consequences of these issues – and could be used for both sociology and social work courses. Both historic and current examples were provided. Additionally, I appreciated that national and global perspectives were included within each chapter.

While much of the content appeared to be based in research and accurate, this was uneven across chapters. At times, statements or positions seemed a stretch from the research that had been discussed and other times, seemed like personal or professional opinion.

Some of the statistics should be updated, but the overall picture of what is being described remains relevant. The author has organized text in a manner that will require straightforward updates. As noted above, some chapters would benefit from a stronger (or more explicit) connection to social science research.

One of the major strengths of this text is the straightforward and clear way that content is presented and explained. I believe that students will appreciate the ease of read while also gaining important foundational information.

The text consistently uses the same frameworks and terminology throughout chapters.

The organization of this textbook will make it easy to utilize in blocks. That is a major strength because chapters and sections can be reorganized and complemented with other material within a course, as needed.

This textbook is organized well. Chapter 3, 6, 9, and 13 have sections that are out-of-order. This is confusing when trying to read the book straight through rather than clicking on sections.

There were no major interface issues. Minor issues included that images, charts, and tables were disjointed and made it difficult to follow. When viewing the PDF on a laptop, all images, charts, and tables were displayed well. Some of the photo images were unnecessary and did not enhance understanding or learning. Rather, the captions below them repeated what had been shared within the text.

There were no major grammatical errors. Most errors consisted of leaving a word or two out of a sentence. Though not necessarily “grammatical errors” jargon was used throughout.

While overall I believe the textbook was inclusive of diverse cultural backgrounds, there were some issues that could be enhanced. For instance, in Chapter the use of a photo of someone who was lynched seemed insensitive and abrupt ,with no trigger warning and did not add anything to the discussion. In Chapter 4 on gender inequality, gender was discussed as a social construct. Yet, non-binary or gender fluidity was not addressed, or were inequality and issues related to non-dominant gender identity. Given that the author is stating that gender is a social construct, it seems necessary to go into other identities. (This was touched on briefly in Chapter 5 on Sexual Orientation, referenced as androgynous). In Chapter 5, the references to “gays” and “straights” is vague and does not seem to be culturally appropriate terminology.

I think this textbook provides a good foundation and plenty of content to mix and complement courses related to social problem and social welfare policy analysis.

Reviewed by Kelley (Katherine) Blanck, Instructor, Michigan State University on 11/15/19

The book appears to be comprehensive, as it is 796 pages, thoroughly indexed and outlined for ease in following the progression of the content. read more

The book appears to be comprehensive, as it is 796 pages, thoroughly indexed and outlined for ease in following the progression of the content.

There is some research-basis for the text - but there seems to be significant personal opinion as well. At times, there are many areas that appear to be personal reflection and inference rather than statement of fact.

It would seem to be relevant and easy to update as needed. There is a mix of historical theory as well as present-day examples.

Clarity rating: 2

The book seems to read more like a graduate-school paper than a text book. This could be helpful for early graduate students in understanding and ingesting the content; however, professionally, there is some jargon and amateur language used throughout.

Consistency rating: 3

The book is consistent in organization, terminology, and framework.

There are clear, smaller sections that are easy to navigate and read.

The topics are organized well and presented in a clear, logical progression of content. Each chapter has take-aways and key points for reflection and class discussion.

The interface has some formatting issues - there is a lot of empty, white space, especially after pictures or charts.

Grammatical Errors rating: 3

There are minor grammatical errors, mostly pertaining to use of jargon or non-professional terminology.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

The book does appear to incorporate cultural significance within many of the topic areas.

There are sections of this book that could be useful on their own for classroom assignments and discussion. The overall book is very long and could not reasonably be used for a single term; however, the smaller sections with the key takeaways are interesting and useful.

Reviewed by Cathy Beighey, Sociology Profressor, Aims Community College on 7/26/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

Yes, each chapter covered relevant concepts, related issues, and a sociological framework to 'digest' the content. Each chapter also included ways to address or improve the social problem highlighted within the chapter, which I found to be better format than a separate, overarching 'Solutions' chapter. To further develop students’ understanding of the importance and the inherent relationship between historic, economic, cultural, and social factors in the develop and persistence of social problems, it should be more intentional as far as developing a framework from which to analyze causal factors that breed structured inequality and hence social problems. Furthermore, such connections become the building block for higher-level learning and learning retention. These components were missing: - Although capitalism, corporate power, particularly via multinational corporations, and the great wealth disparity was included in the Work & Economy chapter, there isn’t a chapter, or subunit, that directly addresses different political systems and ensuing social issues, inequitable access to political power, voter apathy, etc. - I didn’t find Immigration Patterns and Issues addressed in any chapter. It may fit nicely as a subunit in the Racial/Ethnic Inequality. - No glossary; however, key terms and concepts are highlighted within the text. (A glossary is important for easy reference). - The end of the chapter summary is helpful, but I suggest it is expanded into more targeted end-of -the chapter review questions in order to highlight and reinforce learning as a student-driven formative assessment. - The subunits within each chapter begin with three-four Learning Objectives, which are helpful; however, in some instances, I found them to be too general to truly introduce pertinent points and guide learning. To that end, I suggest the subunits’ learning objectives are: 1) reviewed for any missing pertinent learning objectives, 2) designed to capture higher-level using Bloom’s taxonomy learning such as 'synthesize', 'analyze', etc. 3) revised and created for more targeted, measurable chapter-level learning outcomes (versus objectives), and 4) directly or indirectly address the CCNS Learning Outcomes at: https://erpdnssb.cccs.edu/PRODCCCS/ccns_pub_controller.p_command_processor?pi_search_type=SB_COURSE&pi_subj_code=SOC&pi_crse_numb=215&pi_archive_date=&pi_course_status=A&pi_term_code=202020.

Yes, the pertinent trends and general patterns were thematically correct sociologically speaking; however, it would benefit from some updating.

Yes, and appropriate updates will be easily implemented. To that end, some of the poverty and demographic data (i.e., from the 2010 Census) and statistics should be updated; however, with new research generating data quickly this can be time intensive so the author has to be intentional when selecting data.

Yes, the text is clearly written in an manner that is easily understood. There were points that students would benefit from elaboration regarding the socio-economic and/or historic context of some sociological concepts and social issues in order to foster deeper thematic connections and learning retention.

Yes, very much so from beginning each chapter with “Social Problems in the News’, with subunits (i.e., 1.2, 1.3, etc.) each with a concise list of Learning Objectives, and ending each chapter with “End of the Chapter Material”.

Yes, it is broken into small subunits that can be moved and incorporated at other points in the course if the instructor finds a different arraignment more intuitive and student friendly.

Yes, I broadly ‘see’ it organized as Understanding Social Problems, Social Problems of Inequality, and then Institutional Social Problems .

No visible issues, and the graphs and charts are well done.

No significant issues.

The textbook addresses a variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, and offers a cross-cultural lens in the 'Lessons from Other Societies'.

Instructor Supplemental Material: There are power point slides available to the instructor, but I didn’t find them easily utilized because how to access them by chapter wasn’t very intuitive (i.e., I found myself clicking on lots of random files). For example, the Chapter #2 Poverty slides are missing, or I couldn’t find them.

Learning Tools for Students: Expand learning tools to reinforce reading comprehension, basic understanding of the concepts, and to provide formative student-driven assessment.

Reviewed by Miriam Kero, Instructor, Hibbing Community College on 5/24/19

Social Problems: Continuity and Change provides complete coverage of the main categories of problems in society today: poverty, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. The table of contents lays these out for easy access. Within each chapter, key terms are in boldface and defined; sections of each chapter are summarized with key takeaways, and discussion questions are provided. The text lacks an index and glossary at the end, however. This makes it challenging to look up key concepts without knowing in which chapter that concept was discussed.

The book is factual and well rounded in representation. Most chapters review each social problem using the three major theoretical families (functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism). This allows discussion of the social problem from multiple vantage points. Students have commented that the text seems "balanced" in its representation.

The chapter material is up to date, although statistics often reference 2010 (sometimes even earlier); now in 2019 I have found myself looking up new data to see how trends have evolved over the last decade. Have correlates continued to hold? Particularly in discussing wealth distribution, new graphics depicting the rise of the super rich are helpful to supplement the material. The text is written in a way that allows the instructor to easily supplement and update data like this while teaching; ultimately it appears that updates to text would also be easy to implement.

In review of Social Problem's writing, the text is straightforward. Any relevant terms are in bold faced and defined. Each chapter's sections begin with a learning objectives box. And as noted prior, each section has a summary. This provides the classic "tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you told them" format that helps clarify what is important. Finally, the end of each chapter contains a summary of the whole chapter's main points.

The framework of the text has some nice consistent elements. For example, sections termed, "Perspectives on ____ (e.g. aging)" typically list the three theoretical viewpoints on the problem. Sometimes, however, these same areas are called "Explaining ______." It would be helpful for directing students if these were consistent. Also, it would be preferred if each chapter followed a similar order. For example, section one would be an introduction, section two the theoretical perspectives, section three correlates, etc. The terminology, however, is consistent.

The text is nicely segmented; sections are labeled clearly, and within each section the main concepts are identified with headings. The order of the chapters can be easily reordered; each is self-contained, and when other chapters are referenced they are hyperlinked. Following those links is not necessary, though, because key terms are redefined and concepts restated as needed.

I like the order in which the chapters are presented in Social Problems, although I do contemplate covering race and ethnicity before poverty simply because the correlates of poverty to race and ethnicity are so powerful. Within each chapter, I would prefer greater consistency in the structure of sections (e.g. section two always containing the theoretical perspectives).

The interface works very well in Chrome; not so much in Explorer. In Explorer the page navigation is just text at the bottom of the screen (rather than a box with fill and text from which the course material appears behind). This makes it difficult to read. In both browsers, though, the table of content menu is very easy to use (drop down).

I have not found grammatical errors in the text.

The text (to my "white" eyes) is not culturally insensitive, however, one of my critical-thinking Hispanic students felt that it had a tone of "looking down" upon folks for color. This could be a product of the scientific tone of sociology, but his comment is worth noting. In perusing the photo depictions within the text, it appears many are of white folks. I look for photos that match my students; I do not see much representation of Asian, Muslim, or Hispanic people. The text does make the correlates of inequality to social problems clear, however. And it notes past biological views were racist.

For a free textbook, this is a wonderful resource. It provides a solid foundation from which to grow course curriculum. Supplementing with TED talks, additional data, and ideas on what individuals can do to improve social issues makes for a well rounded introduction to social problems.

Reviewed by Carlos Lopez, FT Sociology Faculty, Chemeketa Community College on 5/22/19

The textbook is organized in the typical fashion as other social problems textbooks (with a notable exception being Joel Best's Social Problems). The expected social problems are covered, but chapters on the media, technology, and/or science would have been welcomed. The topic of guns and gun control is absent. A substantive discussion on globalization is also missing. While there is a Table of Contents (with some unfortunate numbering errors), there is no index or glossary. While not the most purely sociological approach, the increasing prominence of rational choice theory may warrant its inclusion (and critique) in the textbook. The introductory chapter serves as a clear road map to future chapters.

The content is mainly accurate (although some of the statistics are outdated), and the text is generally error-free and unbiased. While most of the URLs (detected by the .pdf reader used) worked, some links were broken. More up-to-date and sociologically relevant links could be made to student-friendly sites like The Society Pages, Contexts, and even asanet.org.

While some of the statistics are out-of-date, with sufficient time, it would not be too difficult in updating much of this data. Since each chapter is divided into 5-7 sections, it would not be too onerous to update some of the discussions, particularly the ones on policy. A more in-depth discussion on the social construction of social problems and an expanded discussion on how social policies come to be would make the textbook more relevant. A discussion on political ideologies and their relationship to the understanding of social problems and policy would also be helpful.

Since the text stays away from a lot of the technical language of sociology, students should find the text approachable. I did not run across a passage in which I thought students would not be able to understand the arguments or explanations being made.

The typical three theoretical perspectives are introduced in Chapter 1 and are consistently present in later chapters. Useful end of chapter study aids are present in all chapters. There seems to be an attempt to reduce jargon which does improve the readability of the textbook. At the same time, I think making it slightly more technical would be acceptable. Students should be reminded that sociology is a science which is distinct from other ways of knowing and distinct from other social sciences. It has its own set of vocabulary that students should be exposed to.

A clear strength of the textbook is in its modularity. Each chapter is divided into several sections that can be easily be assigned at varying points throughout the term. A select number of modules could easily serve as supplemental or background information if other texts are being used. Excessive use of subheadings is avoided.

Each chapter had a similar structure with the same end of chapter materials. Students should be able to predict the flow and structure of each of the chapters. While not explicitly indicated, chapters are grouped more or less by theme: inequalities, deviance and behavior, institutions, and social change.

The textbook was reviewed on a laptop and on an iPad in .pdf format. I found the formatting acceptable, and there was no display, formatting, or text issues that served as barriers to enjoying the textbook. Images, graphics, figures, and charts were not awkwardly embedded in the text.

There were no glaring grammatical errors or problems with usage, sentence structure, or punctuation that got in the way of the readability of the textbook.

Since this is a text on social problems from a sociological perspective, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, and other ascriptions are covered from a scientific approach. Nothing struck the reviewer as culturally insensitive, and the textbook very much read as many introductory and social problems textbooks do.

Reviewed by Nicholas Recker, Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 5/22/19

This text-book offers a comprehensive look at social problems. I believe all of the important topics are addressed. read more

This text-book offers a comprehensive look at social problems. I believe all of the important topics are addressed.

The book is accurate. However, some of the statistics are getting dated.

This textbook is relevant for a social problems/social issues course. Key topics are addressed, though some statistics are getting dated.

The book clearly lays out information. Key terms are bolded and chapter summaries are offered to help ensure information does not get missed.

Organization and writing is consistent throughout the book.

The book is broken down into chapters and each chapter has manageable sub-sections. I found this easy to follow. I think it will help students by making the readings more manageable.

The book is logically organized. Important course topics are covered in a clear and logical structure. The chapters are framed with sociological theory.

Each chapter has learning objectives and bolded course terminology. This book is also available in a variety of formats (e.g. PDF, online, etc.)

Good Grammar

Appropriate for students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

This is a great book!

Reviewed by Katie Cali, Instructor of Sociology and Criminal Justice , NTCC on 4/3/19

The information presented in this textbook is comparable to a traditional, publisher distributed textbook. The presentation structure of the text is written in a comprehensive manner. Beginning with an introduction to the concept of social problems, the book presents various social problems experienced by society throughout the chapters. The chapters dissect the content through the lens of the major sociological theories.

Throughout my analysis of the chapters, I found the content to be accurately presented with well-developed explanations through the lens of the theories.

Relevancy is not an issue for this text. The examples are up-to-date and current; nonetheless, updating the textbook should be simple. The textbook presents classic examples and ideas that are just as relevant as the examples of recent, current events. The combination of historical examples and current events can assist the student as they understand the social problems in society. This text will easily be relevant for several years.

The writing is clear and easy to understand. I do not feel the author used academic jargon to the point that students will struggle to comprehend the material. As with all disciplines, some academic jargon is necessary and the author provides the necessary amount of technical terminology to expose the students to the discipline without excessive use.

Terminology use is consistent throughout the text, making the book comprehensive for students. The structure of the book is highly consistent, making textbook navigation straightforward and simple to use. I found the logic and the additional learning material, such as figures and graphs, to be consistent throughout the text.

I really like the design of this text. The reader can easily spot the title page, content and learning objectives for each chapter. Within the chapters, the author successfully uses proper headings and subheadings to guide the reader through the material. Since the modules are so well-organized, this textbook could potentially be a great resource for other OER courses.

The text is well organized. The topics are clearly stated so you know what chapter to look at when looking for specific information. ; topics are not hidden behind fancy chapter titles. Each chapter is broken down and structured appropriately. Content is written in a logical and chronological manner.

I did not find any issues with the textbooks overall interface. The text is easy to navigate, and the images are clear and consistent. When I am reading a textbook, I like additional figures and little important snippets of information that I should remember or learn. Images can enhance the learning experience and this book does exactly that.

As far as I can tell, the book appears free of grammatical errors.

Cultural sensitivity is extremely important for a Sociology textbook. Considering how controversial many of these chapters are, the author did an exceptional job presenting the information in a non-biased manner, making the textbook inclusive for students of all backgrounds, races, genders, and ethnicities.

Reviewed by Ajay Panicker, Associate Professor, St Cloud State University on 5/21/18

The textbook follows the standard practice of providing an initial understanding of Social Problems in general, and the theoretical perspectives employed to explain them, and goes on to examine in some detail a variety of social processes within which problems are identified and discussed. The text follows a method of providing a general understanding, historical background, identifies the concepts relevant to each area, and provides a range of data, particularly through visual presentation (graphs, charts, maps etc.). Additionally, the chapters in the textbook provides a comparative international perspective. In all these ways, the textbook is quite comprehensive.

The content in this textbook is accurate. It provides mostly recent data, backed by historical information. The information presented is drawn from credible sources, and the analysis presented is based on social scientifically produced knowledge. In fact, aside from being unbiased, the textbook employs sociological perspectives to identify biases prevalent in society and demonstrates how sociologically produced knowledge can dispel them.

The content is up-to-date. The data presented is mostly uptodate, and because social data doesn’t vary vastly in short to medium time scale, new data can easily replace the old data. Therefore, in my opinion, the book will remain relevant for at least 10 years. Most importantly, the historical context, theoretical perspectives, typologies, and international comparative approach employed in the text contribute to its relevance and longevity.

The text is very well written. The clarity of writing makes it accessible to lower division undergraduate students for whom the book is written. It steers clear of jargons, and when terms are used as concepts, they are clearly elaborated for students to understand their utility.

As a sociology textbook, it is remarkably consistent internally in terms of terminology employed and the framework used. Theoretical frameworks are identified and elaborated at the start, and throughout the textbook, these frameworks are employed to present varied explanations of why the social problems exist, and what can be done about them.

The textbook is divided into chapters that deal with topical areas in Social Problem studies. Each chapter, then, is divided into sections and subsections that provide certain types of information/analysis. These sections and subsections are clearly identified and, while they connect with each other in contributing to the whole of the chapter, they are also useful as stand alone pieces that provide information. Learning objectives are identified at the start of each section, and that makes it easier for students to grasp the purpose of the section.

This is a very well structured textbook. At the start, the textbook provides a clear introduction to what social problems and the various approaches to addressing them. From thereon, the text goes on to follow a consistent structure in all the chapters that deal with various topical areas in Social Problems studies. Consistency in structure of chapters make it very student friendly.

Aside from some pages having a bit too much of blank space, the pagination and interface follow the standard format. Visual information, through images, graphs, charts, maps etc., are presented clearly and consistently. I did not experience any navigation problems or notice any distortion of the visual presentation of information.

I did not see any grammatical errors. Largely well written book.

The textbook is written in a culturally sensitive manner. In fact, it addresses many of the cultural insensitivities prevalent in society and attempts to address them.

A thoughtfully developed, well written textbook that is accessible to undergraduate students of social problems.

Reviewed by D. Chanele Moore, Assistant Professor, University of Delaware on 5/21/18

The book covers all the traditional content chapters of a traditional textbook. In each chapter, theories traditionally taught in an introductory level course are discussed. read more

The book covers all the traditional content chapters of a traditional textbook. In each chapter, theories traditionally taught in an introductory level course are discussed.

The textbook presents current, "state of the art" content. I read information is presented in a balanced way so that points and counterpoints are represented.

The book is up-to-date in terms of content and ideas. The data and references do seem dated so, in time, the statistical data would need to be updated. I do not think those updates would require an overhaul of the text.

The textbook is clear and accessible. Discipline specific jargon is explained clearly and examples provide useful support in understanding the theories and concepts.

The book follows the same format for each chapter. Each chapter includes a chapter containing the following: a short introduction, context for the topic, discussion about how concept is measured, discussion of theories, recommendations for problem solving and a conclusion. I appreciate the conclusions at they provide a nice summary of the whole chapter.

The text is divided into reasonable chunks so that assigning a whole chapter or sections of a chapter are easy. The sections each have a title and there are appropriate subtitles dividing the reading. It was easy to read through each section and maintain a sense of where I am in the book.

There is no real logic to presenting topics in a social problems book. That said, the order of topics in this book is very similar to the order of topics in several other social problems text books.

I read the book using the online platform and had no problems. There is a table of contents and a home button that provide an appropriate amount of navigation. I also downloaded the book into a pdf file and was able to use the bookmark feature to navigate in the book. The bookmark feature was helpful for navigating to a certain place in the book but did not indicate when you have scrolled to different area.

I saw no grammatical issues.

I do not think the text is insensitive. However it couldn't hurt to have more images of people of color, namely Asians, Native Peoples, and Latinos.

There is a strong discussion of the sociological imagination in chapter one (which I love). That is a good feature. The book does a good job of discussing the three classical theories throughout, but I especially like that there is background content, historical context and contemporary application when the classical theories are introduced in chapter 1. The presentation of global comparisons is especially helpful. I do wish there were a stronger or fuller discussion of the constructed nature of social problems, but the discussion that exists in this book parallels other books I have used. Overall this is a solid book that is a good foundational text for teaching Social Problems.

Reviewed by Kate Noveau, Adjunct Professor, Rhode Island College on 2/1/18

This book does a nice job at giving a broad overview of some of the core societal problems that have plagued our country, and continue to do so. The material is presented at a pretty basic level - I think it would be great for introductory, undergraduate courses in a variety of fields ranging from sociology to medicine, social work to law, and so on. Frankly, it would be good for much of the general public to just read given our current social/political climate. While there is no glossary in this book, the language is pretty digestible. The table of contents is well organized and user friendly.

The content in the book was accurate and did not appear to have any errors. It is relatively unbiased; however, without knowing anything about the author, I would venture to say that he is an upper-middle class white male.

This book is HIGHLY relevant today despite being in need of an update. Areas most in need of updating are Chapter 5: Sexual Orientation and Inequality, Chapter 7: Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Chapter 13: Health and Health Care. These three areas have had rapid changes particularly in the last 5-10 years. For example, LGBT now would more commonly be LGBTQ or even LGBTQIA. In regards to substance abuse, an update regarding decriminalization and the state vs federal debates on legalization of marijuana should be included. The advances of Medical Marijuana should also be addressed in a future edition. In terms of healthcare, an update regarding Affordable Care Act would be welcomed. The author mentioned adopting "Integrated Care" as a strategy to improve healthcare and there as been a tremendous shift in this direction since this book was written. Integrated Care, Accountable Care entities etc. have rapidly developed in the last 5-10 years and I feel the author could provide a nice synopsis of these changes. The book is written in such a way that these could easily be implemented.

This book could be read by many different audiences of varying educational levels. It offers surprisingly comprehensive context in a succinct and accessible manner, and is free from a lot of technical terms/jargon.

The book uses consistent terminology and framework throughout. The "Theory Snapshot" provides a nice uniformity throughout the chapters.

The book is written in such a way that you could easily select a single chapter, or a section of a chapter, individually as a reading assignment. It could be used for a variety of different courses, selecting just the chapters that are relevant.

The book is well organized and consistent throughout. Each chapter offers the Theoretical Perspective as well as a nice summary in the End of Chapter material.

I am a person that likes BOOKS. I like turning the pages, highlighting sections, and writing notes in the margin. That being said, I do not always have the time to go to a bookstore, nor the space on the shelves to house more books, nor the patience to flip through all of the pages to find the note scrawled down a page. I am pleased to say that this text has made be a 'believer' of the Open Textbook. The interface of this book was flawless. I did not notice any errors, navigation issues, or other problems. It was available in several formats and all worked without issue.

I did not come across any issues here.

I did not come across any insensitive or offensive references in this book.

This book provides a brief, but good, overview of some of the biggest "hot topic" issues of our time. Making books like this available on Open Textbooks allows access to valuable educational resources that people might not be able to access otherwise.

Reviewed by Lori Geiselman, Adjunct, Rhode Island College on 2/1/18

Each chapter is well described. Chosen social problems are relevant and can be applied to a variety of fields. read more

Each chapter is well described. Chosen social problems are relevant and can be applied to a variety of fields.

Well balanced coverage of views. Each chapter includes several references.

Social problems addressed in this book include a brief history, present situation, and suggestions for future resolution. As written, appears one can easily update and maintain relevance over time.

Easily understood and holds interest. Great for introductory level students.

Each chapter is consistent in layout and writing style.

These chapters are extremely modular/portable. Topics may stand alone without compromise. True building blocks that may be configured to build a specific form.

Consistently well-organized throughout. Encourages critical thinking through assignment opportunities and self-reflective review.

Very clear, easy to navigate. Appreciate the low number of charts/graphs, that when overused, unnecessarily bog down a basic overview.

No problems were identified. Well written.

Some concern that over simplification (albeit in an effort to provide basic overview) may perpetuate generalizations that limit application where more intense scrutiny is appropriate. Chapter 3: Racial and Ethnic Inequality does a nice job in regard to cultural relevance. Other chapters were less intentional in regard to culture connections embedded in the topic, and its handling of the same.

Especially enjoy the interactive component! Each chapter provides an opportunity for deeper reflection and engaging activities.

Reviewed by Naliyah Kaya, Lecturer, University of Maryland on 2/1/18

The book addresses a wide array of social issues, defines and discusses subjective and objective definitions of social problems and covers major sociological perspectives and theorists. Basically, it has what you'd generally expect to be covered in an introductory social problems book. It does not have a glossary, likely because it has a search option at the top of the screen that seems to work well.

Based on what I reviewed, I did not see any errors.

The book does a good job of discussing the persistence of many social issues over time giving past and present examples. I personally would supplement the book with specific examples that are current (they also ask for you to submit how you supplement the book) as the majority of "newer" sources seem to be from 2010-2011.

There was one link in chapter 2 for a poverty figure that no longer works, but it still takes you to the correct website.

The text does a good job of defining terms, explaining concepts and providing easy to understand examples. I don't think a student would find it difficult to understand even with no prior sociological knowledge. They break down some of the main theoretical perspectives and how they apply to sociology in a very digestible way.

I did not find any issues with the consistency of the book.

The book does an excellent job with regard to modularity. Each chapter has a box with learning objectives. The modules in each chapter are concise with good examples. There are boxes at the end that list key takeaways, provide review activities and references for the individual section/chapter. There is a good " at a glance" chart on theoretical perspectives in the beginning that explains the major assumptions of each and how each perspective views social problems. I also love the drop-down index that makes it incredibly easy to jump to chapters and sections of chapters as well as the term search box.

The information is presented in a clear logical manner. The first chapter does a good job of laying the foundational groundwork needed to discuss the social problems in the following chapters. Each chapter does a good job of explaining how issues have been framed in the past as well as present and how different frameworks have been used over time.

I did not find any issues with the interface.

I did come across any grammatical errors.

While the book is likely going by past racial categories on the census I would add in Middle Eastern and Multiracial experiences in the chapter on race & ethnicity, especially as the census explores the MENA category as well as how people perceived to be of Middle Eastern descent have faced increased discrimination and stereotyping post 9/11. The section on types of racism I would supplement with current material as we've seen a rise in old-fashioned racism (hate crimes) over the past year. While I like the idea of the "What You Can Do" sections at the end of the modules/chapters I think this can also be problematic if possible pitfalls of social change are not also discussed (paternalism/savior mentality, assimilation, ignoring cultural differences...). Often well-intended people get involved with issues that they are out-group members of and sometimes the impact is more harmful than helpful. This box of suggestions can unintentionally promote a helper vs. helped framework rather than teaching students how to be in community with others to solve social issues.

Reviewed by Lorena Fulton, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Ohio University-Zanesville on 2/1/18

This textbook is a thorough description of what social problems are, with detailed illustration of specific social problems. It provides a comprehensive summary for holistic education and the content is substantial enough for individuals chapters... read more

I find no discrepancy with respect to objective information.

The book is certainly relevant to the needs of higher education today. It is a good blend of history and social policy with both a micro and a macro viewpoint. The content will remain relevant for the near future.

Clarity is important in higher education because so much content is cluttered with jargon and field-specific verbose. This book does a very nice job of speaking to readers from diverse background and interests.

Each chapter follows a predictable outline that brings the content together.

My favorite feature of this book is the separation of ideas by chapter. This makes the book useful in a variety of courses, as a supplement to other material.

I found no problems with interface.

I found no problems with grammar.

The content is timely and needed for students' general education requirements.

I am more likely to use this book as individual chapters for course-relevant supplementary material than to create a course around it.

Reviewed by Aimee Krouskop, Instructor of Sociology, Portland Community College on 6/20/17

Barkan offers a solid overview of the sociological approach to social problems, and a review of established US problems leading with the context of the social constructionist view, and weaving other perspectives, historical matters, and policy approaches into the content in an accessible way. Key Takeaway sections that follow the sections provide very positive notes for relevancy. In later editions I would like to see certain social issues included, due to their potency and continued emerging urgency (specifically: human and civil rights, development and migration, cultural property, and sustainable consumption). More comparative treatments and discussion of the role of globalization plays within key social problems would add to this comprehensiveness.

I find the content of this text to be accurate, with few errors, and offers an objective approach to US society analysis.

The selection of social problems are relevant and widespread, and discussion of those carries demonstrates current treatment. However, as mentioned in "comprehensiveness" above its relevance could be improved by replacing some theoretical sections with pressing and fast-emerging social problems listed there.

This is an exceptionally clear and accessible text; very appropriate for an introduction to social problems course.

There is a reliable framework and very consistent terminology-set to this work. This adds dramatically to its accessibility.

I can see readily dividing this text into smaller reading sections and / or reorganizing or skipping sections to accommodate a specific course schedule.

The organization, structure, and flow of this text makes for a very readable and usable offering.

I find no significant interface issues.

I find no grammatical errors.

I do not find this text culturally insensitive nor offensive. Including cultural property, and comparative approaches throughout would add to its cultural relevance.

Reviewed by Carol Ann MacGregor, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Loyola University New Orleans on 6/20/17

I chose to review this book as a possible adoption for a summer online Social Problems course. I was pleased to see that all of the topics that I currently cover in the course. While there is no glossary it is easy to navigate the table of contents. read more

Although I am not a subject matter expert on each of the topics covered, the ones that focused on my areas of specialty, Schools and Education and Race and Ethnicity, were accurate and without problem.

This text has a nice balance of timeless social theory and relevant contemporary examples. The examples should not need yearly updating but may need a refresh from time to time.

The book is accessible and engaging. I think most undergraduate students would find it clear and easy to read.

In spite of the wide range of material covered, the book reads like one written by an expert in everything.

The chapter structure of the book makes sense. When I need to adapt it for an 8 week course it would be easy to just choose the 8 most relevant topics.

The book is clearly organized and the end of chapter material brings it all together.

I appreciated the streamlined/simple layout and the pops of color.

There are no issues here.

I did not find any offensive references and the book attempts to enhance our appreciate of race, gender, and sexual diversity

A really wonderful alternative to an expensive social problems text. Covers all the material in an accessible way and leaves room for instructors to supplement as needed.

Reviewed by Cindy Hager, Instructor, Sociology, Alexandria Technical and Community College on 4/11/17

The text covers a comprehensive look at social problems and provides an examination of discipline specific material as well as statistical information on how each social problem is currently experienced throughout the world. The Key Takeways and... read more

The overall content is accurate although statistical information needs to be updated (see relevance/longetivity).

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

In regards to discipline specific material the text is highly relevant. However, sociology is a discipline that benefits from having recent statistics. Having more recent statistical information is important to understanding the current state of various social problems and providing an accurate understanding of social problems. In order to effectively use the text, the statistical information needs to be updated.

The text is easy to understand and the language effectively reaches students.

The text is consistent in its layout and approach. It continuously examines issues in a discipline specific manner while being culturally relevant. This is important in effectively engaging students.

This text is especially effective in it's modularity and can easily be broken into different sections. This is highly effective for student learning.

The text's flow and structure is consistent throughout. I think this is important to students specifically in an online environment who seek a rhythm to what they are learning and that a text has similar presentation from one chapter to the next.

Did not find any issues with the text's interface.

The text appears to be free of grammatical errors.

I found that the lessons section offer students the opportunity to understand the cultural impact more effectively. Information presented does not appear offensive and offers opportunities for critical analysis.

Providing quality open educational resources is important to meeting the needs of a dynamic student body. This text would be a great benefit to a Social Problems course with the addition of more recent statistical data.

Reviewed by Jolene Sundlie, Sociology Instructor, Saint Paul College on 4/11/17

This text covers all the chapters/topics you would expect in a Social Problems text. The chapters are concise at about twenty pages per chapters. The Table of Contents is comprehensive, but the is so glossary of terms or subject/name index at the... read more

I found the text to be mostly accurate. There are many statistics included in each chapter and I didn't check out each and every number provided. In the family chapter, in the section on divorce, I question the accuracy of the information provided that divorce rates rose sharply during the Great Depression and WWII. I don't believe that statement is true.

I give this section a 5 because it is very difficult to stay up-to-date in a Sociology text. Considering this book was published in 2010, there is some outdated material in it, specifically about same sex marriage. It was accurate in 2010, but is no longer relevant. If this book could be updated, it would be helpful.

I found this book to be clear and easy to follow. Most of the technical terms are explained or defined in the context of their usage.

I found each chapter to be consistent with the chapters before. The same prose is used throughout and the same major theories are consistently covered.

Each chapter is broken into sections and each section is appropriately numbered, e.g. in Chapter 10, section 1 is 10.1, section 2 is 10.2, etc...

I would reorder a couple of the chapters and combine a couple of chapters. Chapter 4 is gender inequality, Chapter 5 is sexual orientation and inequality, Chapter 6 is aging and ageism, Ch 7 is alcohol/drugs, Ch 8 crime and CJ and then Ch 9 is sexual behavior. I would either put Sexual behavior as Chapter 6 or I would simply combine Chapters 5 and 6 into one chapter. Sixteen chapters can be a bit too much to cover in a semester.

The navigation is smooth from the TOC to each chapter. One thing that I found to be a little confusing is that within the chapter, there a links to charts, photos, other chapters and they are highlighted in red. You click on it and it takes you somewhere. Key terms in each chapter are also highlighted in the exact same shade of red, so it seems like you should be able to click on the term and be taken to a glossary, but they're not links.

I found no obvious grammatical errors in the text.

I would like to see more inclusion of Native Americans and Asian Americans in the race/ ethnicity chapter and in all the charts/graphs/statistics that discuss race. Also in the race/ethnicity chapter (3.1), I think it is possible to discuss lynching without including a photograph of a lynched man. It is insensitive. Transgender is covered in Chapter 5, the chapter on sexual orientation. It should be included in the chapter on GENDER as it has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation. The term transvestite is outdated. The section on public attitudes about sexual orientation is all about the Bible - not a very diverse perspective.

Instructor resources would be a great and helpful addition to any open source book. There are none provided for this particular text. A few more end of section/chapter review or discussion questions would be great too

Reviewed by Michelle Crossley, Assistant Professor, Rhode Island College on 4/11/17

The text does a wonderful job of bringing in a vast array of social problems and related them to real world events. I am aware that it can be challenging to address every social problem, as the text indicates there may be a need for society to acknowledge these problems and then they are viewed as social problems, I found there to be many missing components that can be addressed in future editions. I would have hoped to find, at least, some information regarding the Transgender population in the Gender chapter-there was no mention of this population outside of the Sexual Orientation chapter and this was just to include the "T" in GLBT. This population is marginalized and oppressed daily and there are many real-world examples out there to consider. Also, there is little on those living with a Disability, including Mental Illness. In the future it would be great for these populations to be included as well as others that I've missed. Overall, the book was comprehensive in what it noted it would address in the index/glossary.

I appreciate how the text worked to incorporate the historical perspectives of the issues it did address. They were seemingly on-point and individuals reading could direct themselves to more recent information through the citations and website that were used. This is helpful. Content was biased by nature of the topic-the point of social justice is to make the point that there is a problem and inequality-there was little counter-point to this represented in the text.

As mentioned previously, the text does an excellent job of bringing into awareness the historical context of real-world problems. Through this information can become outdated rapidly, the issues being addressed are constant and continue to be weaved into current times. I would say that it will be relatively easy for chapters or addenda to be added as more problems emerge (i.e., Transgender rights, Disability and Mental Illness, Opiod Epidemic, etc.).

The text is clear in the purpose-to educate about Social Problems and capacity for change. Any jargon that is unfamiliar to those reading outside the field is nicely and clearly defined. Each chapter builds off another and I appreciate the consistency in language and how examples are analyzed.

The text consistently uses real-life examples and graphics throughout to help the reader better understand the severity of the Social Problems represented. I find that the reader can expect what's next in terms of analysis of the social problem using consistent theories throughout, directions for what's next, and reflection and direction of furthering the dialogue. It's a great component to add, especially when using this with Undergraduate students.

One thing that I really enjoyed about the text is how it is easily broken up into readings. Each chapter was not so long that it would overwhelm a student and topics could be broken up over multiple class periods. This can be helpful in teaching that material as it may be necessary to ensure comprehension of components before moving on to how to create change.

I found the text to flow nicely and appreciated the consistent nature of what was covered within the sub-chapters.

While navigating I did not notice any problems/distortions.

I did not notice any problems with grammar.

I would be mindful of noting certain terminology and changing as our standards of inclusive language changes (one is not Transgendered as this is not a choice). Overall, I found the text to be open about cultural differences and real-life examples of the problems of inequality that has plagued our society over many years. There may be a need for a foreward note that some of the pictures may be distressing and inclusion of a way to have a conversation about why the reader reacted in a certain manner to the graphics or content.

I appreciate this book for what it is--an introduction into learning about Social Problems throughout history. I would find this text to be helpful in teaching both Undergraduate and Graduate students focused on advocacy and social change work. These conversations are not easy ones to have, and I would suggest anyone using the book to take the time to develop skills to handle some of the interpersonal challenges of dialogue and strong values/beliefs that may emerge from these conversations. There are some components that are missing from the problems identified, though these can be supplemented through literature and examples in society. The structure that is provided in the text is easily replicated to create a "lesson" on those factors missed.

Reviewed by Cheryl Wright, Associate Professor, University of Utah on 2/15/17

The book is very comprehensive and covers the contemporary and important social problems in our society. It is up-to-date. It is high quality production from an established publisher. read more

The book is very comprehensive and covers the contemporary and important social problems in our society. It is up-to-date. It is high quality production from an established publisher.

The information is very up-to-date.

Up-to-date but there will be a need for periodic updates of national trends in these topical areas.

The text is easy to read and visually appealing. It has sections - key takeaways, review, what you can do that will be engaging for undergraduate students.

The book is very consistent in framework and organization.

This is the strength of the book - text is broken up in an organized way that will be appeal to visual learners.

Organization is very clear and consistent and easy to follow.

I did not see any interface problems.

No grammar issues.

This book is very culturally relevant and many of the topics focus on cultural and diversity issues.

Reviewed by Victoria Blanchard, Instructional Faculty, Virginia Tech on 2/8/17

The range of topics covered by the text is appropriate, and the concepts covered within the subjects are, overall, appropriate for an introduction to social problems. From what I can tell, sex trafficking gets one brief mention in chapter 4... read more

The range of topics covered by the text is appropriate, and the concepts covered within the subjects are, overall, appropriate for an introduction to social problems.

From what I can tell, sex trafficking gets one brief mention in chapter 4 (Gender) but no mention in chapter 9 on sexual behavior. The mention it does get, also represents it as the problem of a few countries globally. In reality, sex trafficking is a huge problem worldwide, including the United States. Even if the topic is not addressed in depth in this text, the failure to acknowledge and represent it accurately is a big problem. It is particularly an issue because the connection between sex trafficking and prostitution is not made. Many prostitutes have been or are victims of sex trafficking. This further complicates discussion of the topic of prostitution, but it is important to represent this complexity.

In chapter 10 when family violence is discussed, I was surprised to not see reference Johnson's typology of types of intimate partner violence (IPV). This typology helps address the conflict between various perspectives on what causes IPV and the form it takes. There is a huge difference between intimate terrorism and situational couple violence, and I think this should at least be alluded to. This was acknowledged a bit in the discussion of gendered violence, but not as clearly as it could, and I think should, be.

Page 598: author reports that TFR is misunderstood more often than other fertility measures but does not explain why/how. Without explanation, this seems to me to be an unnecessary detail.

The section on Mortality and Death rates on page 600 is woefully inadequate. At a minimum, there should be some brief discussion of how and whey mortality rates have changed over time in the United States, and why and how similar changes are or are not occurring in other countries. It would also be relevant to mention that our infant mortality rate is not comparable to that of many nations that we are peers with in other areas.

I see no index or glossary, which could make the text harder to use, particularly when students are trying to review concepts they have read earlier.

In chapter 5 on sexual orientation, I am concerned that the terms "transgendered" and "homosexuality" are used. Most major news sources have follow GLAAD's request to not use these terms (https://www.glaad.org/reference). This terminology should be updated to reflect more sensitivity to this population.

I love how in each chapter, the sections are separated and have their own reference lists. This is so practical, in terms of implementing changes in the future, and I think it will be helpful to students in organizing the information they take in from reading it. This text also does a nice job integrating historical perspectives on issues with related current events and concerns. I think overall the book hits the mark on overall relevance and longevity.

The text clearly defines key terms and jargon as they are used (although an index and/or glossary would be an important addition). The prose is very accessible---exactly what I would expect a college student to be able to read without struggling and comprehend without confusion.

I do not see any problems with internal consistency. The author did a nice job of representing functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interaction perspectives within the various topics.

YES. This is one of my favorite things about this text. I love how each chapter has such distinct sections. It's like all these complicated topics have been cut into bite-size pieces for the reader, which is so important in terms of accessibility and facilitating comprehension. Well done!

I like the overall organization of topics in the book. In the class I teach that correlates best with this text, I cover the various topics in a quite similar order. I also find the organization within chapters logical.

(PDF version of text) Pages 140, 180: Image at the bottom of page, caption is on the top of the following page Some of the images in the text are quite good, some are just ok, and some look staged or somewhat irrelevant to the topic at hand. However, I have a MAJOR problem with the divorce cake picture on page 408. I think it is not only in poor taste, but it also reinforces a host of (often gender-related) stereotypes and assumptions associated with divorce. I'll admit to being particularly sensitive to this issue as I am a divorced woman. But I'd like to hope that others would see the problems with this image that I see. There are some really great divorce cakes out there, and I'm all for you using an image of one in the text. But not this one.

Page 224: heading for title, blank below, table that follows goes for over a page, but is very narrow. I would suggest reformatting this. Pages 251, 434: Marijuana heading should just begin on the next page Pages 254, 261, 397: heading for table should be on same page as table Pages 261: source info for table should appear on the same page as the table Pages 320, 472, 559: caption for photo should be on same page as photo Pages 346, 358, 364, 499, 501, 560, 654: image is so large that a big gap is left on previous page. Pages 571: text here is smaller than everywhere else Pages 575, 663: keep bulleted lists on the same page

I'm sure there are some (there always are), but in my review, I did not find any.

Overall, it's pretty good. Like I mentioned before, I don't like listing only a few countries as having sex trafficking as a major problem. But this is the only specific example I can think of where I felt like certain countries were called out inappropriately. The issues with gender and sexuality terminology that I mentioned in item 2 are a big concern for me, however.

I definitely will refer to this text for general reviews of certain issues I'm not as familiar with and for using the discussion questions. I may use parts of it with my students, as well. If the issues I brought up were addressed, I would most definitely integrate at least parts of it in the readings I use in certain courses.

Reviewed by Komal Dhillon, Adjunct Professor, Virginia Tech on 2/8/17

Social Problems: Continuity and Change reads as an introductory text that exposes readers to a wide array of social issues. As such, the breadth of the text is impressive as many significant areas relating to social problems are discussed. However, due to the wide range of of topics, the depth in which each area is covered is relatively less, and is therefore more appropriate for an introductory class. That being said, the ideas that are considered in the text are done so in a critical and insightful manner and encourage further discussion (such as in a classroom setting) and thought. The table of contents that is provided is extremely useful and easy to navigate. A glossary of terms is not included, but would be helpful to readers for easy reference.

One of the most important features of Social Problems is the author's approach to providing information in the most objective way possible. Many of the issues discussed include various theoretical frameworks for understanding the why and how aspects. These often include the most prominent responses to social problems, including a brief genealogy of the problem presented in an informative way. Absent from this discussion is the author's viewpoints, thus allowing the reader to form their own conclusions.

The content is accurate and up-to-date with current sociological perspectives and includes contemporary examples, which help make it more relevant to undergraduates. Historical examples are also included in order to better conceptualize the origins and development of the issues. The text will have staying power for years to come, but occasionally adding recent examples will also be beneficial as it will help students relate to the material more easily and demonstrate the continuity of the problem.

This is one of the more accessible social problems text I have read. One does not need to have completed a prerequisite course in order to understand the concepts and ideas in Social Problems: Continuity and Change. Terms and ideas specific to the field of sociology are sufficiently elaborated upon in a clear and concise style. Yet, the information is also not too basic as to be deemed common-sense or intuitive. The language used is appropriate for the undergraduate level as it is easy to follow, yet at the same contributes to language development through the use of new terms (and terms used in new, non-conventional ways). The author has struck the important balance between accessibility and using the appropriate amount of jargon (while providing more than adequate context).

I found the book to be very consistent, particularly with terminology. For example, in the initial discussion of the connotative differences between the terms sex and gender, the author clarifies that the two are not interchangeable. When referencing either of these terms in other areas of the book, the author uses them in a manner consistent with the distinction provided. The same can also be said of the terms race and ethnicity as well.

There are numerous sections within each chapter that are organized similarly across all chapters. None of the individual sections are lengthy, yet they provide the reader with an appropriate amount of information, including historical perspectives, theoretical frameworks, examples, and solutions. Each chapter can be assigned out of order as the text is not overly self-referential, but the sections within the chapter are best read together and chronologically for maximum comprehension.

The reader is able to anticipate the organization of each chapter. This is particularly helpful with a book that discussed such a large variety of topics as it lends clarity and cohesiveness to the text. Moreover, the preface does a good job of outlining the structure of each chapter, while the table of contents also provides a useful quick reference.

I did not experience any interface issues. The links within the table of contents perfectly redirected the reader to the respective section. The images, photos, charts, graphs, and other displays were also clear and appropriate in size and relevance.

I noticed a few minor grammatical issues (missing period (one or two), absent commas, improper apostrophes, etc). I did not see any misspellings or major issues in sentence structure.

By and large, the author does an exceptional job of being inclusive (which is extremely important for a text that discusses cultural sensitive topics such as race, sex, feminism, age, ethnicity, class, etc.). The examples provided in the book draw from diverse groups, though the main focus is often on issues within the Unites States (and the Western world), with less attention given to global matters. Some of the images used to reference other cultures (for example, in section 4.3, under the heading, "The Global Inequality of Women) seem ahistorical and overly simplistic. In the example cited, the captions states that brides in Pakistan and India are killed every year due to inadequate dowries. This problem of violence against women in these states is much more complicated than the caption allows. Furthermore, the image used could also be viewed as essentializing of Indian women as traditional, rural, stuck in time, and even backwards and is not representative of most Indian women (who wear Western style clothing, do not do farm work, etc.).

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Social Problems: Continuity and Change and believe that it is an important text that is relevant to students of every discipline.

Reviewed by Megan Kuykendoll, Instructor, Miami University on 8/21/16

This text provides a VERY comprehensive look at overall social problems within the United States and provides a well-defined section on a variety of specific issues. This open text would be an excellent supplement to a large variety of course subjects when used in parts, but it would also be very useful in its entirety for a sociology or other related course. The comprehensiveness of topics lends itself to a wider use across disciplines than a more sociology- or psychology-specific focused text. For example, one could use the chapters on gender inequality and the changing family of this text in a women's studies course, while a criminal justice course might use the chapters covering crime and substance abuse instead. While the text does not appear to provide a specific index or glossary, it does provide appropriate links and citations where applicable. I might suggest including these features in the next revision of this text.

Content appears to be accurate and uses current sources where applicable. Images were also notably very current in several sections. No errors were noticed and the text is reasonably unbiased in its review of US/American society.

Given that this is a text written about societal problems and current issues, it generally lends itself to needing more updating than other subject matter. With that being said, this book would have relatively good longevity (several years) before significant additions would need to be made. Again, this would depend on any significant changes to cultural perceptions or legislative measures (for example, recent legalization of same-sex marriage).

This is a particular strength of this book. It starts each chapter with clear learning objectives and ends with a recap and key take-aways. I think this significantly adds to the student experience and helps to provide important scaffolding for the knowledge they are building. Excessively technical terms are avoided or explained where needed.

This text presents topics in a consistent manner and helps students to contextualize each topic within the broader society. Another helpful aspect is the continual redirection to ways students can get involved (volunteering, activism, etc). I find this particularly noteworthy because students may often feel dismayed at the breadth and depth of societal problems, but this part of each chapter helps them begin to move from discomfort and despair to action and positive contributions to their communities.

This book seems to have excellent modularity. I could see this text being used in parts very easily with little to no adjustment needed. Chapters can be presented in a different order than shown in the book without incident.

The consistency of structure in each chapter provides a great framework for students to become comfortable with what to expect for each topic. The flow created by the various sub-sections helps to understand the material in a larger context.

Overall the online interface has worked well. As mentioned previously, I would suggest adding an index and/or glossary with links to the appropriate sections. The table of contents is effective for navigation between chapters and sub-sections.

I have not noticed any grammatical errors in my review of this book.

Since this book addresses many cultural "hot topics", it's particularly important that those topics be discussed in a sensitive manner. This text takes a very matter-of-fact tone with the reader and uses research and historical context to help understand issues like race, gender, and sexuality. Where applicable, examples of cultures or communities outside of the United States are given to further examine the specific topic.

Reviewed by Rosalie Schofield, Associate Professor, Temple University on 8/21/16

The text offers a broad overview of key social problem areas that will be of interest to students. It offers a table of contents that details the approach to each problem. Each topic includes an historical perspective as well as an explanation of what key terms mean. The author follows a standardized approach in each chapter of defining the problem, presenting a range of data disaggregated by numerous characteristics including age, race, and sex. He provides statistics on the problem including easy to comprehend graphic presentations. offers competing theories that offer different explanations for why the problems exist, identifies individuals and approaches that have helped ameliorate the problems. The author also engages students in thinking about how they could contribute to alleviating or eliminating the problem.

I found the text to be accurate overall although the latest research and statistics are primarily from 2010 and 2011. One would want to supplement with updated research findings and data but other than that the content was correct. It appeared to be to be error-free and offered a balanced perspective. The ranking below is a 3 only because of the currency of the research and statistics.

The content of the book is still pertinent. The framing of the various problems, presentation of their key components and discussion of their different impact on specific demographic groups works well. The current event spotlighting the problem at the beginning of each chapter can easily be updated.

The text is clearly written and organized. It will be easy for students to understand. Any complex terms or theories are adequately explained. Each chapter lists takeaways at the end which will help students to retain the major points.

As discussed above, the text is organized so that the chapters follows the same schema throughout.

The text could easily be broken into blocks that corresponded to the syllabus topic for a given week. With some work, one could also easily update the content in those areas that needed more current information.

The topics are presented in an impressively clear and accessible manner. The challenge is the length of the book and the challenges of scrolling to easily locate or review previously read content. That is the nature of e-reading. For some students this is a challenge.

I didn't notice any interface problems that would distract the reader from understanding the text content other than the challenge of scrolling such lengthy material as discussed above.

I saw no grammatical errors.

Effectively presents and discusses race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation. Could be supplemented with content on transgender issues.

I could see segments of this text being used in a variety of courses that address social issues including, social policy, social work, and public health as well as intro sociology. The preface to this text on your website described it as an Introduction to Psychology but it is instead an Introduction to Sociology,

Reviewed by Hannah Liebreich, Lecturer, University of Hawaii at Manoa on 8/21/16

The overall layout of the textbook is logical and comprehensive. Additionally, the layout of each chapter is well organized and provides a wide range of topics and examples. The textbook covers an inclusive list of key terms, and the definitions are concise and to the point. However, I think that the presentation of major sociological theory could be more thorough. If I used this textbook for a course, I would likely accompany it with additional theoretical readings.

The author accurately and effectively covers material, and for the most part a variety of perspectives are presented for each topic.

Although the timeliness and relevance of material covered in a social problems class is constantly in flux, the textbook does a nice job of incorporating material from a wide range of contemporary issues. Plus, one of the perks of using a textbook from the Open Textbook Library is that you can more easily tweak the material being covered.

The language as well as the organizational structure of the writing is clear and concise. Additionally, the examples are easy to understand and complement and clarify key points.

Each chapter follows a similar and consistent layout, which makes the material easier for students to retain.

Modularity rating: 2

I can see how the overall structure as well as the organization of each chapter is well designed for class modules. For example, the “Social Problems in the News” section that starts each chapter is great for generating class dialogue and so are the “For Your Review” questions.

The organization of the chapters has a logical flow. Additionally, I like how the preface explains the layout of the chapters (i.e. the bullet points), I’m sure this is especially useful when students are studying for midterms.

Charts, graphs, visualizations, etc. are easy to understand and complement the text.

There does not appear to be grammatical or mechanical errors, and the textbook is accessible to readers.

The author presents a variety of examples and perspectives. However, I think the textbook could benefit from a more intersectional approach.

I’m a firm believer that higher education should be more affordable for students so I am pleased that this textbook, as well as others in the Open Textbook Library, offer quality sociological reading material.

Reviewed by Heidi Esbensen, Adjunct/Part-time Faculty, Portland Community College/Portland State University on 1/7/16

This text covers a broad spectrum of social problems coherently and thoroughly. One of the strengths of this text is the manner in which it provides examples that can connect the reader, students, to the issues in a way that matters to them. There are relevant examples throughout that are intermingled with theoretical lenses that connect the reality to academia, or vice versa. Each chapter focuses on one area of social problems and ties them to broader areas of oppression and intersections such as race, class, gender, etc. This is not easily accomplished across such a broad range of topics, but is nicely done here and is central in the first few chapters, setting a stage of perspective for the rest of the book.

Concepts and theories are accurate and clearly described, as well as current and relevant. The text is also up to date and in many cases seems to present more than one angle to social problems. This is taking into consideration a natural bias in social sciences when looking at social problems, but this text seems to, in most cases, lessen this to a great extent.

Prefacing the book with ‘classic theory’ and incorporating current events will maintain that the text is relevant for a long time. The ability to update the current events and areas of the chapters should be simple and will keep it current and lively!

Easy to read and comprehend, and the chapters were clear in their intent and purpose. The language used and writing style is very well managed in a way that presents the material clearly and concisely, while keeping readers attention.

Seemed consistent throughout, in both terminology and framework.

While reading this it was clear that there was a structure to create modules of learning to accompany. This would be easy to organize into discussions and lectures from the text layout. Also within chapters there was clear sub sections that were also laid out in modular organization. This text could easily be divided into subunits and sets of chapters for multiple subjects. This is a very strong point of this text.

The layout and structure seemed well thought out and the sections and sub sections were clear and followed each other well. There is no way to judge what social problem should come before another in presentation, and if it were desired to change the flow, one could easily assign different topic chapters in a different order.

Easily accessible, downloadable and all text, images and graphs were clear. As someone who is typically not drawn to online reading and would prefer in hand reading, this was easy and simple to navigate.

No grammatical errors were found.

Given the inclusion of current events and obvious attempt at intersectionality, this seems culturally relevant and easily graces the reader with the ability to see this. The text is appropriate and respectful of diverse backgrounds and lives.

I am not one to subscribe to online texts per se, but will definitely consider this after taking the time to read Social Problems: Continuity and Change, I was impressed by how comprehensive and well-presented it was. I think that given the vast amount of information, that this text could be very useful in full or in part for teaching, and given the format, a more socially conscious choice. There were chapters that would not only be good as part of the whole text, but used as an introductory to a more specific subject course. I think one of the strengths of the text is the language and the manner in which it really does provide opportunity for students to connect closely through pictures and examples presented.

Reviewed by Gordon Walker, Instructor, Portland Community College on 1/7/16

The book is extremely comprehensive, covering major challenges society is facing in the 21st Century, and would serve well as a reference book and as a place to go to begin research on today’s social problems. Extensive references are helpful... read more

The book is generally well researched, with many references in each chapter, although some of the references are ten years old or more. More recent research would add legitimacy to the accuracy of the book. For example, the section on marijuana (pp 322-324) is inaccurate and needs updating due to recent legalization, medicinal usage, rising potency of the drug, and also due to new research on cannabis and its effects. Both assertions in the statement “marijuana is generally not physiologically addictive, (and) it does not reduce ambition and motivation” (p. 323) have been shown through research to be untrue. The DSM 5 now recognizes that there are both physical and mental symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal, and studies have shown that “amotivational” behavior occurs in those who chronically use marijuana. Actually, I found this section on marijuana and its effects to be somewhat irresponsible—the text takes a tone that is seemingly condoning marijuana use, which in my opinion is ill-advised considering the general demographic of those who will most likely be reading this text. Check out The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Research Report Series on marijuana for an overview of newer research: https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mjrrs_9_15.pdf

The social problems discussed in the book, such as racism, poverty, drug and alcohol use, crime, and war and terrorism are both relevant to current societal concerns plaguing both the United States and the world and are also are challenges the world will be facing long into the future. The text should remain relevant with updates and inclusion of more current reseacrh and case examples.

The book is very clear in presenting its ideas in a linear and logical fashion. It presents a social problem, examines the causes and current impact of the problem, and offers suggestions for how the problems could begin to be ameliorated. The book is written in understandable language.

The chapters are very consistent in their presentations. The social problems herein are examined in the same manner in each chapter, which allows the book to flow well. The reader knows what to expect and what learning objectives are meant to occur.

The book is very well organized and the individual chapters can stand alone. If an instructor wanted to only teach portions of the book, this could be easily achieved. The chapters are also broken up into smaller sections, which make it easy to read small chunks at a time while also gaining increased knowledge of the subject matter.

The book flows well. I found the structure and the presentation helpful, as my interest in the topics grew the more I read.

I noted no problems with the book’s interface. Graphics were simply presented and understandable.

No grammar problems were noted. The writing was easy to follow and understand.

The text is very culturally conscience and relevant. Many (if not all) of the social problems in the world involve racism, discrimination, and conflicts between cultures, and the text does a good job of pointed out how culture affects and is affected by the social maladies covered. I did not perceive the text to be culturally insensitive in any way, although I am a privileged white male and have my own blind spots, so it’s possible I missed something an individual of another culture or demographic might see differently.

Overall, I found this text to be an excellent overview of problems with which modern society is confronted and which college students will continue to face as they grow older. Although I am familiar with many of the subjects discussed in the book, I enjoyed reading the text and found my interest growing in the subjects due to the manner in which topics were presented and the examples used to demonstrate them. I also appreciated that the book encouraged students to strive for social justice and not lose hope that they can contribute to the amelioration or resolution of these social problems.

Reviewed by Vanessa Jones, Lecturer, Cleveland State University on 6/10/15

Through the text, Barkan provides a comprehensive definition of social problems and policy processes, overview of critical current issues and theoretical perspectives, and history of problems affecting the social context of the United States and how such have been and can be addressed. There are also helpful sections that provide a global look at some social issues. While there is no index, glossary, or table of contents, the text is formatted effectively to highlight key terms, definitions, and concepts. Having nearly 900 pages of comprehensive coverage of social problems limits opportunities for instructors to assign additional readings and expose students to a variety of authors and research.

The content provided is not only comprehensive, but is also accurate and current. Barkan provides multiple perspectives on social problems, which effectively limits bias. Readers are exposed to opposing public and political views within a socio-historical context, allowing for readers to form their own educated assessments on the various social issues.

The content is current, and the text makes use of relevant news stories. It is arranged in such a way that and has a digital format whereby these news stories, supporting resources, and text can be easily replaced and/or updated.

Barkan’s writing style falls between informal and formal registers, utilizing clear, accessible language and avoiding the use of jargon (including academic, scholarly, and technical terminology) without providing an adequate explanation. The information is presented in a manner appropriate for some high school classes in addition to the post secondary level.

The terminology and framework of the text are internally consistent, incorporating the theoretical perspective of social constructivism throughout. It has a user-friendly and engaging chapter/section format that includes several types of pedagogical features and text blocks for application of social problems in the news, in relation to youth, with respect to change, various activities and scenarios, as well as succinctly summarized objectives, takeaways, and review.

The text is successfully divided into modules whereby each chapter contains smaller reading sections, complete with the aforementioned pedagogical features and text blocks. This arrangement is particularly useful when structuring reading assignments for courses in which the entire text may not be used or may be supplemented with additional journal articles. The included subheadings are also useful to guide readers and instructors through the content. Sections of text can be easily reorganized and assigned without disrupting the meaning and delivery of the content.

The chapters and topics within each chapter are presented in a clear and logical manner. The modularity of the text is structured in such a way that flows consistently with the subject matter while leaving flexibility for re-organization to fit the needs of individual instructors.

Interface rating: 2

While the text appears to be free of significant interface issues, navigation through the text is challenging. The comprehensive nature of the text makes it lengthy, and the addition of interactive table of contents, index, and glossary as well as a list of the charts and figures would be helpful to allow readers to navigate through the text. Currently, navigation through the text is a bit cumbersome, limited to scrolling through nearly 900 pages to locate information. The images are appropriate and engaging. While they contain helpful information, the charts used could be more visually sophisticated. None of the display features appear to be distracting or confusing.

Barkan does an excellent job of addressing social problems, which by nature can be controversial, in a manner that is neither culturally insensitive nor offensive. Barkan uses examples that are diverse, multicultural, and inclusive.

Social Problems: Continuity and Change is a well written, organized, and comprehensive textbook presentation of social issues and transformation. The author skillfully provides multiple perspectives on a wide range of issues, typically controversial in nature, thus promoting cultural sensitivity and relevance while avoiding bias. Though lengthy, the modular format of the text is ideal for modification for use in post-secondary as well as some secondary settings. Because the author so thoroughly covers the landscape of social problems, this text is an excellent resource even if not adopted in entirety.

Reviewed by David McLeod, Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma on 1/12/15

Attempting to comprehensively cover all aspects of social problems, with the extensiveness of marginalization, diversity, and oppression that exists in modern American society, is a daunting task. While I think the aim of this book is not for complete comprehensiveness, it’s almost 900 pages provide an extensive overview and set the stage well for opening students eyes to the differences that exist between the version(s) of the world they have experienced first hand, and the versions of the world that others experience. One of the key strengths of the text is in how it not only provides an overview of social problems in American society, but it also how it grounds the interpretations of these social problems through theoretical and paradigmatic lenses. Discussions of Structural Functionalism or Critical theories are highly useful in setting the stage for the investigation of social problems, and this text handles that well. Additionally the text provides examples throughout the chapters for how these types of problems may be viewed or dealt with in different cultures around the world. These pieces, along with discussions of opportunity for change and action, add to the comprehensiveness of the text by fostering conversations that could bring the students full circle to where they are not only enlightened about problems they may not have known existed prior to engagement in the course, but are also equipped to take steps toward addressing those problems.

The content of the text appears to be relatively error free. However, all positions concerning social problems are by their nature inherently biased. By simply deciding what constitutes a problem we have identified a position in which we stand. This is not bench science where generalizable truth is easier to quantify. Thankfully the author acknowledges this early in the text by explaining the differential nature by which people ascribe meaning to the world around them, and the theme is carried throughout, thus giving the reader the ability to interpret the identified problems from multiple viewpoints.

The contents of this text appear to be very up to date. I would expect this (digital) format to be an incredible asset to helping to keep the discussion of these social problems a contemporary one. Due to the structure and compartmentalization of the text I would expect updates to be easily added to the text.

The author has done a wonderful job at making the text easy to read and accessible. There is a minimum use of highly scientific or jargon terms, and students should find it easily digestible.

The text is consistent. For example throughout the text various social problems are examined using the same theoretical perspectives. Also there are social research sections throughout the text and key takeaways and discussion topics are at the end of every section. The structure and organization of the book, as well as concepts, terminology, and theories used, are consistent.

The modularity of the text would lend it to be easily taken apart and reassembled to suit particular classes. Further, the text with almost 900 pages total, appears to have been constructed with this in mind. Each chapter is self contained and could be used standing alone, and the sections within chapters are relatively self sustaining as well. The text has a good use of headings and is well organized.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The topics are presented in a fairly logical progression. Inside the chapters, content layout is highly logical and clear.

The text has an excellent interface. Charts, illustrations and figures are vibrant and helpful. One thing that may be helpful would be quick links (in a condensed table of contents) in the pdf file that could take you straight to a chapter rather than having to scroll through to find it.

The text contains no grammatical errors.

The author appears to have worked to make the text as culturally sensitive as possible considering the subject matter.

Reviewed by Katherine MacTavish, Associate Professor, Oregon State University on 9/29/14

The book takes a comprehensive approach to social problems addressing major social institutions (family, school, work and health care) and including an emphasis on race/ethnicity, age, rural/urban, and global concerns such as war and terrorism. I was also delighted to see a chapter on the environment. In particular I appreciate the first chapters that clearly lay out the definition and evolution of a social problem along with theoretical perspectives on social problems. This setup provides a very useful framework for understanding what is to come in individual issues focused chapters. The books is filled with examples and illustrations along with application- the why does it matter bit that students so appreciate.

The book's content appears accurate. Theories and concepts are well explained.

The book connects relevant and up-to-date sources with classics. Each chapter starts off with "social problems in the news" section highlighting a timely connection to the issue.. I should imagine the book will remain useful for some years to come!

I found the writing to be very clear and approachable. Appropriate terminology was used but always with a clear explanation illustrated with examples.

The books format and content appear consistent. Chapters are laid out to include similar elements (my favorite of which is the applying social research). Colorful graphs, illustrations and photos support the text. the theoretical perspectives introduced in the front matter are pulled throughout.

The book was clearly developed with an eye for modularity. Combined with the front matter chapters and even subsections of chapters easily stand alone. I could imagine using sections of this book in several courses in our undergraduate program (including families in poverty, family, school and community collaboration, critical thinking, and health disparities). I could also see using sections of the book as supplements to workshops and training.

The flow seemed logical. I appreciate the development of clear subsections within each chapter.

I found no issues interfacing with the pdf. Graphs, images and and text were clear.

Seemed fine.

The book seems to strive to be inclusive of perspectives outside of majority culture. The privilege of social class and geographic location that bring about opportunity gaps were well acknowledged in explanations of inequality.

I came in to this review a skeptic. I was sure that a free online textbook would somehow be an inferior product. My mind has been changed!

Chapter 1: Understanding Social Problems
Chapter 2: Poverty
Chapter 3: Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Chapter 4: Gender Inequality
Chapter 5: Sexual Orientation and Inequality
Chapter 6: Aging and Ageism
Chapter 7: Alcohol and Other Drugs
Chapter 8: Crime and Criminal Justice
Chapter 9: Sexual Behavior
Chapter 10: The Changing Family
Chapter 11: Schools and Education
Chapter 12: Work and the Economy
Chapter 13: Health and Health Care
Chapter 14: Urban and Rural Problems
Chapter 15: Population and the Environment
Chapter 16: War and Terrorism

Ancillary Material

Independent

About the Book

Social Problems: Continuity and Change is a realistic but motivating look at the many issues that are facing our society today. As this book's subtitle, Continuity and Change, implies, social problems are persistent, but they have also improved in the past and can be improved in the present and future, provided that our nation has the wisdom and will to address them.

It is easy for students to read a social problems textbook and come away feeling frustrated by the enormity of the many social problems facing us today. Social Problems: Continuity and Change certainly does not minimize the persistence of social problems, but neither does it overlook the possibilities for change offered by social research and by the activities of everyday citizens working to make a difference. Readers the book will find many examples of how social problems have been improved and of strategies that hold great potential for solving them today and in the future.

You will find several pedagogical features help to convey the “continuity and change” theme of this text and the service sociology vision in which it is grounded: Each chapter begins with a “Social Problems in the News” story related to the social problem discussed in that chapter. These stories provide an interesting starting point for the chapter's discussion and show its relevance for real-life issues. Three types of boxes in each chapter provide examples of how social problems have been changed and can be changed. In no particular order,

A first box, “Applying Social Research,” discusses how the findings from sociological and other social science research have either contributed to public policy related to the chapter's social problem or have the potential of doing so.

A second box, “Lessons from Other Nations,” discusses how another nation or nations have successfully addressed the social problem of that chapter.

A third box, “People Making a Difference,” discusses efforts by individuals, non-profit organizations or social change groups, or social movements relating to the chapter's social problem. Students will see many examples in this box of how ordinary people can indeed make a difference.

A fourth box in each chapter, “Children and Our Future,” examines how the social problem discussed in that chapter particularly affects children, and it outlines the problem's repercussions for their lives as adolescents and adults. This box reinforces for students the impact of social problems on children and the importance of addressing these problems for their well-being as well as for the nation's well-being. Each chapter ends with a “Using What You Know” feature that presents students with a scenario involving the social problem from the chapter and that puts them in a decision-making role. This feature helps connect the chapter's theoretical discussion with potential real-life situations.

Each chapter also ends with a “What You Can Do” feature that suggests several activities, strategies, or other efforts that students might undertake to learn more about and/or to address the social problem examined in the chapter. Like other aspects of the book, this feature helps counter “doom and gloom” feelings that little can be done about social problems.

Other pedagogical features in each chapter include Learning Objectives at the beginning of a major section that highlight key topics to be learned; Key Takeaways at the end of a major section that highlight important points that were discussed in the section; For Your Review questions, also at the end of a major section, that have students think critically about that section's discussion; and a Summary that reviews the major points made in the chapter.

The founders of American sociology a century or more ago in cities like Atlanta and Chicago wanted to reduce social inequality, to improve the lives of people of color, and more generally to find solutions to the most vexing social problems of their times. A former president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, A. Javier Treviño, has used the term service sociology to characterize their vision of their new discipline. Social Problems: Continuity and Change is grounded in this vision by offering a sociological understanding of today's social problems and of possible solutions to these problems.

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The Biggest 15 Social Issues We Are Facing Today

No matter where we live, what communities we belong to or what we care about, we are affected by social issues. It’s the price of living in a society, and while challenges like poverty, climate change and discrimination can feel overwhelming, we have the power to take action. The first step is understanding what issues we’re up against. In this article, we’ll explore 15 of the biggest social issues facing the world today.

#	Challenge
1	The global housing crisis
2	Gender inequality
3	Climate crisis
4	Overconsumption
5	Global hunger
6	Threats to LGBTQ+ rights
7	Reproductive justice
8	Educational disparities
9	Health and healthcare
10	Income inequality
11	Global unemployment
12	Increased migration
13	Artificial intelligence
14	Debt bondage
15	Threats to journalism

#1. The global housing crisis

#2. gender inequality.

Societies have been working to improve gender inequality for centuries, but we still have a long way to go. Globally, women still make less money than men, have poorer health outcomes, have fewer opportunities and endure more gender–based violence. According to 2023 data, the global gender gap won’t close until 2154 . Even the most gender-equal country, which is Iceland , still has social issues to address. Some of the issues are recognized – women are still being subjected to physical and sexual violence – while there are gaps in data related to things like unpaid care, domestic work, gender and the environment, and so on.

#3. Climate crisis

#4. overconsumption, #5. global hunger.

Global food insecurity is a serious problem. According to data, about 735 million people endured chronic hunger in 2022, and with issues like climate change, the lingering effects of the pandemic and conflict, it will be very challenging to end hunger by 2030. Children typically suffer the most. When kids don’t get enough to eat, they become more vulnerable to diseases like measles, malaria and diarrhea. According to the World Food Programme, “hotspots” for hunger include Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan and Palestine.

#6. Threats to LGBTQ+ rights

#7. reproductive justice, #8. educational disparities.

When people get a good education, they’re more likely to have higher incomes, better health, healthier children and other benefits. On a larger scale, education also helps countries achieve overall wealth and health. There’s been significant progress on closing the gender gap in education. According to a blog on the World Bank, boys and girls complete primary school at almost an equal rate . However, around 130 million girls are still being denied an education. Wealth also plays a role in educational disparities. In the United States, one study found that wealth affects a student’s chances of finishing college. On a global scale, wealth also impacts where a family lives and what school options are available, as well as tutoring opportunities, whether a student needs a job and much more.

#9. Health and healthcare

#10. income inequality, #11. global unemployment (and underemployment).

High unemployment rates – and low-paying jobs – drive income inequality and poverty. In a 2023 report, the International Labour Organization found that the world is still experiencing slow employment growth . There was a slight recovery in 2021, but as the economy slows again, people are forced to take jobs that pay less, provide fewer hours and/or offer poor working conditions. South Africa, which is the most industrialized economy in Africa, also has one of the highest unemployment rates. According to Reuters, reasons include structural issues related to the shadows of colonialism and apartheid. To fight issues like poverty and gender inequality, countries need to address unemployment and low-paying jobs.

#12. Increased migration

#13. artificial intelligence, #14. debt bondage.

Rates of labor trafficking have been increasing over the years. According to research, about ⅕ of those in forced labor trafficking are in debt bondage . Debt bondage is a very common type of trafficking where a person is forced to work off a loan. However, because the debt is often so high and they are paid so little, it’s impossible to escape the situation. Perpetrators also often have no intention of freeing the people they’re exploiting; debt bondage can even pass on to children. While bonded labor is technically illegal in some places, like India, it persists , especially in rural areas. Because trafficking is an illicit practice, it’s very difficult to get accurate numbers, but it’s most likely worse than what’s reported.

#15. Threats to journalism

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Essay on Social Issues

List of essays on social issues, essay on social issues – for children (essay 1 – 200 words), essay on social issues (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on social issues – 10+ lines on social issues written in english (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on social issues – for school students (class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 standard) (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on social issues – short essay (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on social issues – poverty, corruption, caste system, dowry system, child labour, uncleanliness and others (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on social issues in india – for college and university students (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on social issues in india – long essay for competitive exams (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Social issues have plagued the life of too many people. Many times you may have noticed that a lot of things in the society which doesn’t seem good. For instance, you must have noticed poor children begging on the streets. They don’t go to school. They have been forced to beg for a living. Such circumstances along with others which affect the population at large are social issues.

Begging is an issue which arises out of poverty. Poverty is itself is one of the major social issues in India. It is important to understand the general social issues of our society and how they impact the lives of the people of the country. Therefore we have come up with long essays for students which shall throw more light on social issues.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Standard) and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for competitive exams like IAS, IPS and UPSC can also increase their knowledge by studying these essays.

Social issues include issues like poverty, violence, crime, religion, illiteracy and racism that affect society.

What is a Social Issue?

A social issue is a problem that influences a considerable number of individuals. It is an aspect of society that people are concerned about and would like to get it changed. The concern of a social issue may be objective or subjective. A social issue arises due to diverse opinions of individuals based on what is perceived as right. Social issue does not necessarily refer to an ill to be solved, but it may be a topic to be discussed. Social issues can be different for different groups, societies, countries and world.

Causes of the Social Issues:

There are many causes of the social issues. Social issues arise due to inequalities in society. Different individuals and different societies may have different perceptions about a problem giving rise to a social issue. There can be disagreements about which social issue is important and worth solving, or which should take precedence.

Solving Social Issues:

There are a variety of methods to resolve variety of social issues. These include political processes, non-profit organizations, community groups and volunteering to have public dialogue on a social issue and arrive at a most acceptable solution.

Introduction:

‘Social Issues’ are the main factors that hinder the growth of a nation. The social issues that roots up in each society affects the country as a whole. Social issues are caused by humans and it is the humans who face its worst consequences also.

A social issue is something of real concern that affects a certain group of people . Social issues are not caused by a single person; it is the result of various happenings that are beyond a person’s control. This essay will take us through some of the social issues that are of great concern in today’s world.

Poverty means lack of money or material possessions and it is one of the most important social issue. The poverty level is higher in the rural areas as compared to urban areas. Poverty leads to many other social problems such as lack of food, education and health.

Gender Bias:

Discrimination based on gender is another social issue which is commonly found in most of the developing countries. Importance is given only to male and the voice of female is less heard even in the households.

Caste Discrimination:

Discriminating people based on their castes is a social issue that needs to be plucked out. This is a serious social issue because this has taken many innocent lives. Poverty and lack of education are the main reasons for such social issue to rise.

Conclusion:

Most of the social problems still exists because people are ignorant of its consequences. The Government and NGO’s must work together to eliminate the social issues from society by educating the people through awareness programmes.

Social issues have plagued the life of too many people. Our society in particular is crippled with several social issues. There was a time when social issues like dowry, child marriage, and sati and so on were prevalent. It took a lot of efforts for some of the social issues to be banned completely. The tradition of sati wherein women ended up burning themselves after the death of their husband was something which called for a ban.

The Modern Day Society:

Even though we have become independent and are en route to the modern society, there are plenty of social issues which need to be addressed. The fact that women are not at par with men and the presence of gender disparity is surely one concern which should be addressed.

Not only this, it is also important to address social issues like poverty, mismanagement of wealth, caste system and so on. The people of lower caste are still looked down upon and the concept of untouchables is still present in our society.

The Remedial Measures:

Mere talking about the problem is not going to do anything. It is important to really seek the right solution. If you want to get rid of social issues, it is about time that we create the right awareness for it.

Education needs to be offered to the masses so that they understand why the presence of certain social issues needs to be eradicated. When women would be educated enough to know that they deserve the same as men, they would fight for their own cause.

So, try to create an awareness channel and educate the masses about how certain social issues are doing nothing but crippling our society. We need to be the change that we are looking to bring. Often, it is one movement which triggers a phenomenal change.

Social issues are found in abundance in our country. Some of the common social issues which seem to have plagued the Indian society are child abuse, illiteracy, drug abuse, child trafficking, poverty, unemployment, gender disparity, and so on. It is really important for the nation to come together and take a stand against these problems.

If we do not do our bit right now, these social issues might become too huge for our country to function properly.

The Dark Future:

The reason we are emphasizing so much when it comes to eradicating social issues is because it can put our future in grave trouble. Think of a country whose youth is largely uneducated and unemployed. Do you really believe that such a country can steer forth in the right direction? How will such a nation prosper if our leaders of tomorrow have barely any knowledge of how the world economy functions? Education and employment are two of the vital things that form the base for all kinds of progress.

Gender Disparity:

Further, when we are talking about the possible issues regarding gender disparity, it is important to understand that women too deserve the right position in the Indian society. If you are not willing to give women the equal rights and they cannot walk at par with men, the future of the nation doesn’t look too bright. In today’s times, it is really important to address such social issues because women are equally talented and if it is so, they deserve the same thing as men.

It is a shame that in a lot of Indian households, women aren’t granted the right to higher education nor are they allowed to work. What type of society is this and what is the example we are showing to the rest of the world!

Addressing the Social Issues:

When you are looking to remedy the situation and improve the condition of the society, we need to think of the best way to handle social issues. We believe that it is with the right educational awareness that changes can be brought. Try and have sessions wherein we educate the masses about the need to get rid of such social issues and come up with strategies and plans regarding how you can do so.

Every little step can end up creating a ripple effect and might help you strip the country of the woes of social issues. So, do your bit now!

Social issues are a general word that is used for a variety of situations and actions that affect the society. These issues can be changed only with a certain kind of social planning.

Social issues affect every member of the society directly as well as indirectly. Some people considered the social issues as the issues or disputes which are linked to the people’s moral values.

Social Issues in the Society:

The following are the 4 main groups in which the social issues can be categorized:

1. Political Social Issues:

Politics is a procedure in which some groups of people utilize their power and impact to function in an organized way for mutual decision making. It is also considered as one of the biggest social issues as the maximum number of verdicts declared by the governments might not essentially help the poor people in the society. In fact, the leaders gratify their self-centered interests with the misuse of public funds.

2. Pollution Social Issues:

Pollution results in instability, illness, harm or distress to the environment. The human activities such as industrial activities have made this problem one of the major social issues. The man-made activities result in the pollution of the soil and water to a great extent.

3. Climate change Social Issues:

It is the alteration in statistical dispersal of climate which might include the change in the weather or change in the amount of rainfall due to human activities like pollution. These social issues influence the patterns of weather in diverse areas.

One of the recent examples of this social issue is global warming which is instigated by human activities from the past several years. Altering patterns of climate influence the economic activities like farming that result in poverty among the people who survives on it.

4. Poverty Social Issues:

It is the absence of general human requirements, like clean water, nutrition, health care, clothing and shelter, and education. This social issue occurs due to the lack of funds that can help in meeting the expenses of the daily needs.

Mainly, there are 2 kinds of poverty i.e., relative poverty and absolute poverty. In relative poverty, there are comparatively fewer resources or fewer funds in the society in comparison to other societies of the world. On the other hand, Absolute poverty means when there are no resources.

Poverty is one of the biggest social issues as it decreases economic development owing to less production. At present, steady and constant economic growth of the nation has been inhibited by the absence of economic independence for numerous persons owing to related issues like political uncertainty, exploitation, as well as unemployment.

All the above four social issues influence every country and society in the world. It is very important to deal with these social issues seriously if we want to relish the quality life.

The problem of global warming is an inkling to reverse the entire human progress that is attained in so many years. In fact, it will make efforts towards the poverty reduction unattainable. Besides this, the political solutions are also needed for overcoming all types of social issues in the future.

Social issues are those problems in a society by which a significant population is affected and requires immediate solution. Right from the most basic problem of poverty that kills people physically to the problem of social media that affects children mentally, there are a variety of social issues in the society that have affected considerable amount of population and requires solution urgently.

It is shocking to note that Global Hunger Index places India on the 97th position in terms of starvation. Statistics also indicate that about 15% of the Indian population is undernourished. Therefore, it has become an undeniable fact that poverty exists in India although the politicians, the media and the general public have failed to recognise it. Food security is the basic right of every citizen and the Government must ensure effective laws to fulfill it.

Corruption:

Corruption is a social issues which includes the misuse of authority in public and private services for personal gains. It is the root cause for all other social evils and backwardness in the society. Though India is developing into a super power on the one hand, it is being pulled down on many grounds due to corruption. If the general public restrains from offering bribe, then truthfulness and transparency would prevail in the administration. It requires a change from both the corrupted and affected people.

Caste System:

Caste System discriminates the citizens and causes unnecessary tensions in the society. Though many leaders and stakeholders have been working since independence days, it still remains a social issue. The first step in this direction is the removal of reservations based on caste system. Though inter-caste marriages have been prevalent in the last few decades, the reservations have been adding fuel to the waning caste system.

Dowry System:

The dowry system has been affecting the women of the society in many ways. Though many pioneers have worked to eradicate this social issue for several decades, it has also been prevalent in the society. Some steps that help overcome this social issue includes economic freedom to women through inheriting family properties and employment. It requires the combined effort of both the offending and affected parties to root out this social evil.

Child Labour:

This social issue against children prevents the right of a child to enjoy its childhood and attend regular schooling. The inability of parents and selfishness of employers work together to promote child labour. Online help systems have been initiated to locate child labourers, rescue them and provide relief from their suffering. The general public requires more awareness to eradicate this social issue.

Uncleanliness:

The progress of a society is determined by the cleanliness maintained in public places, workplaces and residences. Cleanliness ensures good health, provides good feeling, promotes confidence and demands respect from others. Uncleanliness, on the other hand, acts as deterrent for the progress and prosperity of the nation as well as demean the society.

Other Social Issues:

Apart from the social issues listed above, there are a variety of social issues that affect various sections of the society. They include terrorism, human rights issues, issues related to women like female foeticide, discrimination on status, jobs and wages etc., drugs abuse, child abuse, unemployment, population explosion, unrestrained use of social media, etc.

Recognition of the social issues is the first step to find solution. Most of the issues are due to lack of awareness and could be addressed through sensitization programs from the Governments and stakeholders. Since many social issues like sati, untouchability etc., have been dealt successfully in the past, the future holds hope to deal with the current social issues.

Social issues are those that concern the society and the change in these issues are the only way to solve them. In our country, there are many social issues that create a disturbance in the smooth life of every citizen.

These social issues are those that deal with the mind-set of a group of people who belongs to a particular condition that alters their mind and their concern on the issue changes the way they react. There are many such issues that have created both social and political imbalance in our country over years.

India being a country with vast diversity has faced many social issues varying in different aspects, till date. For example, the different and versatile people have the same difference in their feeling and emotions about their religion, caste, colour, believes, lifestyle, etc. Social issues have a great impact on the development and betterment of a country and its people.

Some of the social issues that concern our country:

Social issues vary according to time, place people, etc. There are some common issues that affect society in a considerably negative way. Let us take a look at some of them.

Poverty is one of those major social issues yet to be resolved in our country. This simple issue has chained other massive issues to evolve like child labour, female infanticide, discrimination and more. If this basic problem gets resolved the major concern of our country will be wiped away.

Poverty is a state in the life where the basic needs of a person cannot be fulfilled with their income. The unemployment and lack of education can be the major reason behind this social issue. Social issues like poverty can be solved only through introducing other schemes like free education, better employment opportunities, etc.

This state of poverty pushes the family to find a more secure way to get their safe zone, which in turn gives rise to other social issues. One of them is child labour and this is occurred due to the money gaining mentality of society.

Child labour is another social issue. Poor parents send their children to small jobs where they are forced to work hard to get considerably less money as a reward. Social issues arise when the child is denied his childhood and basic education due to poverty. This not only affects them physically but also mentally due to the pressure and heavy workload they do.

Female Discrimination:

Poverty is one of the reasons that creates discrimination against females. Social issues like female infanticide, denial of education of girl child, domestic violence, etc., are included in this category. Due to poverty or narrow mind-set girl child is seen to be denied their rights even from their birth.

A poor family thinking girl child is a liability abort them in the womb itself to solve the problem of poverty and later hardships. This is one of those social issues that was a common practice in the earlier years and now the government has issued many laws to stop this inhumanity.

Social issues regarding women have a comparatively long list to be addressed. Poverty also leads to denial of education of girl child. This is different from child labour in a way that this focuses fully on the girl child rather than a child.

The parents get to the mentality that educating a girl is completely unwanted money wastage as they get married to another man and no good is there for the family. This thinking in unaware families creates one of the most right denial issues among the social issues category.

Social issues like domestic violence also arise due to such unawareness among the people about the importance of women and their rights, which should be solved completely to improve the state of women and children in the society.

The above mentioned social issues are only some of them that are a threat to the nation and decreases the opportunity in developing a better place. There are more to be added in the list like religion discrimination, harmony in the society, etc., other than that the naturally occurring social issues are pollution rate, global warming, etc.

S olution to Social Issues:

All these social issues can only be solved through mutual efforts of the people and the greater schemes introduced by the government. If these social issues are resolved correctly or even get reduced, it will directly show results on the development of the nation and thus the development of each citizen’s lifestyle. Solutions to Social issues can only be provided by educating and creating awareness among the people about the evil effects of the existing social issues.

Social issues are the issues which affect the larger sections of the society. They have been discussed since ancient times. In fact, these very social issues have been instrumental in bringing upon a change in our society from time to time.

Historical References:

India is a country of different cultures, religions, languages and beliefs. Therefore, within the same country there lie different social issues which differ from region to region, state to state. Social issues in India are not something new. They have been there since ancient times.

For instance, the caste system in India is a social issue which has been there since the earlier times and exists even today. Similarly, untouchability is another social issue which has been existent in India since older times. Such issues have affected the development of the people as well as society. They are often the cause of hatred among people and lead to conflicts and sometimes even riots.

Current Social Issues:

As in any other society, there are some social issues which are prevalent at a given period of time. India is a no different country. It has its own share of social issues. India is a developing country. Therefore, poverty is a major social issue here. At the time of independence, a large population of India was struggling with basic needs such as food shelter and clothing.

Even today, such facilities are lacking in the rural areas of the country. People have to travel long distances in search of potable water. Despite many initiatives by the Government as well as private organisations, still, a large section of the population lives below the poverty line. This hampers the overall development of the country.

Illiteracy is among the major social issues which have affected the growth of the country. However, there are many causes of this social issue. On one hand, it is the lack of education facilities especially in the rural belt which has led to the people being illiterate. On the other hand, it is the reluctance of people to send their children to school has also resulted in a high illiteracy rate in the country. Due to illiteracy and ignorance, the people are not able to avail the facilities provided by the government.

The caste system is another of such social issues which has deep roots in the society. In India, people are divided among four castes, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Among all these, the Shudras are considered as the lowest and are looked upon as untouchables in the society.

The upper castes do not allow the lower ones to avail even the basic facilities such as drawing water from the same well. Often this has been a cause of hatred and fights among the people. However, with different schemes introduced by the government from time to time, things have started changing. Now, the Shudras are provided jobs, education and other facilities at par with other citizens of the country.

Social issues which have been abolished:

Not all social issues are permanent in society. There are many such social issues which existed earlier, but with changing mind-sets of the people and awareness among the citizens, many of them have been abolished. For instance, Sati system was one such social issue which was actually cruelty against women. In case the husband of a woman dies, she was required to burn herself alive in the pyre of her husband. Women had no right to live in a society without their husbands. But with the initiatives of leaders such a Raja Ram Mohan Roy such evil practices were abolished.

Similarly, polygamy was a social issue in India since ancient times. A man was allowed to marry many women. Kings of earlier times had many queens. Women were treated as objects and married off as presents to men. However, with changing times and introduction of different laws such practice has been abolished.

Similar to this is the social issue of child marriage. Earlier, girls and boys were married as soon as they attained puberty. In fact, it was a general mind-set to marry off a girl within two years of her attaining puberty. Due to such practices, the girls were not able to have equal opportunities in education as men.

In fact, they were not treated as equal to men in any matter. However, with laws in place, this practice was termed illegal. As per the laws enacted by the Indian Government, a minimum age of 18 for girls and 21 for boys has been fixed for marriage. However, in remote parts of the country, such practices still exist and there are initiatives by the government from time to time in educating people about the evil aspects of this practice.

In spite of the fact that Governmental and NGOs are moving in the direction of enhancing the current condition in the social issues, the results are not exceptionally reassuring. Maybe the issue lies in the plain profound established convictions in the psyches of individuals of the nation which isn’t letting the circumstance to change such social issues. For example, the issue of Female Feticides is one of the disgraceful practices. Despite the fact that there are different rules in place which term this practice an illegal, it is still rampant in many parts of the country.

The genuine purpose behind this is the Patriarchy arrangement of the society of our nation which thinks about male as the better specialist and ladies as subordinate than them. Along these lines, the exceptionally powerful urge of having a male youngster in contrast with female prompted the disgraceful routine with regards to female feticides. In this manner, it is conviction framework or the social moulding of the general population which isn’t letting the general public to change at a quick pace.

Despite the fact that there have been a few positive changes in the general public, for example, presently young girls are going to school in greater part and their business proportion is likewise expanding, education facilities are available in rural areas, the backwards are provided equal opportunities, and still we have a long way to go.

We witness many social issues every day such as inequality against women in our own homes, sexual savagery against ladies which is being heard on a consistent schedule, female feticide, religious-mutual brutality which is on the ascent, untouchability which is yet a reality and child labour which still exists. Unless and until we change our mind-sets, nothing can change in our society. It is up to us whether we see these as social issues or accept them as a part of our society.

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FORM 5 SAMPLE ESSAYS

According to the latest format (SPM CEFR) New format starting 2021 The compilation of sample essays is done by: Cg Tong Mei Ling Cg Siti Noorhanisah binti Johaire Cg Siti Hasyimah binti Nordin Cg Jonathan Ong Ujang

PART 1: MODEL QUESTION 1 You received an email from your friend, Arun. Hi, Dad has finally agreed to take my family for an island visit. As you are always telling me about the thrilling moments you have during your visits, I would like you to suggest an ideal island trip for my family to go for a holiday. Is there any hotel that you would like to recommend? Do let me know the activities we can do there? What are the things that I need to take along? I’ll be waiting for your reply. Bye! Arun Now, write an email to your friend in about 80 words. Write your answer below. To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: Island trip Hi, Arun! How are you? Glad to hear about your family trip. Pulau Besar in Melaka would be the island that you are looking for. The Aseania Beach Resort has a lot of good reviews. This resort has comfort and mesmerizing view. On this island, there are many activities for you to venture. During your jungle trekking, you can embrace the exotic flora and fauna.Another adventurous activity you would undergo is island hopping onto other neighbouring island and enjoying secret that they have to offer. As you are a food lover, don’t forget to go to Kayu Manis restaurant where scrumptious food awaits you. Make sure you take your camera along to capture the breathtaking views. The most important things are your swimming attire, sun tan lotion, sunglasses as well as your hat. Hope you have a whale of time with your family at Pulau Besar. Send my regards to them! Your friend, John 2

PART 1: MODEL QUESTION 2 You received an email from your friend, Ramesh. Hi, Ismail! As the Assistant Head Prefect, I was asked to write an article for the school magazine about what students should do and should not do at school in order to keep clean, hygienic and safe. Could you give me some pointers, please! I will be waiting for your reply. Bye! Ramesh Now, write an email to your friend in about 80 words. Write your answer below. To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: Pointers to keep clean, hygienic and safe Hi, Ramesh! How are you? I hope you are doing well there. Here are some pointers that I could think of. Firstly, all students must arrive at school wearing a face cover or mask and continue wearing it all through, especially when in class, or doing any activity in groups. Remind all students not to exchange masks with others. In additions, every student needs to learn how to cough or sneeze into a tissue or elbow and avoid touching face, eyes, mouth and nose. Perhaps, schools can supply necessary equipment like gloves, face masks, hand washing soaps for sanitation. That is all from me! I will write to you more when I have more ideas. Regards, Ismail 3

PART 1: MODEL QUESTION 3 You received and email from your friend, Jay. Hi Rosli, I was down with fever and sore throat for the past few days. So, I missed the talk given by Mr Shamsuddin, our school counsellor. How was the talk? Could you tell me what was said about hobbies? Bye! Jay Now, write an email to your friend in about 80 words. Write your answer below. To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: The content of the talk given by our school counsellor Hi Jay, How are you? I hope you are feeling better now. Mr Shamsuddin had delivered a very insightful talk that day. Well, he talked about several hobbies. He said that collecting is a great hobby since it can involve collecting just about anything that appeals to us. Writing stories or poems can be a great hobby too. Building models is a great hobby because it has a wide appeal to all teens. Then, he mentioned that music promotes creativity, self-expression, and self- confidence. Finally, according to him, taking up photography as a hobby has never been easier or less expensive. These are the points that he talked about the other day. Feel free to text me anytime if you need more information! Take care and stay safe there! Best wishes, Rosli 4

PART 1: MODEL QUESTION 4 You received an email from your friend, Harry. Hi, My friends and I were talking about were modern teenagers go shopping the most. As you are living in the city, I would like to know your opinion on this issue. Where would you go shopping the most? Is it the sports shops, clothes shops, electronic shops or somewhere else? Tell me what kind of shop and what would you like to buy. Why is it important? I’ll be waiting for your reply. Bye! Harry Now, write an email to your friend in about 80 words. Write your answer below. To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: Where to shop Hi Harry, I just saw the email you sent. I hope you are in the pink. Based on my opinion, I would like to go to electronics shop because as you know, I am a tech freak. Since I was a kid, I always go to the computer shop every weekend just to window shop on the new arrivals for computer parts. The IT Tech is my favourite shop to go to. Currently, I want to get new graphics card for my desktop. I am planning to get the RTX 3090 which is the same price as RTX 2080Ti but it is more powerful. It is important for me to purchase this because I have a lot of online classes recently and my desktop is starting to lag due to my old graphics card. So, I have decided to get one! Sorry, I have to go now. I will call you when I am free! Hope you like my opinion. Bye! Warm regards, Charles 5

PART 1: MODEL QUESTION 5 You received an email from your teacher. New message To : [email protected] From : [email protected] Subject : Extension on Deadline for Assignment Hello everyone, Many of you have asked for an extension to the assignment due next Friday. If you need an extension, please email me, informing me officially that you cannot meet the assignment deadline, and explain why you are not able to complete it in time. Let me know what you will do in response. Thank you. Sincerely, Mrs Joseph Now, write an email to your teacher in about 80 words. Write your answer below. New message To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: Request: Extension on Deadline for Assignment Hi Mrs Joseph, How are you? Hope you are safe and sound there. I am requesting an extension to the deadline. To be honest, I have unfortunately fallen ill after being exposed to the coronavirus. I have been having a high fever, and my throat is scratchy. I am aching all over as well. I am not sure how I contracted with the virus. Therefore, I am unable to meet the deadline for the English book analysis assignment. I had no energy to work on the task. All this while, I have been in isolation and resting at home. A soon as I can, I will complete the work and email it to you. Thank you for your kind understanding. Sincerely, Alib bin Aqwan 6

PART 2: MODEL QUESTION 1 (Theme: Science & Technology) Your class has been discussing the pros and cons of gadgets for students. Your English language teacher has asked you to write an essay about the advantage and disadvantages of mobile phones. Your essay must be written in 125 -150 words. In your essay, you should write about: PROS AND CONS OF MOBILE PHONES ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES • Keep up to date with current issues • Students become passive • Learn many new skills online • Neglecting their duties • Source of entertainment • Tendencies to commit crime is high Mobile phones is so popular today that now it becomes a necessity for everyone. Mobile phone is indeed a wonderful invention of man. It does not only help people to communicate but also to entertain. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones for students. The first advantage is we can keep ourselves up to date using mobile phones. It keeps us informed of all current issues happening around the world. Information is shared throughout various platform such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and Youtube where we can read news and watch video online. Secondly, we can learn many new skills using our mobile phone. There are many language teaching programs, baking and decoration classes online. We do not have to travel far to learn new skills. We can use Zoom, Google Meet or Skype to join a class and study. Thirdly, mobile phone is a source of entertainment. We can watch movies, drama, music videos, songs or play games after a hard day’s at school. We can relax at home and watch movies that we like without having to go to the cinema. Nevertheless, there are disadvantages of mobile phone for students. First, students gradually become passive in their action. It may prevent us from socializing with other people in real life. Students might prefer playing games or watching videos online rather than spending quality time with family and friends. Secondly, students have the tendencies to be neglecting their duties. They neglect their homework or revision because they are so keen on using their mobile phones. They also tend to refuse helping with house chores because they do not want to miss watching their favourite drama. Thirdly, the bad influence of mobile phones on the young generation is inevitable. It encourages them to commit crimes. Violence, nudity, and irrelevance trends can be accessed easily online. This can lead to robbery, theft, cyberbullying, spreading fake news and murder. In a nutshell, mobile phone is very useful in today’s world. However, as a student, we must know how to use mobile phone wisely. Be extra careful not to overindulge in it and use it sensibly. 9

PART 2: MODEL QUESTION 2 (Theme: Health & Environment) You watched a television program about animals and learnt about animal extinction. Write an essay expressing your opinion and feelings in the increase number of endangered species. Your essay must be written in 125 -150 words. CAUSES CONTRIBUTING TO ANIMAL EXTINCTION • POACHING – illegal international trade, increase in demand for exotic animal parts (trophies, fashion accessories), sale of live animals • LOSS OF HABITAT – less water and food sources • OVERHARVESTING MARINE LIFE – environmental issues Write the essay using all the notes and give your opinions and feelings on animal extinction. Man is in danger of destroying his own species and that of Mother Nature. A prevalent problem is the growing extinction of animal species. Animal lovers are unhappy that certain animal species are becoming extinct. Extinction occurs when species are diminished because of environmental forces or because of evolutionary changes in their members. There are several causes contributing to this issue. First and foremost, one of the causes which lead to animal extinction is the act of poaching. Many studies have also documented large declines in wildlife populations due to overhunting and poaching. For instance, the Blue Whale was almost plunged into extinction, losing 99% of its numbers as a result of poaching. The illegal international animal trade has prompted poaching and sale of exotic animal parts to make trophies and fashion accessories like crocodile skin bags, rhino talismans and medicinal concoctions. Some examples of illegal wildlife trade are well known, such as poaching of elephants for ivory and tigers for their skins and bones. Even captured live animals become exotic human pets. Secondly, forests are cleared for economic development resulting in loss of habitats and tree cover. Wild animals are bereft of food and water sources. When a habitat is destroyed, the carrying capacity for indigenous plants, animals, and other organisms is reduced so that populations decline, sometimes up to the level of extinction. Habitat loss is perhaps the greatest threat to organisms and biodiversity. A large number of animals would have problem surviving due to the loss of habitat. Moreover, marine life is also threatened by overharvesting marine resources. Overharvesting, or overfishing in the case of fish and marine invertebrates, depletes some species to very low numbers and drives others to extinction. In practical terms, it reduces valuable living resources to such low levels that their exploitation is no longer sustainable. The most-familiar cases involve whales and fisheries. Apart from that, some oceans and seas are environmentally polluted by both industrial and human waste which could threaten the lives of marines living in the sea or ocean. To sum up, I am afraid the global eco-system and the drastic climate change would be unable to meet the food and water demands for both human and animal survival. I fear for the end of human race. 10

PART 2: MODEL QUESTION 3 (Theme: Consumerism and Financial Awareness) You watched a documentary about the evolution of online shopping in Malaysia. Write an essay expressing your opinion on the benefits of online shopping. Your essay must be written in 125 -150 words. Write the essay using all the notes and give your opinions on the benefits of online shopping. CONVENIENT • SHOP AT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE • BUY ITEMS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD VARIETY OF OPTIONS • ABLE TO VISIT NUMEROUS SHOPS AT THE SAME TIME • CHOICES OF DIFFERENT STYLES, COLOUR AND SIZES EXCITING OFFERS • GET DISCOUNT AND VOUCHER • COMPARE PRICES BEFORE BUYING FOR GREAT DEALS With the development of technology, human in today world can easily buy almost anything just by a few clicks. It is becoming a popular trend for purchasing in present time. Shopping online has many benefits. First, online shopping is beneficial as it makes shopping more convenient than ever. We can shop at anytime and anywhere. Customers do not have to drive a long way to shop or spend hours queuing up just to buy things that they need. They can also buy items that they want from different parts of the world. Some products are not available locally therefore online shopping is the best way to make the purchase. Secondly, online shopping offers variety of options. Customers are able to visit numerous shops at the same time to search for the same products. Online shops offers many choices of different styles, colour and sizes. Customers can just browse through the catalogue and make their purchase once they find product that suits their requirement. Lastly, online stores tend to have exciting offers for their products. Customers can get discounts and voucher which are very appealing. Buying items online also enables customers to compare prices before buying for great deals. Online shopping is gaining popularity as more people make use of computers, mobile phones and the internet. I believe that online shopping has many benefits. It is convenient, offers greater variety, and enables the customer to get the best price for the products. 11

PART 2: MODEL QUESTION 4 (Theme: People & Culture) Your class has been discussing on activities to do during holidays. Some of you plan to go on a vacation. Your English language teacher has asked you to suggest the best place to go during the holiday. Your essay must be written in 125 -150 words. In your essay, you should write about: • NAME OF THE PLACE/LOCATION – Redang Island - one of the largest islands off the east cost of Peninsular Malaysia - 45 kilometers from the coast of the city of Kuala Terengganu - known as Terengganu Marine Park • TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE - accessed from Merang Jetty in Kuala Terengganu - flights from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island • ACCOMODATION AND PRICES - 5-star luxurious resorts - stay in the tent at a campsite - RM200 to RM400 – travel package • INTERESTING ACTIVITIES – scuba diving, snorkeling, jungle trekking, visit Redang Marine Center, watch sunset, enjoy local delicacies Holidays are the most awaited time of the year. Imagine you are sitting on the beach, hypnotized by the repeated chants of the waves and tropical sea breezes against your skin. That is what you will experienced at Redang Island. Whenever it is school holiday, I will always go here to visit my grandparents. Redang Island is one of the largest islands off the east cost of Peninsular Malaysia. Redang lies within protected marine waters, also known as Terengganu Marine Park. It is located about 45 kilometers from the coast of the city of Kuala Terengganu. The island can be accessed from Merang Jetty in Kuala Terengganu. The boats to Redang Island are operated by the resorts there. Redang Island has its own airport too. For those who wish to save time, you can skip the long and tiresome journey and book flights from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island. There are several accommodations to choose from at Redang Island. You can choose to stay at 5-star luxurious resorts or stay in the tent at a campsite. The price ranging from RM200 to RM400 depends on the travel package that you choose. Even though the package is quite expensive, it comes with attractive deals. Some package offers scuba diving and snorkeling activities. You can also go for nature walks or jungle trekking, enjoying the nature. Redang Marine Center is also a must-visit as it is the best place to see marine life. Other than that, you can just relax by the beach enjoying local delicacies and watch the sunset. In my opinion, Redang Island is a beautiful part of the world. I highly recommend it if you love stunning holidays with lots of natural attractions where it is simple to keep things easy and inactive or you can choose to be adventurous. 12

PART 2: MODEL QUESTION 5 (Theme: Health & Environment) Your class has been involved in “Save the Earth Campaign” held by Environmental Club in your school. Your English language teacher has asked you to write an essay about how to practice 3R (Recycle, Reuse and Reduce) in our daily lives. Your essay must be written in 125 -150 words. Write the essay using all the notes and give your opinions on 3R initiative. HOW TO PRACTICE 3R • Recycle recyclable items – gather systematically - saves natural sources • Reduce waste – bring own plastic/bottle/container – avoid using disposables • Reuse items – donate items – reuse items more than once The 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) is an initiative to help cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. This waste hierarchy is the guidance suggested for creating a sustainable life. It calls for an increase in the ratio of recyclable materials, further reusing raw materials and manufacturing wastes, and overall reduction in resources and energy used. A small change in our daily routine can actually help conserve our environment. First, we can start by recycling recyclable items. For example, papers, aluminum, plastic and glass are commonly used in schools, houses and offices. These recyclables need to be gathered systematically and separated from the rest of the trash to be sent to the recycling center. The second step is to reduce waste. A lot of our waste comes from items that are considered to be “disposable”. We have to avoid using disposable items such as paper cup, napkins, spoons and plates. We can bring our own plastic bag, water bottles, cutlery and food container in place of disposables. Lastly, we can start practicing 3R by reusing items. Instead of throwing unwanted items, you can start by donating them to a worthy cause. You can also reuse items for the same purpose or reuse products in different ways. For example, you can repair broken furniture instead of buying new ones or reuse old jars or pots as flowerpots. I believe 3R initiative helps to lessen the amount of waste going into landfills. We can contribute towards a greener lifestyle and community by changing the way we handle waste daily. This will help to create cleaner, safer means of waste disposal while reducing the impact on the environment and all habitats. 13

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 1 Your teacher has asked you to write a story for a school magazine. The story must have the title: Kindness Your story should include: • background information about the characters • how kindness is shown Write your story in 200- 250 words in an appropriate style. Kindness By Aminah Ahmad My name is Syafiq. I am a clerk. I have a neighbour named Puan Ramlah. Now, I would like to tell a story about me and and Puan Ramlah that had taken place 10 years ago. My neighbour is a very kind person. She lives alone. She likes to help other people. Everybody likes her. She is a retired English teacher. When I was 17 years old, I became a bad person. I took drugs and I stole other people’s things. I was a thief. All I knew was stealing. I stole money. I stole motorcycles and even chickens. One day, I was caught stealing a motorcycle. But, I was lucky because my neighbour Puan Ramlah helped to settle my problem. She asked the police to let me free and she would take care of me. She promised the police that she would make sure I behaved. If I was caught again, then the police could arrest me. The police agreed. I thanked my neighbour and promised to change my life. Starting from that day, I became a better person. I went to school to finish my studies. After school, I would help Puan Ramlah with her house chores because she was not well and old. I cleaned her house. I cooked for her and did/bought her groceries. I also cleaned her room. Since she was a teacher, she taught me English and other subjects. I took my SPM examination and I passed. Then, I became a clerk in Seremban. I would never steal again. I wanted to help teenagers like me. All these happened because of her – my best friend, my good neighbour. Now, I am a volunteer at Seremban Youth centre. I help teenagers to go through life. I do not want them to be criminals. I learnt a lot about myself by helping Puan Ramlah. 16

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 2 Your teacher has asked you to write an essay for a school magazine. The story must begin with the following words: His hands trembled as he placed the receiver. Your story must include: • a description of the incident • how the incident affected the character/ characters Write your story. The Terrible Truth By Abraham Wong His hands trembled as he placed the receiver. He could not believe what he had just heard. This could not be true. His wife, Susan, had been hospitalised and he could not be by her side. He was attending a seminar in Scotland when he got word that Susan was involved in an accident. His family beseeched him home. Home. Jason knew that he should be heading home. Susan would need him to be there. There was nothing he wanted more than to be with Susan, comforting her, nursing her and most of all ensuring the well-being of their unborn child. It hurt him not being there. All that was left to do at that moment was to fervently hope that both mother and child were not in a critical condition. He hastened and caught the next flight home. When he reached the airport terminal, his heart was beating very fast. He felt so nervous. He received a message from his sister-in-law that his wife was in coma. There obviously were some difficulties related to his unborn child forming bleak possibilities that Jason did not dare to put in too much hope. He jumped into a taxi urging the driver to drive as fast as he could. Alas they were caught in a traffic jam. Undaunted Jason urged the driver to hasten as he needed to be with Susan. She needed him. The taxi went fast in and out of traffic, zigzagging on the busy road. Suddenly a big lorry loomed into their path from the opposite direction. The taxi driver was going too fast that he failed to avoid collision. Everything happened at high speed. There was nothing much that could be done. Jason was sent to the hospital by passers-by. He was critically injured and there was no way to inform his relatives and family members. They tried to reach him not knowing of his predicament and to no avail. By this time Susan had regained consciousness. Though she was relieved to still be alive somehow she could not shake the feeling that something was amiss. Susan could not really patch the pieces. However doctors had to perform a C-section in order to save both Susan and her baby. She could not help smiling looking at the bundle of joy and yet that tugging uneasiness was still there cowering at the far corner of her heart. Her thoughts were definitely of Jason. 17

Just then her sister, Susie, came into the room. Susan lit up at the sight of her sister though it was quite the opposite on Susie. “Where’s Jason? I can’t wait to show him our boy. He has Jason’s eyes and my smile. I’m sure he would be glad to see our son.” Susan enthusiastically blurted to Susie. She however stopped when she realised the joy was only on her part. Susie was downcast and when she did look up tears could be seen welling up in her eyes. Susan was dumbfounded when Susie broke the news. Everything seemed bleak now that she knew Jason would no longer be there for her. She felt guilty knowing she was the reason he had rushed to his death. Tears just could not stop flowing but she had to embrace herself. She had to think of their son. He might not have a father but he would not be deprived of the love Jason had had for his son. She would do the loving for both of them. She would ensure that he grows up knowing love has no boundaries and it exudes Death. 18

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 3 Your teacher has asked you to write a story. The story must have the title: A Dishonest Boy Your story must include: • a description of the boy • the outcome of the dishonest act Write your story. A Dishonest Boy By S. Vagesh The night was dark and humid. Murphy tossed and turned in his bed, squirming uncomfortably. He remembered vividly Regina cynical expression when she finally had to return the silk gown that he promised to buy her, after the cashier told him that his credit card had reached its limit. Murphy jumped off his bed. He crinkled his bushy eyebrows and started to think on how to win back Regina. Being jobless, Murphy knew there was no way that he could have dated her, but the fact that he was the son of the former mayor had given him the chance Murphy tilted his head. It is then that the idea came to him. He smiled handsomely to the sight of his framed business administration diploma, which he acquired a little time ago. However, he did not bother to find a job with it, since his late father had left him and his mother with a lot of money and a lot of other properties. Murphy now knew exactly what to do, and his eyes was glimmering with hope. Only then he was able to sleep soundly. The next morning, while having breakfast with his mother, Murphy told her his made up story. There was excitement in his eyes as he spin a yarn, telling his mother his ‘plan’ to start a business. In order to start his business, he needed a hefty amount of money. At first, his mother did not believe him. But after he sweet talked her, she finally gave away. After all, Murphy was the only son of her, so she thought of giving him a chance. Murphy was so convincing that she thought he had turned over a new leaf and gave him the 10 thousand pound he asked for. His mother agreed to transact the money that afternoon. Murphy’s heart jumped with glee seeing his plan started to work. He immediately called Regina, asking her out for dinner, promising that this time she would be getting the specially designed silk gown. Regina agreed. Things were going smooth for Murphy. Little that he knew his plans were about to be shattered into pieces. It was 7 o’clock in the evening. Murphy checked his style from head to toe. He was looking dashing and cool, all ready to date Regina. He slid into his late father’s car, telling his mother he needed to settle several things before starting his business. It was a lie, of course. Murphy’s first stop was the bank. He needed to draw some money so that he would be able to buy Regina the silk gown. He smiled by himself as he walked back to his car, 10 thousand pound richer. Out of nowhere, two men attacked him. Realizing his predicament, Murphy tried to put up a fight, but was beaten black and blue, before the two men fled away with his money. 19

Murphy mustered all of his strength and made way into his car. In there, he thought of his next action. He finally found himself driving to Regina’s place. Upon reaching, he was told by Regina’s housemate that she had gone out with another man just 10 minutes ago, after Murphy had failed to show up. Murphy’s heart sank. All of his lies to his mother had taken toll on him. He was robbed, and Regina had dumped him. Murphy learnt his lessons the hard way. He now realized that honesty is the best policy. 20

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 4 Your teacher has asked you to write a story for a school magazine. The story must have the title: A Dream Comes True Your story should include: • a description of the dream • how the dream is achieved Write your story in 200- 250 words in an appropriate style. A Dream Comes True By Susanna Lee “Not so fast Lewis!” My immature ten-year-old voice yelled out at the fast disappearing figure before me. I knew the additional two wheels of my glittering silver-tinted bicycle had given me a disadvantage rather the advantage I thought I would have. I pedalled with all the force my undeveloped leg muscles could generate, but it only proved to be futile. I could not win this race. I had never beaten my brother, Lewis, in any bicycle race after that. He always seemed to be one step ahead of me, no matter how hard I tried. Lewis was a caring and understanding brother, but equally so was he competitive and determined. He was my role model and the person I respected most, but he was also my main rival. Our parents too supported our healthy competition. Races with Lewis were never short of passion and excitement, and soon I found myself getting more into cycling, determined to beat Lewis at our favourite sport. The years had gradually passed, and the both of us had found a new love, motorcycle racing. We had worked hard to make our mark in the sport, and both of us had succeeded thus far, winning respective races in different parts of the world. Yet, he had won many more titles than me. I could never surpass him, it seemed. Our rivalry was a race and it had become my dream to defeat him in one. Now, it was time for us to compete once more. Both of us had entered the widely- acclaimed “Moto GP” competition, and a showdown would be inevitable. We had not raced together for many years, leaving this race down to the tremendous amounts of hard work we had put in. The press had written countless articles about our coming race, and it was finally time for the big clash. I turned my head towards him, and I could see his eyes through the visors of our helmets. Eyes filled with a colourful mixture of nostalgia, happiness and determination. Then, the horn blared. We raced, neck to neck from the start. It stayed that way for the next seventeen laps, before the final lap. He sped in front of me, stretching his engine to the limit. It would be extremely difficult to attempt to rival his pace, and I tried my very best to reduce the gap as much as I could. As I saw him riding in front of me, I was gripped by a sense of déjà vu. “Not so fast Lewis!” I mouthed, for the sake of reliving our very first race. Only this time, I would not let history repeat itself. I flicked my wrist back, accelerating my vehicle. I 21

concentrated on the figure in front of me. I could feel the effect of pushing my engine to its limits. My gloved hands were feeling the heat from the overheating engine. We approached the last hundred metres. I was only half a motorcycle’s length behind him. With a final flick, we crossed the finish line. We looked up at the giant screen. A camera replay was being shown. It was too close to call a winner. “And the winner is Will!” the commentator boomed through the sound system. I felt immense relief and a massive sense of achievement. I had finally done it. I had won the cup. I had won a race against my brother. I had won the race to surpass my brother. It was truly a dream came true! 22

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 5 Your teacher has asked you to write a story for a school magazine. The story must have the title: An Unforgettable Moment in My Life Your story should include: • a description of the moment • why is the moment unforgettable Write your story in 200- 250 words in an appropriate style. An Unforgettable Experience in My life By Suriyati Samad The alarm clock rang at 6.00a.m. but it was meaningless for I had not slept a wink all night for fear of what I would be facing that day. The sudden burst of sunlight which cast shadows on the ground saw me dragging myself unwillingly out of bed. Having showered and breakfasted, I head out the front door which I made sure to lock before I left. The thought that I would be receiving my SPM results alone was anything but comforting. The walk to school that morning was the longest one I had ever endured. The sight of the school building made my heart pounded more wildly. I quickly made my way to the school hall, scanned the crowd for my friends, and hurriedly made my way towards them. Looking around the hall, I saw my peers, each dealing with their nerves in their own way. There were those who rocked back and forth on their chairs and there were those who sat, chewing on their fingernails. A sudden slamming of the door startled me and brought all our attention to the rear of the hall where we saw our headmaster, with a thick stack of envelopes in his right hand. The silence that enveloped us was so dense that I could have drowned in it. When he brought the microphone to his lips, I shut my eyes and held my breath, hoping, praying for the best. What I heard were the most beautiful words in my life. I had passed with flying colours! The world became temporarily mute to me as fireworks of joy and celebration went off in my head. I was ecstatic. The wave of happiness and relief that washed over me was as comforting and as satisfying as a hot bath on a cold day. I was in a proper state as I made my way home. My dancing, singing and skipping attracted curious, amused and even sympathetic stares from pedestrians, but I did not care. I could not wait to get home so that I could ring up my mother and break the great news to her. Her reaction would be the greatest gift of all. Unable to contain my excitement any longer, I broke into a run. As soon as I reached home, I hastily opened the front door and was greeted by my mother. I was so surprised to see her. She hugged me tightly and told me that on her way home that morning, my class teacher Madam Habsah had called and told her about my excellent result. I looked at her and she had tears in her eyes. She then smiled at me and told me that she’s very proud of me. To be able to hear those words from her had really made those busy 23

days and my sleepless nights worth it. That moment had become an unforgettable moment for me as I realised that I had made my mother truly happy. 24

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 1 You see this notice on the board outside the school office. Articles wanted! Famous Tourist Attraction in Malaysia • Where is it situated? • What attracts visitors to the place? • What is your impression of the place? Write us an article answering these questions. The articles will be displayed in the school magazine. Write your article. Unique Kota Tinggi Written by: Amisah Nordin If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, well, you do not need to go far. Only a 40-minute drive from busy Johor Bahru, the weekend is always a good time for a trip to Kota Tinggi. This peaceful town is one of many popular tourist destinations in Malaysia. Kota Tinggi is a small town in Johor, situated on the road to Mersing. It is known as a historical town, where the Sultanate of Johor was established. There are many historical tombs of historical figures here, such as Sultan Mahmud II who died in 1699. If one is more of an outdoor person, one may go to Kota Tinggi Waterfalls at Lombong, which is located at the base of Muntahak mountain. The waterfall area is a great place to have picnics. However, gets crowded on weekends. The beautiful water cascading down and the view of the Muntahak mountain at a distance prove to be an attraction for outdoor and photography enthusiasts. To get to the waterfall, one needs to walk for about a half-an-hour. There are many food stalls in the area and barbeque pits are also available for those who want to barbeque. When I first went there, I found the area unbelievably beautiful. The picturesque scenery at the waterfalls is certainly the perfect spot for a quick getaway. There are adequate facilities there. However, the natural beauty of some parts was adulterated by concrete development and artificial landscaping. In conclusion, Kota Tinggi is a famous and highly recommended tourist attraction, bringing in both locals and foreign tourists alike. 27

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 2 You see this notice on the board outside the school office. Articles required for Lifestyle Section! Leisure Activities • What can you do to spend your leisure time? • What are the benefits of performing each activity? • Which leisure activity appeals most to you? Write us an article answering these questions. The best article will be displayed in the school magazine. Write your article. Leisure Activities Written by: Natalie Wong Leisure time is a time set aside for relaxation, where we can get away from studying or doing chores at home. While this is a fun time, teenagers should spend their leisure time wisely instead of involving themselves in dangerous pursuits such as illegal racing, loitering outside shopping malls, or taking drugs, to name a few. Reading books during leisure time is one activity which highly beneficial. Examples of books to read are such as science fiction, horror, mystery, romance, and magazine. Choose a reading material which you are interested in. Reading relaxes the mind, helps improve grammar and vocabulary, as well as keeps one up-to-date with current issues. One can download e-books from the internet which is very convenient. One can also join a reading club to share about the books one read and make new friends. Other than that, one may engage in physical activities in their free time. For example, jogging, brisk walking, and swimming. Taking part in physical activities can help control weight and prevent illnesses, improves one’s mood to make one feel happy, as well as to relieve stress. If one is adventurous and fit enough, one may take part in extreme sports such as bungee jumping, mountain climbing, or rock climbing. Besides that, one may also do charity work in one’s free time. Going to orphanages or old folks’ homes to help them there brings about a two-fold benefit, that is it benefits the receivers as well as the giver. The receivers will feel happy that they are being cared by the society, whereas the giver will benefit by learning to be grateful. Other than homes, one can also help in soup kitchens which distribute food to the homeless and less-fortunate. In conclusion, leisure time need to be spent correctly to not waste precious time. In my case, I enjoy reading during my leisure time as I love to imagine things as I read. 28

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 3 You see this notice on the board outside the school hall. Write your article. Articles required! Keeping Our Homes Safe • What measure can be taken to keep our homes safe? • When neighbours can help you? • How will a security system help to secure a home? Write us an article answering these questions. The best article will be displayed in the school magazine. Keeping Our Homes Safe Written by: Nardash Dani Lately there have been an increase in burglaries around residential areas in Malaysia. Certain measures need to be taken to reduce or prevent such incidents from taking place. First, never open the door to strangers. Keep gates and doors always locked. When a visitor arrives, identify them through a door viewer or through the CCTV before opening the door to them. If it is only for a quick visit, ensure that the metal gate is secured so that no one can enter and burglarise the house. At night, ensure that lights are switched on so that activities outside the house can be seen clearly. Second, neighbours come in handy when it comes to keeping watch for us when we are away from home. When we are away for a long period of time, it is important to ask their help to keep an eye on things. Other than that, they can also help to water the plants, take in the mail, as well as to draw the curtain to make the house look occupied. They can also help to contact the police should they see any suspicious characters around the house. Third, invest in a security system. Such an investment can keep our house safe even if it may cost a lot. We should buy it from a reputable security company as the system needs to be installed professionally to ensure that it works properly and effectively. With the use of the CCTV, one will have a peace of mind knowing that the house is constantly being watched and will be able to see suspicious characters around the house. In conclusion, the house is our very own investment. It is important find ways to keep our home safe from burglary. 29

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 4 You recently saw this notice in a travel blog. Write your article. Articles wanted! Why Every Child Should Experience Farming • What is the natural beauty children can experience? • What can children learn on a farm? • How can their experience affect future perceptions of their career? Write us an article answering these questions. The best article will be published in this blog What A Farm Can Teach A Child Written by: Yong Yi Farms can teach a child many invaluable lessons and values. It offers much, especially with the natural curiosity and wonder that a child has. The beauty of the farms around our country is legendary. There are the rolling hills of green grass, or the array of wildflowers displayed in all their glory. The meandering streams where cattle roam, and the delightful sounds of farm animals, all testaments to the rich life on a farm. Farms need to be more than an extract idea. A visit to the farm offers children hands-on experience. The farm provides children with hands-on experience of life, food production, and sustainable environmental practices. For instance, children benefit in life when they know where their food is coming from, how it is raised, and the amazing process of bringing food from the farm to their plate. Spending a day or a week on a farm will teach the children to have a greater appreciation for their food. Children who grow their own food are more likely to waste less and eat a greater variety of food. Besides, children can touch, smell, and taste the things they are learning about. The lessons from a farm field trip can run the gamut from alternative energy to vegetables, paddy fields, cows, chickens, and much more. The child will learn about farm practices, daily chores, animals, plants, the farm lifestyle, farm products, and agricultural economics. The classroom comes to life on the farm as they learn about history, math, science, art, music, and health topics relevant to their classroom curriculum. Children will learn about the people that run a farm and how much sacrifice and energy they put into producing food, milk, and meat for people. Children always think about wanting to be doctors and lawyers, but not often want to be farmers. Visits to the farm may change their minds. The experience on a farm is invaluable to the children’s educational growth and the future of farming as a profession. 30

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 5 You see this notice on the noticeboard outside the school library. Articles wanted! Cyberbullying • What are the forms of cyberbullying? • Why should cyberbullying be stopped? • How can we deal with the problem? Write us an article answering these questions. The best article will be published on the school Youth Club magazine Write your article. Cyberbullying: What Is It and How to Stop It Written by: Josh Carrot Cyberbullying is the act of using technology, such as text messages, emails, and social networking sites with the intent of hurting a person or a group. There are various types of cyberbullying. It includes sending or posting rude and hurtful comments, spreading lies and rumours about someone, sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing photo online, sending threatening emails or text messages. Cyberbullying should be stopped because it is a severe form of psychological abuse. It can cause both short-term and long-term damage to the victims. Victims of cyberbullying can suffer from a range of issues, including low self-esteem, depression, fear, anger, frustrations, and feeling ashamed of oneself. In addition, a bullied student will often avoid school, have lower grades, poor concentration, and become socially isolated. There have been numerous reports which show that cyberbullying has led to suicide in teens and children. In certain cases, students who struggle with depression, anxiety, and loneliness, will continue to live in this condition when they become adults. There are many ways to prevent cyberbullying. Firstly, you should stop talking to the person who is cyberbullying you. Secondly, block emails or messages from the bully. Do not respond to them. Thirdly, tell someone whom you trust like your parents, teachers, or friends about the matter. Finally, save the messages or emails that you receive from the cyberbully and keep the screenshots of any comments or images that have been posted online as all this can be used as evidence. 31

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 1 As Secretary of the English Language Society, you are required to write a report on an English Camp held in school during the school holidays. Your report should include: • The activities held during the English Camp • What members learned from te camp Write your report. English Camp 2021 During the last school holidays, the English Language Society had organised an English Camp at the school hall on the 4 to 5 December 2021from 8am to 5pm. Thirty members of the English Language Society participated in this English Camp under the supervision of two teachers. All the members of the English Language Society gathered in the school hall at 8am on Saturday. The teacher-in-charge gave a brief speech. Then, the committee members divided the participants into groups and conducted language games such as Charade, Guess the Word, Taboo Words and Letter Scramble. After lunch, there was a Treasure Hunt where members need to solve riddles to look for clues. On Sunday, participants were assigned to their new groups and each group worked together to produce a short drama script. After that, the members practised and performed their drama on stage with imaginary props. After lunch, we watched a movie and had a discussion on topics based on the movie. Before we went home, each member was given the opportunity to present a two-minutes speech on their feelings and opinions regarding the English Camp. Throughout the two days, members have improved their vocabulary by learning a lot of new words. They had a lot of practice on their speaking skills too and were more confident in speaking English with their friends. The English Camp has enabled them to learn language the fun way. The camp was a huge success and it is hoped that similar camps would be organised in the future. It would benefit the members greatly. Reported by, Xin Er (YONG XIN ER) Secretary, English Language Society 34

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 2 You are the Head Prefect of your school. You have been asked to write a report to the principal on the students’ complaints about the canteen. Your report should include: • Reasons for these complaints • Your recommendations on how to solve the problem. Write your report. Complaints about the canteen The students of this school are very unhappy with the food sold in the canteen and the rude behaviour of the canteen operators. Thus, the students have stopped buying food from the canteen. Firstly, there are no variety of food sold and the staple food here is curry noodles. The students have found the curry to be cold and the noodles were not blanched in hot water. Secondly, the food preparation is unhygienic. In fact, a student found a cockroach in the soup! When the student demanded for another bowl, the canteen operator hurled foul words at the student. Luckily, some teachers controlled the situation. Thirdly, the canteen operators are rude and shout at the students. They even short-change the students and said that they were lying. Thus, the students have decided to boycott the canteen and bring food from home. As the situation has accelerated, I would recommend that the canteen operator should be changed so that we have a new canteen operator. The students will not buy food from the current operator. I would also suggest that we have a group of teachers to oversee the preparation of food to ensure its hygiene and of high quality. Teachers should be around to ensure that the operators do not short-change the students. It is hoped that you would consider these complaints seriously and prompt actions should be taken. Reported by, Marina Muhammad (MARINAMUHAMMAD) Head Prefect, SMK Tun Teja 35

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 3 A quarrel had occurred in the library. As a prefect, you have been asked by the school principal to write a report on the incident. Your report should include: • How the quarrel started • The action taken by the discipline teacher Write your report. A Quarrel in the School Library On 16 October 2021, a quarrel between two students happened at the library. On that day, it was quiet as usual. The librarians were arranging books on the shelves while a group of students were reading at the tables. There was a queue of four students at the counter waiting for their turns to borrow books. A librarian was attending to them patiently. Suddenly, two boys from Form 4 Bestari started shouting at each other. They were Shankar Kumar and Kenny Chua. They were in the queue too. One of the boys accused the other of cutting the queue. They began to shout angrily at each other. However, the accused insisted that he did not cut the queue. The heated argument between the two soon escalated and they started shoving at each other. I was walking along the corridor when I heard the commotion. I ran into the library and tried to stop them. Meanwhile, the librarian, Zakiah binti Bakri, ran to call the disciplinary teacher, Mr Thirusamy who came in and intervened. He noted the boys’ names and the class they came from. Mr Thirusamy instructed me to accompany the boys back to his room as he wanted to interrogate them. Before leaving, Mr Thirusamy asked the other students if they had seen what caused the quarrel. The students told him what had happened and he instructed the librarians to monitor the queue carefully next time. Reported by, Hon Yong (LOK HON YONG) Prefect SMK Seri Serdang 36

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 4 Getting to school on time is very important but many students in your school often arrive late. The Principal has asked you to carry out a survey to find out why they arrive late. Based on your findings, write a report to the Principal. Your report should include: • Details of the survey • Reasons given by students • Ways to solve the problem Report on the Findings of a Survey Getting to school on time is very important but many students in our school often arrive late. To curb this problem, the Prefectorial Board of SMK Bandar Tun Hussein Onn had carried out a survey to find out why students arrive late to school. Arriving school on time is important so that students will not miss any updates given by the teacher on duty in the morning assembly. The survey was carried out on 7th May 2017. A total of 100 students were involved in the survey. Based on the outcome of the survey, majority of the correspondents cited waking up time as the main cause for students to arrive late to school. Many students stay up late at night doing revision or playing online games, thus, unable to wake up on time. Some students highlighted the issue of transport to school. Many of our students depend on school buses to come to school. The school buses are often late as the drivers have to go to many routes to pick students from different schools as well as to drop them all at their respective schools. Our school is usually their last stop as it is located the farthest from the residential areas. Another reason given by the respondents is the distance from their homes to the school. As their houses are miles away from the school, they have to face the heavy traffic jam every morning before reaching school. Besides, some of the students gave reasons that the parents need to go to send their younger siblings to the primary school first before heading to our school. To overcome this problem from further affecting our school’s image, the school can conduct an awareness campaign among students to bring in awareness on the importance of being on time. At the same time, the school should hold a discussion with the parents of the students who are often late. This can be alarming to the students too when parents meet their teachers. On the other hand, students themselves can take measures to manage this issue. Students should use alarm clocks to set their waking up time. Besides, they can ask their parents to wake them up every morning so that they can reach school on time. To summarise, the issue of students arriving late to school can be reduced gradually if both the school and students work hand in hand. The cooperation of parents, teachers and the students is crucial to ensure the success of our goal. 37

Reported by, Tharshadevi (THARSHADEVI) Head Prefect, SMK Bandar Tun Hussein Onn 38

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 5 During the last school holidays, your school hosted a week-long visit for international students. As one of the students involved in organizing the visit, you have been asked to write a report to the Teacher Advisor. In your report, include the following: • Reasons for the visit • Activities during the visit • Opinions from international students International Students Visit During last school holidays, our school hosted a week-long visit for the international students from 12th to 18th December 2020. 30 students from various parts of the world participated in the visit. They were from Japan, China, India, England, Australia and Scotland. Their age group was between 16 to 17 years old. The main reason for the visit was good for international relations. It was also aimed to expose our school students to different cultures in the world. The organizing team had arranged three beach-side bungalows to accommodate the international students. A number of activities were carried out during the visit. We had cooking lessons with the participants. A demonstration for making ‘roti canai’, a popular Indian cuisine, took place in which many international students excitedly joined in the trial lessons. Next, we had traditional games session. The foreign students learnt ‘congkak’ and kite-flying. To add excitement to the programme, a traditional dance show was held. The participants were put into groups with our local students to perform various traditional dances in Malaysia like ‘Joget’, ‘Zapin’ and ‘Ngajat’. All the activities were fun and filled with loud laughter. Majority of the international students commented on our beautiful beaches. Throughout the stay, they witnessed the beautiful sunset from their homestay. Many of them also expressed their admiration on our multiracial society living in harmony. The present organizing team would like to recommend a visit to Sabah for the future international visits. It would be a great place to observe the diversity of Malaysia closely. Reported by, Dev (DEV THARM) Secretary, The Arts and Cultural Club 39

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 1 (Book Review) You see this notice in a community magazine. Reviews required! Have you recently read a good book? With the holidays fast approaching, helpful reviews of books to read are welcome. Let us know what book you are reviewing. Provide a brief synopsis and let us know why you enjoyed the book and who would enjoy reading the book. Briefly explain where you obtained a copy of the book, so future readers know where to get a copy of it. The Holiday Book Review By Jacob Chiang The book I am reviewing is titled ‘The Holiday’ by Justine Haggard. The book is available at the most bookshops. I purchased my copy at The Popular bookstore. It is the perfect plan for the upcoming holidays, where one looks for activities to fill up the time. A good book is worth carving out time for. Three friends from university gather with their families for once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Unfortunately, events lead a crime writer, Lessa, into uncovering her husband’s secret activities. Lessa is not sure who to trust as her marriage and lifelong friendships unravel. Little does she know that the stakes are higher that she has ever imagined. Everyone, it seems, has a secret. The twists are fast and furious towards the end. It is a plot-driven book that will be sure to entertain readers who enjoy domestic thrillers. Lessa narrates most of the book. Her analytical point of view simultaneously helps her search for the truth about her husband and her secrets. She dissects each person’s actions and comments. While she slowly processes her thoughts and observations, the tension builds up a breaking point between the guests. What I enjoyed most about the story, besides the dreamy location, Mauritius, was the author’s ability to keep me guessing. To masterfully convey that ever so slight edge that had me second-guessing everyone. The book is accessible to all ages and has a precise but straightforward language that seamlessly makes the characters and events come alive. The print is easy to read, and even delightful cover keeps reader guessing. I highly recommend readers to pick up this book for the holidays. 42

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 2 (Place Review) You recently saw this notice in a Time Out magazine. Write your review. Review required! • Have you visited any nice cafés in your state lately? Send us your review. • Say what you enjoyed most about the café. • Would you recommend this café to your mates? Why? The best review will be published in the Time Out magazine (Not Just) Another Cup Café: Good Coffee, Delectable Dishes and Good Vibes By Hunter Hitzrald Those who are new to (Not Just) Another Cup café, welcome. A simple space furnished with dark wooden furniture further accentuated by the soft yellow hues. The cosiness brought by the surrounding enchanting drapery greens and potted plants is a pleasant touch to the café. For most city dwellers looking to sip good coffee, (Not Just) Another Cup café is definitely a must-visit. Joining the bustling Jalan Hang Jebat terrain, (Not Just) Another Cup is a café that is known for not only coffee but a wide variety of brunch fare. Do not forget to order the Iced Espresso Latte as it will undoubtedly make a good post on your Instagram. This café also deserves a shout-out when it comes to the coffee they serve. Did you know that the baristas here have won several awards? (Not Just) Another Cup café’s menu is a reflective of a contemporary Melbourne café with some delicious local influence. The kitchen team always takes no shortcuts, insisting on making everything they possibly can in-house and from scratch. My favourite dish is avocado smash. Homemade guacamole, feta cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, and two perfectly poached eggs topped on a sourdough toast. A smear of cider beetroot puree completes the dish. The toping is rich and creamy with a burst of tanginess when bite into the cherry tomatoes. The cider beetroot puree provides a mild acidic note to enhance the overall flavours. Besides, I like the Superbowl before I have even tried it. It has got all of my favourite ingredients in one dish: quinoa salad, sweet potato, grilled sweet corn, dehydrated kale, four-angled beans, hummus, pistachio, Greek yoghurt, and basil oil. Superb! The team at (Not Just) Another Cup café is serious about their coffee, and I dare say they are among the best quality cups in the city. The contemporary food menu us indeed flavourful but gently so, allowing both food and beverage shine. Sincere café hoppers should add (Not Just) Another Cup café to their route. This quaint café makes it right, from smoothie bowls to pancakes, sandwiches and pastas. Drop by (Not Just) Another Cup café, enjoy your cup of coffee, and unwind in their beautiful setting. Highly recommended! 43

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 3 (Product Review) You recently saw this notice in a magazine. Reviews required! Have you heard about any writing app that helps you write more and write better lately? We are really curious about it. Send us your app review. Say what the app is all about. How does it help students and how does it help them write better? The best review will be published in our newsletter . Write your review in 200- 250 words in an appropriate style Start Write App Review By Selvan a/l Rajaratnam A teacher created the Start Write App. It is designed with students in mind and is very easy to navigate, even on smartphone. The layout is clean and bright. The animation is tasteful and helps with student’s engagement. Start Write app consists of hundreds of prompts and images that are appropriate for students of different writing levels. The prompt increase with difficulty as each student progresses, from one writing level to the next. Another exciting feature of the app is that students can create new prompt using their own images and ideas. Individual writing pieces are composed and saved within the app. Students can also share their writing with others using email. The prompts help students think creatively and they can practise responding critically using arguments and details. As they write, the app provides check-in questions to keep students engaged and help them keep track of their progress. For many students, just starting to write is the most challenging part; the more they practise, the better they will become. Start Write app is excellent at getting students to start writing. Furthermore, students can even search for writing prompts and images based on a keyword or category, or they could let the app randomly make the selection for them. The only thing I find lacking is that there is no autocorrect for simple writing errors such as spelling. It would be wonderful to have a sound-recording option for students with disabilities. Currently, the free version is good enough for the average writer. The app developer is releasing a paid version that allows for partner writing and group work, and tracking edits and progress. 44

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 4 (Movie Review) A local magazine is looking for individuals to send in their movie reviews. Write a review on a movie that you have watched recently. Movie Review • Name of the movie and its synopsis • Analysis of the movie (themes, characters that you like, storyline, moral values etc) • What is your opinion about the movie? Will you recommend this movie? Send your review to us and stand a chance to be featured in our magazine! Hidden Figures Movie Review By Tesvor Ram The movie, Hidden Figures (2016), not only serves as an item of good entertainment, but is also admirable in depicting the scientific changes in the USA in the 1960s, the social life issues of that era, and differences that existed in the country, especially among African- Americans. The movie centers around the lives of three women: Katherine Johnson, who is played by movie star Taraji P. Henson; Mary Jackson, who is played by Janelle Monáe; and finally, Dorothy Vaughan, as the mathematician portrayed by Octavia Spencer. In the movie, these three characters of African-American backgrounds play vital roles in society through their contributions while working at NASA towards the successful launch of a spaceship into orbit. As an informative movie, it shows the condition of African-Americans among the wider USA community and some of the issues they faced. These include gender imbalances, as well as racial discriminations. From a historical perspective, the film shows a depiction of the Jim Crow rule, which created ideologies of segregation where some buildings and facility spaces are separated to ensure that races were kept apart. The impact of such a rule is seen when Mary Jackson in facing opposition due to her taking a course in physics at the graduate-level. There is also a depiction of racial discrimination where there are separate toilets for white people and for colored people. Additionally, the film depicts differences in the social treatment of community members among various ethnic groups. 45

As seen in the movie, at the Langley Campus at NASA, even if African-Americans and white citizens work within the same vicinity, they are segregated. The African-Americans are shown using separate dining facilities and bathrooms. This can be seen when Katherine Johnson is seen running from her office just to visit the washrooms, sometimes even in the rain. The movie, Hidden Figures, also shows the social differences between men and women in American history. There is a sense of prejudice and workplace bias towards women from their fellow men counterparts. One scene from the movie depicts the character, Katherine Johnson, who is skilled in computing and at explaining information to the board, yet sidelined and prevented from being among the men by Paul Stanford, a lead engineer on the project. Rather, she is forced to relinquish her presentation files to men, as opposed to making the presentation herself. However, with changes and acceptance, Katherine is finally allowed to present, especially with the support of Al Harrison. The movie also shows the importance and impact that the three women played in shaping the subsequent events at NASA, and in shaping the whole community. Through power and determination, the women act as motivators for other women, especially African- American women. In the film, Dorothy works with other white women and commanding several computers, however she is bypassed for upcoming promotions within the company for the role of supervisor. Fellow co-workers and her boss also treat Dorothy maliciously. However, with perseverance, she encourages fellow African-American women to take up programming lessons as a way of preparing themselves for the changes in computing. I think the movie does an excellent job in portraying past issues faced by African- Americans, explaining scientific changes in USA, and in creating a vivid picture of the social differences in gender in the 1960s. I highly recommend this movie because there are so many things that we can learn from the dramatic prejudice and issues undertaken by these three women. 46

PART 3: MODEL QUESTION 5 (Game Review) You recently saw this notice in a STAR magazine. Review required! • Choose a favourite game of yours! • Write a review about the game – what is the game about? • How you feel about the game? • What you like and dislike about the game? The best review will be published in the STAR magazine. Shadow of Wars By Gordon Yeam My favourite game of the year is ‘Shadows of War’. ‘Shadows of War’ revolves around sieges. Mordor now comprises five regions: Cirith Ungol, Nurnen, Seregost, Gorgoroth, and one of the Gondorian cities–naming it would be a spoiler, I guess. Four of them are guarded by a stronghold governed by up to six war chiefs, and an overlord. Your goal is basically to conquer all the fortresses, using the whole lot of tools developers grant you with. The siege itself is represented by well-known “capture-and-hold” mechanics: your forces must break through the walls and gain control over several strategic points heavily defended by enemy captains and war chiefs. To do this, you must overcome numerous obstacles: poisoned traps and fire mines; enemy catapults wiping out your grunt orcs; beasts and archers defending the city within the walls; boiling oil or poison flowing on the heads of your troops as they try to climb the walls; and so on. As soon as you capture all the points, you will need to confront the overlord himself–and I must say, it can be a challenging task even for an experienced player. Regarding the game itself, I could just describe it in one word: fantastic. Flexible, versatile, engaging, and adapting to your pace as a player. I could not stop playing it: in about a week after I bought “Shadows of War,” my Steam statistics showed over 60 hours spent in the game. Capturing fortresses, fighting war chiefs, infiltrating strongholds, recruiting orc captains, flying fire-breathing drakes, collecting legendary gear sets–this is just a tiny bit of what you will need to do. I love the game so much because of the several reasons. I liked the online part of the game. Traditional vendetta missions, when you must avenge another player killed by an orc captain, are now complemented with sieges. In this mode, you must attack a fortress in another player’s world. You do not fight players, though–just their orc war chiefs and captains. Still, it is fun, as every user builds his or her own defenses, and the orcs possess different traits. Also, it is a nice way to find and capture (or kill) high-level, legendary orcs, which is awesome. Apart from that, the Nemesis system in the game is capable of creating them on the fly, and I think this is fantastic. The skill tree has become much more diverse. 47

All of your talents fall into several categories: Combat, Predator, Ranged, Wraith, Beasts, and Story. Each skill in each of these categories has two or three alternatives. Overall, it gives Talion incredible flexibility, allowing you to create any playstyle you wish. Like to stealthily infiltrate fortresses during the night and take out enemy captains one by one? Here you go. How about roasting everyone with flames while flying a drake? Mind-controlling archers and ordering them to fire at will? Terrorize your enemies so they flee in horror? You can play “Shadow of War” in whatever way you like. However, there are several aspects of the game that I disliked, though. The first and foremost one is the camera. It is awful. If you are in the middle of combat with multiple grunts and captains surrounding you, and plan to use your deadly execution to hit precisely–forget about it. Better use an area-of-effect ability, because you will never make the camera aim at the enemy you want to hit. Not in a large battle, at least. If you run past a wall you do not plan climbing on, be sure Talion will grab it and start climbing. I am using Steam Gamepad, but I never noticed such problems in other games. The other aspect I would like to rant about is the graphics. My computer runs this game at 60 FPS on ultra settings. Nevertheless, the graphics look blurry. Sometimes textures look like they have not loaded completely. Anti-aliasing does not completely eliminate pixel “ladders”–this can be easily seen when you fly towards your fort and look at it from the distance. This, as well as some bugs (I found myself stuck in textures several times) can somewhat spoil your impression. Overall, “Middle-Earth: Shadow of War” is a game that can catch your attention for a long time. The gameplay is extremely immersive and versatile, and the Nemesis system responsible for player-environment relationships works amazingly. After more than 60 hours of playing the game, I have still got things left to do in Middle-Earth, and gameplay mechanics to explore. I strongly recommend this game to everyone, really. 48

Essay on Social Media for School Students and Children

500+ words essay on social media.

Social media is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days because of its user-friendly features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more are giving people a chance to connect with each other across distances. In other words, the whole world is at our fingertips all thanks to social media. The youth is especially one of the most dominant users of social media. All this makes you wonder that something so powerful and with such a massive reach cannot be all good. Like how there are always two sides to a coin, the same goes for social media. Subsequently, different people have different opinions on this debatable topic. So, in this essay on Social Media, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

Advantages of Social Media

When we look at the positive aspect of social media, we find numerous advantages. The most important being a great device for education . All the information one requires is just a click away. Students can educate themselves on various topics using social media.

Moreover, live lectures are now possible because of social media. You can attend a lecture happening in America while sitting in India.

Furthermore, as more and more people are distancing themselves from newspapers, they are depending on social media for news. You are always updated on the latest happenings of the world through it. A person becomes more socially aware of the issues of the world.

In addition, it strengthens bonds with your loved ones. Distance is not a barrier anymore because of social media. For instance, you can easily communicate with your friends and relatives overseas.

Most importantly, it also provides a great platform for young budding artists to showcase their talent for free. You can get great opportunities for employment through social media too.

Another advantage definitely benefits companies who wish to promote their brands. Social media has become a hub for advertising and offers you great opportunities for connecting with the customer.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Social Media

Despite having such unique advantages, social media is considered to be one of the most harmful elements of society. If the use of social media is not monitored, it can lead to grave consequences.

Thus, the sharing on social media especially by children must be monitored at all times. Next up is the addition of social media which is quite common amongst the youth.

This addiction hampers with the academic performance of a student as they waste their time on social media instead of studying. Social media also creates communal rifts. Fake news is spread with the use of it, which poisons the mind of peace-loving citizens.

In short, surely social media has both advantages and disadvantages. But, it all depends on the user at the end. The youth must particularly create a balance between their academic performances, physical activities, and social media. Excess use of anything is harmful and the same thing applies to social media. Therefore, we must strive to live a satisfying life with the right balance.

FAQs on Social Media

Q.1 Is social media beneficial? If yes, then how?

A.1 Social media is quite beneficial. Social Media offers information, news, educational material, a platform for talented youth and brands.

Q.2 What is a disadvantage of Social Media?

A.2 Social media invades your privacy. It makes you addicted and causes health problems. It also results in cyberbullying and scams as well as communal hatred.

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Social Issues Essay Examples

A social issues essay is important because it tries to address existing problems in society. These could be problems that prevent its individuals from living happy lives, from performing well, from feeling safe or content (financially, socially, psychologically, spiritually), that are hindering society’s evolution as a whole. Interestingly, people become aware of many of these problems or imperfections by comparing different societies – this is often able to illustrate that things can be much better than expected. A social issues paper normally describes the problem by using supporting evidence/ statistics, tends to evaluate ongoing measures to address it, but may also reflect on alternate solutions or more radical measures. Check out the essays in this category for a deeper insight.

White Privilege: a Historical and Contemporary Analysis

White privilege is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years as societies grapple with issues of systemic racism and inequality. This essay delves into the multifaceted nature of white privilege, tracing its historical roots and examining its persistence in contemporary society. It...

What is Poverty: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Poverty is a complex and pervasive social issue that has plagued societies throughout history. It is a multifaceted phenomenon that transcends mere economic insufficiency, encompassing a lack of access to resources and opportunities necessary for a decent standard of living. In this essay, we will...

Pro Death Penalty: a Rational Examination

The death penalty, or capital punishment, has long been a topic of debate and controversy. While many argue against it, this essay seeks to provide a balanced examination of the arguments in favor of the death penalty. Proponents of capital punishment assert that it serves...

Ending World Hunger: a Comprehensive Approach

World hunger remains one of humanity's most pressing challenges, with millions of people suffering from malnutrition and starvation. This essay explores a multifaceted approach to ending world hunger, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes, promoting sustainable agriculture, and fostering international cooperation. While eradicating...

How Freedom of Speech Affects Other Individual Rights

Freedom of speech, often considered the cornerstone of democratic societies, has been a subject of enduring debate and discussion. This essay delves into the multifaceted realm of freedom of speech, offering an argumentative perspective on its intricate interplay with other individual rights. In a world...

Social Worker: Qualities, Opportunities, and Challenges

Social workers play a vital role in society by assisting individuals and communities in need, advocating for social justice, and promoting well-being. Their work encompasses a wide range of fields, from child welfare to mental health to substance abuse. In this essay, we will explore...

Martin Luther King Jr.: a Legacy of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Martin Luther King Jr. is an iconic figure in American history, celebrated for his tireless efforts in advancing civil rights and social justice. His life and work continue to inspire and resonate with people around the world. This essay delves into the remarkable journey of...

The Impact of Social Issues on Social Work

Social work is a profession deeply intertwined with addressing and mitigating the impact of social issues on individuals, families, and communities. This essay explores the intricate relationship between social issues and the practice of social work, examining how these challenges influence the role of social...

Food Insecurity in Underdeveloped Countries: a Global Crisis

Food insecurity, the lack of reliable access to sufficient and nutritious food, remains a pressing and deeply entrenched issue, particularly in underdeveloped countries. This essay delves into the complex factors contributing to food insecurity, its devastating consequences on individuals and communities, and the imperative need...

Bullying: Protecting Victims and Addressing Bullies

Bullying is a pervasive and harmful social issue that affects individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics. In this argumentative essay, we will examine the critical importance of protecting bullying victims and implementing appropriate punishments for bullies. By addressing both sides of this complex problem,...

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Animal Rights
Human Rights
Immigration
Overpopulation
Poverty Problem
Social Movements
Women's Rights
Domestic Violence
Capital Punishment
Gay Marriage
Animal Testing
Cruelty to Animals
Death Penalty
Gender Inequality
Freedom of Speech
Discrimination
Civil Rights
Affirmative Action
Public Shaming
Illegal Immigration
Moving to America
Homelessness
Black Lives Matter
Martin Luther King
White Privilege
Letter From Birmingham Jail
Social Isolation
Civil Disobedience
Cyber Bullying
Gender Equality
Globalization
Social Protection Programs
School Shooting
Violence in Video Games
Women Suffrage Movement
Racial Discrimination
Immigration to America
Violence Against Women
World Hunger
Controversial Issue
Cultural Conflict
Lewis Blackman
Media Influence
Nobel Prize
Premarital Sex
Prohibition
Social Problems
Social Responsibility
Transphobia
Urbanization
Urbanization in China

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