Requirements for Seminar on Health Theory and Advocacy  (Urban Studies # 50-975-489)

Your grades will be based on the following:            

A)    Three brief essay exams (take home) based on reading materials and seminar discussions.           45%

B)    Group/Individual project                                                                                                            20%

C)    Reaction paper on each reading                                                                                            15%

Write a one page reaction paper on each reading.  Indicate the points you agreed with, disagreed with, any emotional reactions to the materials, and what you wanted to know more about.  Starting October, the reaction paper should include integrating the class model.  This will be collected on the dates indicated on the reading list.

D)       Attendance and discussion in class                                                                                          20%  ( + or - )

It is important that you attend each class, be up to date in reading the articles, and come prepared to talk about them. Two reasons:

a)    The information from the articles is integrated within a community health model presented in class.  Understanding the model only arises out of the in depth discussions that occur in class.
b)    Your best chance to receive a good grade comes from the integrated understanding achieved from being prepared and participating in class discussions.  Students not actively and consistently participating in this manner greatly increase the probability of receiving poor grades.

Your participation grade (20%) turns on:
1) Your regular attendance;
2) Your keeping up with the readings; and
3) Your active contribution to the class. Showing up to class is not sufficient to receive a strong participation grade.

An Additional Important Note** - Attendance will be taken each day at the beginning of class. A student who misses seven classes will cause his or her grade to be lowered by one-half a grade point, e.g., from an A to a B+. Students who misses twelve classes will cause their grade to be lowered by a full grade point. On the positive side, students who have excellent attendance (misses four classes or less), who participate constructively in class, and demonstrate he or she has read the assigned material and integrated the issues presented in the seminar, can boost his or her grade by one-half a grade point, e.g., from a B+ to an A.

All materials submitted to me must be typed and handed in on time in class.  All papers should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5 X 11 inches, Times New Roman, 12) with margins of 1 inch on all sides. The heading (one line) should either contain the title of the article or which test, and your name.  Your response must begin on the second line.


All Readings on Electronic Reserve at Robeson Library

Class Readings – Due Dates


9/11        Our Stolen Future: Are we threatening our fertility, intelligence, and survival? — A detective story; 1996; T. Colborn et al.; Penquin Books
                         Chap 4    Hormone Havoc

                Our Children at Risk: The 5 worst environmental threats to their health; 1997; L. Mott et al; Natural Resources Defense Council
                         Chap 4    Air Pollution

9/18        The Cigarette Papers; Glantz, Slade, Bero, Hanauer, & Barnes; 1996; University of  California Press
                         Chap. 1    Looking through a Keyhole at the Tobacco Industry

                Philip Morris:    Dead Smokers Cheaper.    CBS News / World, 7/19/2001

                Our Children at Risk: The 5 worst environmental threats to their health; 1997; L. Mott et al; Natural Resources Defense Council
                         Chap. 7    Drinking Water Contamination

9/25        The Working Class Majority: America’s best kept secret; 2000; M. Zweig; Cornell University Press
                         Chap 1    The class structure of the United States

                Promoting Diversity and Social Justice: Educating people from privileged groups; 2001; D.J. Goodman; Sage Publications
                         Chap 2    About privileged groups

9/27        1st Take-home Essay Exam – Due 10/2

10/4        Cancer Wars: How Politics Shapes What We Know and Don’t Know About Cancer. Robert Proctor, 1995
                         Chap. 2    The Environmentalist Thesis

10/6        Cancer Wars: How Politics Shapes What We Know and Don’t Know About Cancer. Robert Proctor, 1995
                         Chap. 5    Doubt is our Product: Trade Association Science

10/9        The Sociology of Health & Illness: critical perspectives; P. Conrad; 1997; St. Martin’s Press
                         Chap. 3    Excess Mortality in Harlem

                The Structure of Power in America; 1987; M. Schwartz (ed.); Holmes & Meier.
                         Chap. 11    The Corporate Elite and the Introduction of IQ Testing in American Public Schools

10/16       Toxic Deception: How the chemical industry manipulates science, bends the law, and endangers your health; 1996; Fagin, Lavelle, and the Center for                             Public Integrity; Birch Lane Press
                         Chap 4    Keeping the watchdogs on a short leash
                         Chap 5    Making friends in high places.

10/23        Toxic Deception: How the chemical industry manipulates science, bends the law, and endangers your health; 1996; Fagin, Lavelle, and the Center for                         Public Integrity; Birch Lane Press
                         Chap 6    Justice Denied
                         Chap 7    The PR Juggernaut

10/30        The Managed Health Care Handbook; P. Kongstvedt; 1993; Aspen Publication
                         Chap. 9    Changing Provider Behavior in Managed Care Plans

11/1          2nd Take-home Essay Exam – Due 11/6

11/8        Our Stolen Future: Are we threatening our fertility, intelligence, and survival? — A detective story; 1996; T. Colborn et al.; Penquin Books
                         Chap 12    Defending ourselves

11/8        Generations at Risk: reproductive health and the environment; 1999; T Schettler, et al.; MIT Press
                         Chap. 9    Taking Action: How to Assess Reproductive Threats at Home, in the Community, and in the Workplace.

11/13        The Activist’s Handbook: a primer for the 1990's and beyond; 2001; R. Shaw; University of California Press
                         Chap. 2    Elected officials: inspiring fear and loathing.
                         Chap. 3    Coalition Activism: rounding up the usual suspects.

11/20        Growing Up Tobacco Free: Preventing nicotine addiction; 1994; B.S. Lynch, and R.J. Bonnie (eds.); National Academy Press.
                         Chap 1    Towards a youth centered prevention policy
                         Chap 4    Tobacco advertising & promotion

11/27        Growing Up Tobacco Free: Preventing nicotine addiction; 1994; B.S. Lynch, and R.J. Bonnie (eds.); National Academy Press.
                         Chap 6    Tobacco taxation in the United States
                         Chap 7    Youth access to tobacco products

12/4         The Global Politics of the Environment; 2004; L. Elliott; New York University Press
                         Chap. 3    The global politics of pollution

3rd Take-home Essay Exam – Date to be determined.