Sociology Department

Sociology 497.1
Social Movements
Spring, 2005

Andrew McGuire
Phone: 707.838.8110
Tuesday, 6 to 9:40 pm in Salazar 2021
415.215.8980 Cell
E-mail: AM@TF.ORG

Course Description:

This course will analyze advocacy campaigns in America. Examples include advocacy campaigns for women’s right to vote, tax reduction, auto safety, teaching creationism in public schools, universal health care, medical marijuana, gun control, tobacco control, etc. Campaigns can become the catalyst for large social movements. For example, the campaign for safer automobiles in the 1960’s amplified the growing “consumer movement” in the U.S. and internationally

In this course, students will study and analyze the elements that are necessary for local, state or national campaigns. The goal for the course is to take students inside various campaigns, for a ringside seat. By the end of the course, students will plan and construct their own hypothetical campaign (local, state or national). Students will choose their "hypothetical campaign of interest" so that we, as a group, can suggest ways to become active participants in that campaign or, if the chosen campaign is actual, we can share ways to become more effective participants in the chosen campaign.

Course Evaluation:

• Class Participation 25%
• Three strategic memos (one page each) 15%
• Strategic Campaign Plan (10 pages) 40%
or
Paper analyzing a campaign (10 pages)
• Midterm Exam 10%
• Final Exam 10%

Required Readings:

TBA

Required Films:

The Insider (Directed by Michael Mann, 1999)
Others TBA