Analyzing Social Problems: An Industry Analyst's Approach

The rationale of this assignment is to begin the process of identifying a chosen industry wherein you will, based on your chosen topic and reference sources, provide a combined descriptive and explanatory report - an article. To frame the paper’s research focus, the student (you) will be seeking to explore what kinds of insights might be advanced in this problem solving exercise in for example areas of politics, government, education, the military, or other social organizations and institutions derived from your textbook and lecture. In other words, you are the industry analyst who produces a professional report describing and explaining a social problem, or set of interrelated social problems. You choose a topic or topics of interest that is/are considered a social problem. You may choose to select more than one social problem for the purposes of argumentation.

First, descriptively address the following two questions when investigating your chosen topic:

1. What key factors are involved in the theoretical perspective(s) you’ve chosen to use as your lens in this investigation?

2. How might the approach(es) identified in (#1) explain the social problem under consideration?

Then, proceed to think through and explain why the topic you chose is considered a problem. You will need to find the source of the problem in terms of whom or which group(s) (a person, a group or a government) are addressing this problem. Then, you will explain how and why the problem may be solved – if it can at all. To help frame this portion of your report ask:

1. How might the approach(es) identified in (#1) suggest resolving the problem?

2. As well, once you have identified the major strengths and weaknesses of the theoretical perspective(s) you applied to the problem – did it assist in helping to understand the problem, or did it hinder your understanding of the problem?

1. Find the thesis statement (or distil it if it is not obvious) from one of your readings and/or lectures should be a small number of sentences – a statement of the central argument of the paper.1

2. Summarize the key supporting argument(s) of the author(s) - make clear what arguments have been made to support the author's thesis/arguments (positions).

a. Look for what the social problem(s) are - map (outline the problems) this will help, see

b. Look to why/how it is argued as a social problem - this will usually involve identifying what key factors are involved in the theoretical perspective(s) used as the lens grounding and guiding (structuring, supporting, compelling) these arguments.

c. Look to what approach(es) are identified in suggesting resolution to the problem(s)? Are there any, if so, what are they and are they realistic/pragmatic/un-realistic, please identify.

3. Conclude the report by projecting into the future what may happen if the social problem you have identified is not resolved; what will it mean for society?