Ashford U ABS 417 / ABS417 Class Answers
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 1 DQ 1 THE POWER OF MANY
Week 1 DQ 1 The Power of Many
Watch From the grassroots- Understanding community organizing. Consider the African proverb: “A single bracelet does not jingle.” Discuss the process of social change and the benefit of organizing together for change over individual efforts. Read about the approaches or paths that can be taken to effect progressive social change. Discuss two or three approaches that seem most relevant or practical to you. Support your comments with references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 1 DQ 2 SOCIAL CHANGE MODEL
Week 1 DQ 2 Social Change Model
From Table 3.4 in your text, select two social change models and compare and contrast the similarities and differences between them. Identify their social change tactic, and give examples of representative groups, coalitions, organizations, or entities that exemplify them. Specify the components of successful progressive organizations. Support your comments with references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 2 DQ 1 EMPOWERMENT DISEMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Week 2 DQ 1 Empowerment, Disempowerment and Social Change
In 250–300 words, discuss the ways in which individuals can be empowered, disempowered and how they can combat personal disempowerment. How does personal empowerment lead to collective empowerment? Describe how social change organizations empower their individual members. Support your comments with scholarly references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 2 DQ 2 NON-PROFIT VS. FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Non-Profit vs. For-Profit Organizations
Discuss what it means to be mission driven as opposed to profit driven in 250 – 300 words. Give an example of an organization that is mission driven and one that is profit driven, identifying the rationale for your choice. Support your comments with scholarly references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 2 ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION PAPER
Reflection Paper
Watch the following video, 21st Century Enlightenment and consider the video’s concluding statement,” Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has”. In a three to four page paper,
Discuss your thoughts on the video and how it supports this statement.
Include a discussion of the terms “social change,” “progressive organizing,” and “community organizing”.
Reflecting upon the video, discuss some ways in which individual citizens can respond to social problems.
Consider how becoming involved with social change aligns with your own values as you consider the following quote, “Activism is living out one’s values”.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 3 DQ 1 SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Week 3 DQ 1 Social Problems
In 250–300 words, discuss what is meant by a social problem. Select one social problem and describe where you could begin to make a difference locally. Support your comments with at least two scholarly references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 3 DQ 2 SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
Week 3 DQ 2 Social Science Research
In 250–300 words, identify the importance of understanding the history of social problems, the policies involved, and reasons for conducting research. Discuss the role of research in the social change process. Give an example of a question or issue you could study, what methods you would use, and how you might use the data that you collect. Support your comments with at least two scholarly references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT DRAFT FOR FINAL PAPER
Draft for Final Paper
For this assignment, include a minimum of a title page, reference page, a cohesive introductory paragraph, and a representative part of the body of your paper which may be unpolished and in need of reworking. For uncompleted parts of your paper, please report the direction that you are taking and any specific ideas that you may have regarding your final draft. As an option, you may include a detailed outline rather than the body, but still include the introductory and concluding paragraphs.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 4 DQ 1 SOCIAL ACTIVIST
Social Activist
Complete the iPersonic Personality Test (you do not need to complete the Personality Profiles section) and answer the following questions: Suppose you saw a job advertisement such as the ones included on pages 173, 179, and 180 of your text.
Describe your specific qualifications (or those you could develop) with examples of how you would be the best candidate for the position of the job for which you seem best suited.
Discuss the upsides and downsides of being an activist, making your post approximately 250-300 words.
Support your comments with scholarly references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 4 DQ 2 SUPPORT SECTOR
Week 4 DQ 2 Support Sector
Watch the Faith in Action: PICO Organizing Model and The Playing for Change Foundation videos. These organizations have different roles and goals. In 250-300 words, describe the different types and roles of support organizations in social action and change (Refer to text, p. 248). Also discuss the types of considerations needed to administrate over these organizations (Chapter 11). Support your comments with scholarly references and respond to a minimum of two classmates’ postings.
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 5 DQ LOBBYING
Week 5 DQ Lobbying
In 250-300 words, describe the process of political lobbying.
What makes a good lobbyist?
What techniques do they use?
What do they hope to accomplish?
ABS417 / ABS 417 / WEEK 5 ASSIGNMENT FINAL PAPER
Focus of the Final Paper
Consider from the authors of the course text the following quote: “Progressive social change is about defending the weak from the strong, gaining resources to reduce human hardship, and striving to promote an equitable society. It is about battling for economic and social justice, working to protect and enhance civil liberties, and respecting the environment” (Rubin & Rubin, 2008, p. 433).
Begin your paper with a discussion of Community or Progressive Organizing, as you understand it at this point in the course. Review your areas of strength as an organizer.
Considering the above quote, select a social problem or cause that you could address as a social change agent. Explain what motivates you to support this cause. Some suggestions/examples are:
Pollution leading to disease
Homelessness
Treatment of immigrants
Treatment of mentally ill
Treatment of oppressed groups
Lack of health insurance/access to needed services
Disabled and access to services
Unemployment
Use of animals for testing
School programs
The list could go on and on. (Consider movies such as “Erin Brockovich,” “Legally Blonde 2,” “Patch Adams,” or others where someone felt strongly about a social cause, or saw a need, mobilized support, and worked to effect change. What cause might you take on?)
Describe the process you would go through to mobilize others to collectively enact changes. Some of the questions to be answered might be:
What are your goals? What would you like to achieve?
What role do you see yourself taking in this cause?
How will you mobilize others to help you?
Where will you obtain funding for your cause?
What coalitions, local and state, would you contact who might support you in your cause?
What governmental policies would you need to have changed?
What specific skills or tools would you need to develop in order to accomplish your goals?
What would be your best approach to this particular problem?
What government agencies or representatives would you need to approach? (Research and name specific members of government who might support you in your legislative district.)
What roadblocks or challenges might you anticipate that might hinder your success or progress?
Conclude your paper with a discussion about how you would evaluate and reflect upon your progress, review your original goals and evaluate how you are meeting your goals and if they have remained current and relevant to your area of interest or concern. Understanding that change takes time, how will you know that you are on track and making progress? Summarize what you hope to accomplish and any insights you might have gained in this project.
