Assessment DescriptionAfter analyzing various social problems in this course, in an essay assignment (750-1,000
words), address the following citing three to five scholarly sources from the GCU library:
First, summarize what you’ve learned regarding the impact of social phenomenon for
instance, social inequality, social deviance, etc.) on the social problem you selected
(CHILD ABUSE) from macro and micro perspectives.
Next, in Topic 1, you explained how the theoretical perspective(s) that best aligns with
your selected social problem (conflict, functionalist, and interactionist) explains how it
came to be and is perpetuated. In this essay, explain how your study of the theoretical
perspectives has deepened your understanding of why the social problem you’ve selected
continues to exist and how it can be alleviated. (PLEASE SEE MY ATTACHED ESSAY FROM
TOPIC 1)
Lastly, provide your own possible solutions to your selected social problem that are more
effective than current solutions, based on research you’ve collected.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located
in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment
to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. (Please see rubric
below)
Rubric
Collapse All RubricCollapse All
collapse The Impact of Social Phenomenon (B) assessment
The Impact of Social Phenomenon (B)
50 points
Criteria Description
Summarize what you have learned regarding the impact of social phenomenon (for instance, social
inequality and social deviance) on the social problem you selected from macro and micro
perspectives. (C1.3)
5. Excellent
50 points
Paper summarizes the impact of social phenomenon on the selected social problem from the macro
and micro perspectives in a comprehensive manner. Explanation is thorough, with relevant evidence
to support claims.
4. Good
42.5 points
Paper summarizes the impact of social phenomenon on the selected social problem from the macro
and micro perspectives in an insightful manner. Explanation is strong with sound reasoning and
appropriate evidence to support claims.
3. Satisfactory
37.5 points
Paper summarizes the impact of social phenomenon on the selected social problem from the macro
and micro perspectives in an adequate manner. Explanation is somewhat limited and lacks some
evidence to support claims.
2. Less than Satisfactory
32.5 points
Paper summarizes the impact of social phenomenon on the selected social problem from the macro
and micro perspectives in a cursory manner. Explanation is limited, weak, and missing evidence to
support claims.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not summarize the impact of social phenomenon on the selected social problem from the
macro and micro perspectives.
collapse Theoretical Perspectives assessment
Theoretical Perspectives
50 points
Criteria Description
Explain how your study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened your understanding of why the
social problem you’ve selected continues to exist and how it can be alleviated.
5. Excellent
50 points
Paper explains how the study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened the student’s
understanding of why the selected social problem continues to exist and how it can be alleviated, in a
comprehensive manner. Explanation is thorough, with relevant evidence to support claims.
4. Good
42.5 points
Paper explains how the study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened the student’s
understanding of why the selected social problem continues to exist and how it can be alleviated, in an
insightful manner. Explanation is strong with sound reasoning and appropriate evidence to support
claims.
3. Satisfactory
37.5 points
Paper explains how the study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened the student’s
understanding of why the selected social problem continues to exist and how it can be alleviated, in an
adequate manner. Explanation is somewhat limited and may lack some evidence to support claims.
2. Less than Satisfactory
32.5 points
Paper explains how the study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened the student’s
understanding of why the selected social problem continues to exist and how it can be alleviated, in a
cursory manner. Explanation is limited, weak, and missing evidence to support claims.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not explain how the study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened the student’s
understanding of why the selected social problem continues to exist and how it can be alleviated.
collapse Possible Solutions assessment
Possible Solutions
40 points
Criteria Description
Provide your own possible solutions to your selected social problem that are more effective than
current solutions, based on research you’ve collected.
5. Excellent
40 points
Paper provides the student’s own possible solutions to the selected social problem in a
comprehensive manner. Explanation is thorough, with relevant evidence to support claims.
4. Good
34 points
Paper provides the student’s own possible solutions to the selected social problem in an insightful
manner. Explanation is strong with sound reasoning and appropriate evidence to support claims.
3. Satisfactory
30 points
Paper provides the student’s own possible solutions to the selected social problem in an adequate
manner. Explanation is somewhat limited and lacks some evidence to support claims.
2. Less than Satisfactory
26 points
Paper provides the student’s own possible solutions to the selected social problem in a cursory
manner. Explanation is limited, weak, and missing evidence to support claims.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not provide the student’s own possible solutions to the selected social problem that are
more effective than current solutions, based on research.
collapse Use of Sources assessment
Use of Sources
20 points
Criteria Description
Be sure to cite three to five relevant scholarly sources in support of your content. Use only scholarly
sources found in the GCU Library or those provided in Topic Materials.
5. Excellent
20 points
At least three relevant, scholarly sources are cited and are flawlessly integrated into the essay to
support the claims made therein.
4. Good
17 points
At least three relevant, scholarly sources are cited in a well-connected way that clearly support claims.
3. Satisfactory
15 points
At least three relevant, scholarly sources are cited in a loosely connected, vague way.
2. Less than Satisfactory
13 points
Some sources may be cited but they are not scholarly and/or relevant.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
No outside sources are cited.
collapse Thesis Development and Purpose assessment
Thesis Development and Purpose
12 points
Criteria Description
Thesis Development and Purpose
5. Excellent
12 points
Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive; contained within the thesis is the essence of the paper.
Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
4. Good
10.2 points
Thesis and/or main claim are clear and forecast the development of the paper. It is descriptive and
reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose.
3. Satisfactory
9 points
Thesis and/or main claim are apparent and appropriate to purpose.
2. Less than Satisfactory
7.8 points
Thesis and/or main claim are insufficiently developed and/or vague; purpose is not clear.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.
collapse Paragraph Development and Transitions assessment
Paragraph Development and Transitions
12 points
Criteria Description
Paragraph Development and Transitions
5. Excellent
12 points
There is a sophisticated construction of paragraphs and transitions. Ideas progress and relate to each
other. Paragraph and transition construction guide the reader. Paragraph structure is seamless.
4. Good
10.2 points
A logical progression of ideas between paragraphs is apparent. Paragraphs exhibit a unity, coherence,
and cohesiveness. Topic sentences and concluding remarks are appropriate to purpose.
3. Satisfactory
9 points
Paragraphs are generally competent, but ideas may show some inconsistency in organization and/or
in their relationships to each other.
2. Less than Satisfactory
7.8 points
Some paragraphs and transitions may lack logical progression of ideas, unity, coherence, and/or
cohesiveness. Some degree of organization is evident.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paragraphs and transitions consistently lack unity and coherence. No apparent connections between
paragraphs are established. Transitions are inappropriate to purpose and scope. Organization is
disjointed.
collapse Mechanics of Writing assessment
Mechanics of Writing
10 points
Criteria Description
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
5. Excellent
10 points
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
4. Good
8.5 points
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of
effective sentence structures and figures of speech.
3. Satisfactory
7.5 points
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and
varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed.
2. Less than Satisfactory
6.5 points
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice
(register) and/or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate
word choice and/or sentence construction are used.
collapse Paper Format assessment
Paper Format
2 points
Criteria Description
Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)
5. Excellent
2 points
All format elements are correct.
4. Good
1.7 points
Appropriate template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.
3. Satisfactory
1.5 points
Appropriate template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.
2. Less than Satisfactory
1.3 points
Appropriate template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with
formatting is apparent.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Appropriate template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.
collapse Documentation of Sources assessment
Documentation of Sources
4 points
Criteria Description
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to
assignment and style)
5. Excellent
4 points
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format
is free of error.
4. Good
3.4 points
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct.
3. Satisfactory
3 points
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors
may be present.
2. Less than Satisfactory
2.6 points
Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with
numerous formatting errors.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Sources are not documented.
Introduction to Social Problem Essay
Iris Folsom
Grand Canyon University
SOC-220
2/20/2022
Introduction
A social problem is a problem that impacts a large number of people in our society. Child
abuse also known as child maltreatment is just one of those issues. Child abuse or child
maltreatment can consist of physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse. In 2020,
about 3,145,000 children received either an investigation into alleged child abuse or another
alternative response at a rate of 42.9 children per 1,000 in the population (U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 2020). Confirmed child fatalities from child maltreatment have
also increased in both number and rate over the last five years (U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 2020).
Sociological Imagination
People that live in poverty, parents that have been abused as children, domestic abuse victims,
high crime environments, and more can contribute to child maltreatment. Domestic violence
victims may have a big contribution to child abuse. A child may be harmed by an abusive
partner as a way of controlling the relationship. A person who is being demeaned, degraded,
and afraid will likely have diminished parenting ability. Domestic violence victims can neglect
their children due to their own fears and stress. Even when not physically harmed, domestic
violence impacts children by terrifying, traumatizing, and sometimes depriving them of
mothering (National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information, 1998a). Child
abuse is a vicious cycle that if not stopped and the child treated for the abuse, we may never be
able to break the cycle.
Theoretical Perspective
The Theoretical Perspective I would choose that best aligns with child abuse is the Functionalist
Perspective. In the functionalist perspective it is believed that society is a system that is made up
several elements that operate independently but together they complete the operation (Sullivan,
2015). One example in the functionalist perspective would be the family, the school, and the
economy. Should one-part ceases to perform its functions the whole society is threatened. This
is the case with child abuse. About 30% of children who are abused will later grow up and abuse
their own children which continues the cycle. (Statistics of Child Abuse | NAASCA.Org National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, n.d.) And as if the fact that about 30% of
children that are abused turn around and abuse their own children is not bad enough, 80% of
twenty-one year old’s that were abused as children meet the criteria for at least one mental
illness, and over 60% of people in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers report that they were
abused as a child (Statistics of Child Abuse | NAASCA.Org – National Association of Adult
Survivors of Child Abuse, n.d.). This does not make for a strong foundation for our society as our
children do not grow up to be the most productive members of society and there for threatens our
society as a whole.
Our society has this mind your own business attitude and often people do not want to
speak up until it is too late. This allows for child abuse to continue because nobody is willing
to step up and put a stop to it. Often the authorities do not even receive a report of child abuse
until the case is so severe that they have no choice but get involved. There are also a lot of
cases where incidents are reported to the authorities and either no action is taken, or the action
that the reporting party feels should have been taken is not, and the reporting party no longer
feels obligated to call the authorities when they suspect abuse because they do not feel that it
will be taken seriously. This again allows for the abuse to continue and a blind eye to be turned
because people are no longer willing to step up and help.
In conclusion, until we as a society are willing to step up and hold people accountable for
their actions and educate and offer counseling to the victims of abuse, the cycle will continue to
repeat itself and our society will always be threatened with destroying our future. As our children
are truly our future.
Reference
Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Child maltreatment 2020 In Y. a. F.
Administration on Children (Ed.). Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. (1998b). Prevention
fundamentals U.S.
Statistics of Child Abuse | NAASCA.org – National Association of Adult Survivors of Child
Abuse. (n.d.). National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse. Retrieved
February 18, 2020, from http://naasca.org/2012-Resources/010812StaisticsOfChildAbuse.htm
Sullivan, T. J. (2015). Introduction to Social Problems (10th Edition) (10th ed.). Pearson.