1
SOCIAL PROBLEMS ESSAY – OPTION B
Health Care and the Affordable Care Act
This paper focuses on the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (or ACA), which was
the result of heated debate in our society. (NOTE: The final version of the ACA included
some amendments from the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act passed a few
days after ACA in 2010. Also, please note that the ACA is often referred to as “Obamacare.”
However, this is politically charged term so avoid using it in your essay.)
Tasks To Do Before Selecting Your Topic and Writing: Become familiar with the ACA
In order to become knowledgeable about the ACA, please do the following and then
proceed on to the actual assignment below.
First, please watch the 17-minute video “Obamacare – The Affordable Care Act Explained”
by Keith Hughes to get an overview of the ACA. This is a broad, but very good, summary of
the law. Also, watch the 9-minute video “Health Reform Hits Main Street,” which provides
some additional overview information. Feel free to pause the videos frequently so you can
jot down a few notes for yourself. These videos are a useful summary of some subjective
concerns about health care in the U.S. that our society is trying to address with the ACA.
Video by Keith Hughes

This “Health Reform Hits Main Street” video is useful to help understand what the
health care insurance situation was like BEFORE the ACA

Second, spend 5-10 minutes examining the “Implementation Timeline” of the ACA provide
by KFF. This is VERY important. In particular, I encourage you to scan through the 2010
items and the 2014 items. The law first took affect in 2010 and was (for the most part) fully
implemented in 2014: http://healthreform.kff.org/timeline.aspx.
Please note how you can “Customize By Topic” on the left. This is VERY useful in
narrowing the focus of your paper. For example, if you are mostly interested in the
ACA’s affect on “Employers” you can “deselect all” then re-click just this area to see
what is in the ACA under this narrower topic. When I did this, and then clicked on
the year 2010 I got:
• the “Small Business & Tax Credit,”
• the “Reinsurance Program for Retiree Coverage” and
• the “Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit”
•
When I click on the year 2014, I got:
• In the year 2014, I got “Employer Requirements”.
2
Any one of the above sub-topics would be a useful topic for your paper. This is VERY
helpful for identifying your focus in question #1 below! Note: you will need 2
narrowly focused topics like the above from the ACA for this essay so please spend
some time with this timeline and the above process!!
Third, spend 5-10 minutes scanning through the “Summary of New Health Reform Law”
provided by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). This may add a bit more
detail to the two topics you select via the timeline above.
Kaiser Summary of ACA:
http://kff.org/health-reform/fact-sheet/summary-of…
Fourth, to get a sense of some additional perspectives and data, scan some of the
following. You are, of course, always welcome to do independent research but that is
not required for this essay.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Report (March, 2017) on ACA Marketplaces
enrollment:
https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-FactSheet-items/2017-03-
15.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=descending
Kaiser Family Foundation (January, 2017) ACA Data Bank
http://kff.org/state-category/health-reform/
New York Times – The Upshot (October, 2016) A Quick Guide to Rising Obamacare
Rates
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/upshot/rising-o…
United States Census (September, 2016) “Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.”
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2016/d…
Kaiser Family Foundation (September, 2016) “Key Facts About the Uninsured
Population”
http://kff.org/uninsured/fact-sheet/key-facts-abou…
The American Journal of Public Health (August, 2016) “Effect of the Affordable Care
Act on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Insurance Coverage”
http://oaktonlibrary.oakton.edu:2077/10.2105/AJPH….
New York Times article “Is The Affordable Care Act Working?”:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/27/us/i…
3
CNN article “House sends Obamacare repeal bill to White House”:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/house-obama…
Non-Partisan CBO report (June, 2015) “Budgetary and Economic Effects of
Repealing the Affordable Care Act”
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-
2016/reports/50252-Effects_of_ACA_Repeal.pdf
Non-Partisan CBO report (April, 2014) on costs and deficit reduction (or savings)
derived from implementing the ACA:
http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45231
Washington Post article (August, 2014) documenting declines in federal budget
deficit due to ACA:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2…
For a brief review of the 2012 Supreme Court decision upholding the ACA’s
constitutionality, see the following:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/28/us/h…
If interested, here is the link to the full Supreme Court decision:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c…
Feel free to examine other more recent articles in the reputable periodicals if
desired. These are just some examples.
NOTE: As you write the paper, you may use additional resources. However, this is not
required. Rather than spending your time searching for information, I want you to spend
your time thinking about and understanding the ACA.
Paper Instructions
The social problem of “health care” in the U.S. is complex. There is a great deal of objective
data available about costs and numbers of people securing coverage (or not), as well as a
wide variety of subjective concerns being expressed by members of society. People seem to
want coverage, but our past arrangements left many without protection or access. Drawing
from the material above, please write a 5-6-page essay addressing the following*:
1) In a short opening paragraph, please identify 2 specific areas of the ACA that
interest you and that you will write about in the essay. To select your topic, please
use the Kaiser Foundation timeline identified and explained earlier and below
(http://healthreform.kff.org/timeline.aspx). Be sure to drill down on a particular
topic and year to narrow your focus.
4
SELECTING YOUR TOPICS, EXAMPLE A. If you use the following click-path, you
will end up with the topic “Annual Fees on the Pharmaceutical Industry”:
• Under “customize by topic” click “deselect all”
• Click the box for “prescription drugs”
• Click on the year “2012”
• You should see the ACA provisions being implemented in 2012 for “Annual
Fees for the Pharmaceutical Industry”
SELECTING YOUR TOPICS, EXAMPLE B. If you use the following click-path, you
will end up with the topic “ Adult Dependent Coverage to Age 26”:
• Under “customize by topic” click “deselect all”
• Click the box for “insurance”
• Click on the year “2010”
• Click on “Adult Dependent Coverage to Age 26” to see the ACA provisions for
this topic
Using the above example “click-paths,” please select 2 topics of your own choosing for the
paper. You will focus on these two areas when answering the remaining questions. In the
opening paragraph be sure to briefly explain what the 2 topics are about. Be sure to select
something narrow and “doable”; remember that you have just 5-6 pages for this essay. The
opening paragraph should be roughly a half-page or less.
2) In at least two separate paragraphs, and drawing upon the web sites made available
to you in this assignment, or other credible resources, please:
a. Identify and explain a specific subjective concern related to each of the 2
areas you selected in #1. In other words, what was it that people were
concerned about that these 2 areas of the ACA attempt to address? Why were
these two areas included in the ACA? What problems were they trying to
solve?
b. Next, identify one subjective concern for each of your 2 areas that is
expressed by those who oppose the assistance being provided by the ACA.
What are they worried about? Feel free to use a quote (if needed) followed by
an in-text citation like: (CNN, 2016). A bibliography is NOT required unless
you use outside sources.
3) In a separate paragraph, please briefly identify what cultural value (or values) is/are
reflected in the debate in #2. Remember, cultural values are standards of what is
“good,” “fair” or “just” in a society. There are particular American values that
underpin the ACA debate and I expect you to connect the debate to at least one. This
discussion of values may relate directly to your two narrow topics selected above, or
if you prefer, you can discuss what American values that underpin the overall
debate about the ACA in our society.
5
4) In a separate paragraph or two, identify 2 specific pieces of objective data (i.e., a
measurable statistic from a reliable source) related to the ACA. Often, people
express subjective concern about a social problem, but the available objective data
doesn’t support it. Again, a simple in-text citation like (New York Times, 2016) or
(CBO, 2015) should be used following the data. Also, if possible, please state how
these data relate to the debate surrounding at least one of your topics. If these data
don’t relate directly to your selected topics (and they don’t have to), please briefly
state how the information you selected is useful in understanding the social
problem of providing health insurance/care via the ACA overall.
5) In a separate paragraph (or two, if you feel that it is useful in terms of organization
and clear writing), please briefly contrast how a functionalist and a conflict theorist
would approach the social problem of health care and the proposed solution – that
is, the ACA – in the U.S.? Be sure to apply each approach to the problem, rather than
simply re-state the basic perspective for each without connecting it to health care
and the ACA debate. How might a conflict theorist think through the ACA? How
might that differ from a functionalist?
6) In a separate paragraph, please tell me your general thoughts about the ACA. Are
you in favor, opposed, somewhere in the middle? Why? Also, please tell me how
your social location likely affects your perspective. Remember, social location
includes your gender, racial-ethnic background, social class, religious affiliation, and
other aspects of identity and culture. Be specific with your social location and how it
may influence your perspective.
* Please CAREFULLY read the Grading Rubric and the Writing Requirements
document for more details. If you have questions, please email me. Spelling,
grammar, and cogent writing matter so please think carefully about what you are
trying to say in each paragraph and proofread carefully.
NOTE: If you know that you struggle with clear, effective writing, please contact the
Learning Center (http://www.oakton.edu/studentservices/learning_center/index.php) or
me for assistance. If you want assistance from me, please schedule an appointment (either
phone or in-person) with me at least 5 days before the paper is due. Please plan ahead!
6
THE FOLLOWING IS JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION. IT IS NOT A REQUIRED PART OF
THIS PAPER ASSIGNMENT.
Recently, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives proposed a bill to
“repeal and replace” the ACA. It was call the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Here is
some information on this proposal. As I’m sure you know, the bill was never called for a
vote because the Republican leadership realized they didn’t have the votes needed for
passage.
Kaiser Summary of the American Health Care Act (AHCA)
http://files.kff.org/attachment/Proposals-to-Repla…
Kaiser Side-By-Side Comparison of ACA and AHCA:
http://kff.org/interactive/proposals-to-replace-th…
CBO (non-partisan Congressional Budget Office) Estimates of Costs for the AHCA:
Summary 3/17/17: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52486
Full Report 3/17/17: https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115thcongr…
Updated Summary and Report 3/23/17 to reflect amendments:
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52516
New York Times article on the CBO estimated costs of AHCA:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/13/us/…

the topic for the research paper is about Neurocognitive Disorders

• The paper assignment must include the following structure and it must comply with APA written standards:

Title page (1), Abstract (1), Content pages (5), Conclusion (1), and References (1).Therefore, there must be a minimum of nine (9) pages per project.

These are some of the aspects you may utilize as a guide:

• Why the name of the disorder / concept or definition.
• Criteria to be followed in order to be diagnosed with this specific disorder according to the DSM-5 Edition.
• History
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Different types
• Preventions
• Treatment plans for short-term goals and long-term goals
• Tips or suggestions on how to overcome the disorder
• Parenting skills to help the individuals

Evidence-based therapies for specific disorder

You will be expected to complete a Research Paper and submit it for the class:

• The paper must be 5 pages in content using APA style. The research paper will account for 20% of your grade and it must include the following aspects:
  – Title page (1)
  – Abstract page (1)
  – Content pages (5)
  – Conclusion page (1)
  – Reference page (1).

  In addition, it must be typed using APA style, and Times New Roman, and font 12.
  – Research findings from a Database to support your information.
  – It includes at least three (3) academic/scholarly journals (Primary Sources) from journals in Psychology.

Complete the discussion after reading the Chapter on Culture and watching and/or listening to the class recording.

Give an example of a gesture within your culture that may not translate into another culture’s body language. Next, include an example of a sign and what it represents to your culture or in society.

Not including a gesture and a sign will result in points deducted.

Respond to one person’s post with thoughtful feedback. Your
feedback should be complete sentences. Be specific. Your feedback
should directly refer to the task. Be kind and supportive in your
feedback. Not including feedback on a post will result in points
deducted. (Perhaps, your culture has a different meaning of the sign or
gesture. Your response has to be more than “I agree… I disagree…”)

Click “reply” to write your response. You will not see the other posts until you respond.

EXAMPLE:
“thumbs up” sign, which expresses praise
or approval in the U.S. but may be considered obscene in South America
or Asia. Similarly, the “A-OK” sign communicates praise in the U.S. but
is not acceptable in parts of Italy.

textbook: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-…

Movie Score Analysis

Movie Score Review Magazine has asked you to write a three-page review of the music in a film. Your job is to analyze the movie’s background score, explain how it enhances the movie’s drama, provide a detailed description of how the music functions in one important scene, and offer your opinion of the score. Instead of paying you in cash, your paper will be graded by Jean Marshall of Washburn University and be worth fifteen percent of your final grade in MU 104 Movies and Music class.

The following elements are required:

An opening paragraph that introduces your paper (separate from the plot description paragraph).

A brief plot summary (one paragraph suggested).

A description and analysis of the opening music.

Identification of the musical ensemble that performs the music in the film.

An explanation of what dramatic elements the score primarily enhances, for example: action, character psychological states, love interests etc.

An in depth analysis and detailed description of the music in one important scene.

Your opinion of the score with support from examples from the film.

Further details:

Opening paragraph. Tell the reader, a subscriber to the magazine, what you are going to do. Also, name the movie and its music composer here.

Brief plot summary. Outline the plot for the readers so they know what the film is about. Assume they have not seen it and know little about it. You may “spoil” the film for them by giving away the ending and/or important plot twist if you deem it necessary. They need to know the story to better understand how the music works.

Identification of the musical ensemble. This can be worked into the next paragraph. Simple labels of the ensemble(s) are best like “orchestra,” “rock band,” or “choir.” If a particular musical

instrument is featured like a trumpet, violin, or synthesizer mention that as well. Avoid saying, “I heard trumpets, strings, percussion and a flute,” because the word orchestra is a more efficient summary. The identification of the music’s ensemble can be a separate paragraph, if you like, or worked into the opening music discussion.

Note: You do not need to identify musical instruments in your paper. Take a guess if you feel up to it. If not, try a more general term like “brass” or “strings.” If you incorrectly identify a musical instrument, that will not affect your grade.

Opening music. Give the readers a preview of the opening music. Describe it in detail so they can “hear” that music; then tell them what this music causes the viewer to expect from the film. Will it be have action, suspense, romance, for example? Does it reveal the setting or time period? Does this music change its mood? If so, why did it do that?

This music is often played over a credit sequence, but not always. In that case discuss the first music you hear, for example, the music that accompanies the first scene. However if an opening scene (with music) is followed by a beginning credit sequence with music, then discuss the credit sequence music. That is you priority.

Note: the descriptions of the music in this section need not be a detailed as the music you analyze from an important scene.

Tell us:

What does this music establish about the film?

Type of film, action, romance or comedy, etc.?

Setting: time period, location

Content: Will the story be tragic or uplifting or combination of emotional aspects?

Since this is the first music in the film; assume that it is important and consider its role carefully.

Dramatic elements. Inform your readers of what dramatic elements the score plays to most often. In King Kong, for example, the score played to character psychological states like fear and romance. In The Magnificent Seven, it played to action and the struggles of the main group of characters.

Scene/music analysis. Chose one important scene in the film that has music then analyze and describe the music in detail. You will need to illustrate what happens in the scene in only a few words while providing thorough coverage of the music. Again, describe the music so your reader can “hear” it. Watch this scene many times, noting when the music enters (and why it entered at that point) and exits and how it changes throughout the scene as the drama changes. Explain when the music exits the scene and why it did so at that time. Show your dear readers that you have a complete grasp of how the music functions in this scene so they can understand it as well.

Examples scene/music analysis:

Regarding the description of music, words like “high” (in pitch) or “low,” or “loud” or “soft” don’t say much about the music because these are very general terms and they depict a wide variety of music. Likewise, to say that a flute played a melody does not say enough about that moment in the score. Also, if you state the music was “scary” you must describe the music so that the readers “hear” scary music. This example tells what happened in part of a scene from a movie and describes the music.

Wilma was in a dark room carrying a weak flashlight. She walked slowly across the empty space stopping at the closet where the monster was hiding. The music entered, highlighting the moment she committed to confronting her fears as her shaking hand reached for the doorknob. A single, high-pitched note played softly in the violins; then a second note was added creating a sharp dissonance magnifying the tension as her hand neared the knob. As Wilma opened the door, exposing the darkness within, the low brass played loud, short and harsh chords in quick succession as if violent peril awaited her on the other side. More would follow in an actual paper.

While general terms were used, like loud and high, they were supplemented by more specific words, like sharp and harsh, that made the music come alive for the readers.

Also notice that the selection set up the scene:

Wilma was in a dark room carrying a weak flashlight. She walked slowly across the empty space stopping at the closet where the monster was hiding.

Then it described when the music came in and why it did so:

The music entered, highlighting the moment she committed to confronting her fears as her shaking hand reached for the doorknob.

What followed was a detailed description of the music:

A single, high-pitched note played softly in the violins; then a second note was added creating a sharp dissonance

And the context of the music is explained:

magnifying the tension as her hand neared the knob.

This selection did not say:

Scary music played as Wilma reached for the doorknob. The music got louder and faster when she opened the door.

Here, the description is far less accurate, telling the reader very little about the music in that scene. Also keep in mind that the reader has not seen the movie and you will need to explain what is obvious. For example, if the selection had not mentioned that a monster may or may not be in the closet, the reader would wonder why the music seems to be creating suspense.

Note: Avoid choosing a scene whose music is primarily source music, unless source music makes up the majority of the film’s music.

Opinion: Finally, you will reveal your opinion of the music score. Focus on whether or not you thought it worked well as a narrative element in the film. Support your view with examples from the film. Example: The score worked well because it augmented the horror/suspense elements of the movie. For example, when Wilma opened the closet door the music built suspense as she reached for the knob then anticipated the presence of the demon.

Discussing songs/source music:

Discuss source music only if its use is significant or it is the opening music. If you do analyze the use of a song in your film, make sure to inform your reader why that particular song was used at that moment in the film. Answer the questions: Why that song? Why that portion of that song? Most likely, the answers to these questions will be both in the song’s music and lyrics. Do not neglect the lyrics.

Chose only one of the following films. Do not write about the score to a movie not on this list.

Movie Score Analysis Film List

All the President’s Men (1976)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

The Hateful Eight (2015)

JFK (1991)

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Suffragette (2015)

Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

Unbreakable (2000)

Deadline: The final deadline for all written papers is Tuesday 05/02/16 by 9:00 pm. No papers will be accepted after this date.

Review: One movie score review is required, worth 20% of your final grade. The review must be of a movie from the Movie Review List. The review must be . . .

1. In written form.

2. Typed, double-spaced. Do not augment space between paragraphs.

3. At least 3 pages in length, not including the title page. All pages must be stapled together.

4. Proof read, edited.

5. Contain a title page, including the student’s name, movie title, composer’s name, and date of submission.

6. Utilize a font size of 12 points and one-inch margins.

7. Printed on paper. No computer files or emailed papers will be accepted.

8. Be formatted with standard one-inch margins.

9. STAPLED! Or at least paper-clipped. The last week of class I will grade about 80 papers and I won’t time to reassemble your unsecured pages.

Final, last, ultimate note: plagiarism in any form could result in a score of “0” on the paper and further penalties enacted by Washburn University.

Case Study Instructions: Overall

In this topic you will select a publicly traded company and submit
the name of the company to the instructor for approval by the end of the
topic. Note: You will need to have this step finalized before you can
complete the assignment detailed below, so it is in your best interest
to select and obtain approval as soon as possible.

Select a company that is public and enjoys extensive analyst coverage
(e.g., Apple, GE, Southwest Airlines, Walgreen, Exxon Mobile) to insure
access to sufficient financially oriented material regarding your
chosen company. The more information available, the easier it will be to
perform the financial analysis.

As you move through the nine steps in conducting your analysis, you
will research the market at each step for relevant data on your chosen
company, including analyst reports and market information. Disclose all
assumptions you are making in the case study (e.g., revenue growth
projections, expense controls) and provide supporting reasons and
evidence behind those assumptions. As your case study analysis develops
over the span of the course, you will synthesize the research data and
outcomes of the nine-step assessment process in order to assess the
long-term financial health of the chosen company.

Component 1:

For this assignment, apply the following two steps of the nine-step
assessment process to develop a 500-word analysis of the company you
have selected and which has been approved by your course instructor:

1. Analysis of Fundamentals: Goals, Strategy, Market, Competitive Technology, Regulatory, and Operating Characteristics
2. Analysis of Fundamentals: Revenue Outlook

Note: You will be required to resubmit this assignment, revised
to incorporate all instructor feedback, along with the other three
component assignments as one comprehensive submission in Topic 8. To
save time later in the course, consider addressing any feedback soon
after this assignment has been graded and returned to you.