OPTION 1
Instructions: Write a 2-3 page paper that addresses each of the sections below. In terms of how to structure your paper, I think it might be useful to write a separate paragraph for each part of the question you are addressing. You do not need to number each paragraph but try to answer each question (within the section) in the order they are presented and that should give your paper a nice structure and flow. To complete this assignment you will need to watch the documentary called “13th”. Note: you can access the documentary 13th either on Netflix or on YouTube, here is the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/krfcq5pF8u8
1) Professor Allen (1981) argues that at various points in history, the U.S. criminal justice system has fluctuated between two approaches to handling “criminals”: rehabilitation and punishment. Using our discussions in lecture as a starting point, watch and then reflect back on the documentary 13th and address the question: have the last thirty years of the U.S. criminal justice system been centered around rehabilitation or punishment? Incorporate two examples from the documentary to help support your argument. Be sure to include a time stamp (for example, 23:52) to let the reader know where in the film they are discussing each of your examples.
If you argued that the last thirty years have been centered around punishment, describe one change that you would make to help shift our criminal justice system towards being a system of rehabilitation. If you argued that the last thirty years have been centered around rehabilitation, describe one aspect of the criminal justice system that can be pushed a bit further to become even more focused on rehabilitating people within the system.
Lastly, within lecture we have discussed the concept of racialization or how a group is racialized. First, define racialization for the reader. Then, using the documentary 13th describe one example where we see racialization occurring. Here, as well, be sure to include a time stamp to let the reader know where in the film they are discussing each of your examples. Also, be sure to clearly lay out for the reader what this process of racialization looks like in the example you include.
What role (if any) did the media play (newspaper, television or film) in either perpetuating or constructing the racialization of this group?
OPTION 2
Instructions: Write a 2-3 page paper that addresses each section below. In terms of how to structure your paper, I think it might be useful to write a separate paragraph (or two) to answer each section. You do not need to number each paragraph but try to answer each section in the order they are presented and that should give your paper a nice structure and flow. Each paper should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced and 12 pt. font. Your paper is due on Friday (5/3) by 11:59pm. To submit your paper, you will need to upload it to Canvas, under the Assignments link and under the link called “Essay #3”. Note: you can access the documentary “Dan Rather Reports – A National Disgrace” on YouTube, here is the YouTube link:
Be sure to answer each of the following:
1) Describe one outside (of the school) barrier or one inside (of the school) barrier that students in East St. Louis, Illinois in the Kozol reading Savage Inequalities encounter and discuss how it is an educational inequality that these students experience.
2) Describe one outside (of the school) barrier or one inside (of the school) barrier that students in Detroit Public Schools encounter and discuss its impact as an educational inequality that these students experience.
2b) How were these educational inequalities that you discussed regarding Detroit Public Schools either similar or different from the inequalities you discussed regarding the students at East St. Louis?
3) During lecture, I introduced the concepts of social capital and cultural capital. In the documentary “A National Disgrace” we are introduced to a student named Deanna who is struggling with her educational experience within the Detroit Public School (DPS) system.Deanna’s educational experience becomes so dire that her previously articulated dreams of going to college seem like they might not materialize (or come into existence). However, in the end we see that Deanna does get accepted and goes off to college.
Use one of the forms of capital (social or cultural) to analyze Deanna’s ‘situation’ regarding Deanna’s family, Dan Rather and his production team, and her educational outcome of attending college in the fall. That is, use the concept of social capital or cultural capital to analyze and explain how Deanna went from likely not attending college (and possibly dropping out of school) to applying and being admitted to college in the fall semester. (Hint: pay particularly close attention during the timestamp 1:34:05 – 1:38:30) Good Luck!
