Sociological analysis of crime and inequality

Class Inequalities: Impact on Our Lives

Your presentation (and handout) should address the following general issues:

●      What is the argument being made? What is the thesis of the author(s)?

●      What can we learn from the articles? How do these articles contribute to our SOCIOLOGICAL understanding of the world we live in?

Additionally, based on your class presentation and handout your classmates should be able to answer the following questions after your presentation:

●      Is inequality on the rise or on the decline? Give some easy-to-understand examples.

●      What is the relationship between earnings and education?

●      What are the identifiable differences between the US and other industrialized nations that can help explain the extreme inequality in the US?

●      Are there possible remedies?

●      Briefly discuss the two school systems that Kozol describes. What do you think the basis of this inequality is?

●      NOTE: Don’t get bogged down with “the suspects” in the Bluestone article. We don’t need to know these and presenting them will only bore and confuse us.

●      You are encouraged to find additional information related to this issue and connect the readings with Chapters 16 (16.3) and 18 (18.3).  Also, think about the ways in which social class impacts our DAILY lives.

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Crime & Punishment: A Sociological Perspective

Your presentation (and handout) should address the following general issues:

●      What is the argument being made? What is the thesis of the author(s)?

●      What can we learn from the articles? How do these articles contribute to our SOCIOLOGICAL understanding of the world we live in?

Additionally, based on your class presentation and handout your classmates should be able to answer the following questions after your presentation:

●      What is the relationship between social inequality and crime?

●      Do longer prison terms and/or harsher sentences reduce crime?

●      What is meant by “Bait and Switch”? Are “3 Strikes Laws” reducing crime? What comprises the majority of “3 Strikes” cases?

●      You are encouraged to find local data related to this issue.

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You are to write an essay based on the readings you were assigned.  Your essay must demonstrate an understanding of the topics as well as how the article(s) and topics relate to the broader issues, theories, and approaches of sociology that have been discussed in the course.  

Your essay should address the following general issues:

·       What is the argument being made? What is the thesis of the author(s)?

·       What can we learn from the articles? How do these articles contribute to our SOCIOLOGICAL understanding of the world we live in?

Specifically, your essay MUST address the questions listed for the 2 topics you have been assigned.  Figure out which 2 topicsyou have been assigned (listed after your essay # here).  Then, go to the “Group Presentation Guidelines“ link.  Find the 2 topics and print out the specific questions for each topic.  These questions must be answered somewhere in your essay.  (BUT DON’T JUST ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.  MOREOVER, YOU SHOULD ADDRESS THEM IN AN ORDER AND CONTEXT THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU AND YOUR ESSAY.)  You must incorporate the answers to those questions in a well-integrated, thoughtful, sociologically-grounded essay.

I will be looking for your ability to integrate the two topics together in a sociological manner, while making use of the course material.  You should also integrate into your analysis a discussion related to how the article(s) intersect with the major paradigms of sociology.