Assignment Description: 1) Read “Backpacks vs. briefcases: steps toward rhetorical analysis” (Links to an external site.) by Laura Bolin Carroll2) Write down at least two critical questions you had about the reading. Make sure the questions are introspective and can’t be answered directly in the reading. Ask questions that demonstrate some critical consideration of the reading. Ask your instructor for examples of critical discussion questions if needed. Put Critical Questions above the questions.3) Then answer the following discussion question below using 250-350 words.4) Make sure to come back and answer at least two of your classmates’ discussion questions within 48 hours of the initial post deadline.For the Response Part of Your Assignment:Define what a “rhetorical situation” is, including all of its parts (exigence, intended audience, rhetors, and constraints) in your own words, using quotes or paraphrases from Laura Bolin Carroll’s article with MLA in-text citations (send me an e-mail if you need help with this!) and then use an example of a text to explain how each part of the rhetorical situation functions. So, in your post you can have two sections. In the first section, either use bullet points or paragraphs to divide your post into exigence, intended audience, rhetors, and constraints. In each paragraph or bullet-pointed section, a) define the term in your own words, b) include a quote or paraphrase from “Backpacks vs. Briefcases” that supports the definition. Then, in the second section, write about your text example and explain what the exigence, intended audience, rhetors, and constraints for that text were.For your topic for this post, choose a text from either of these two categories: 1) an assignment that you still have in your possession–given to you in a class that you took within the last 6 months or are taking now, or 2) a social media, blog or vlog post that you published for an audience. A third option, if you have the original document in your possession and are able to share it ethically, could be a letter or e-mail that you had to write in order to solve a problem at work or in your personal life, such as to a company.Use MLA format carefully and accurately for your citations from Carroll. Please use the resources for MLA in our modules to guide you. This activity will help you generate content and ideas for your 3-4 page rhetorical situation assignment.
Required Resources about Multicultural Trends Toward Social Change
Note: To access this week’s required library resource, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Readings
Koppelman, K. L. (2014). Understanding human differences: Multicultural education for a diverse America (4th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Section 3, “Contemporary Dilemmas for Intergroup Relations”
Chapter 10, “Sexism: Where the Personal Becomes Political” (pp. 240–263)
Chapter 11, “Heterosexism: Transforming Homosexuality from Deviant to Different” (pp. 264–288)
Reddick, M., Nelson, M. J., & Caulfield, R. P. (2009). Racial and gender diversity on state courts. The Judges’ Journal, 48(3), 28–32. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Multicultural Trends Toward Social Change, Part I— Topic Analysis
In this week, you will begin your Course Project. This is your opportunity to get involved in a current societal problem that has a multicultural perspective. You will examine a societal problem in which people in a societal group conform to the status quo and have taken no action for social change. Therefore, no progress is made toward correcting the social problem. The goal of your analysis is to address the “heart” or core social issue that can be remedied or improved with social change.
To prepare:
Examine and evaluate a current societal problem that has a multicultural perspective. You are free to be creative in the selection of your topic for this assignment, but you should examine a problem that is affecting society and that needs attention. Review the Resources for this week. Note: Your Optional Resources contain some very good ACLU-produced video media.
Part I: Topic Analysis
In the Topic Analysis, you will identify the topic or issue of interest that will be the focus of your Course Project. In your Topic Analysis, do the following:
Broadly describe the background or context of the issue as it exists today.
Before you state the key problem, identify two or more related issues and opportunities surrounding the main issue.
Identify potential opportunities for solving the issue.
Identify the conflicts that exist.
Consider any ethical issues that emerge.
Create one or two introductory paragraphs that integrate key concepts and theories found within the topic or issue of interest. (You may wish to create an outline to help you think about how each concept could have an impact on the present and/or the future.)
These paragraphs are intended to be a short, broad overview of the issues. Consider important concepts or theories and how they relate to the topic or issue of interest. What are the interests, rights, and values of all parties involved? In addition, think about past events that have led to the issues, and think about a potential solution or solutions.
Note: One technique to help you determine the core of the social issue you have selected (instead of simply scratching the surface and identifying a symptom rather than the root cause) is to use the Multicultural Trends Toward Social Change 5 Whys theory, which is outlined in “Determine the Root Cause: 5 Whys” (see the Resources).
Multi-Cultural Change toward Social Change: Part 1
Racism and Discrimination
Racism is the belief that certain groups of people are more superior than other based on race, color and ethnicity, and this leads to discrimination in different facets of society. Multiculturalism is when diverse cultures co-exist together where culture includes religious, racial or cultural groups. The objective of multiculturalism in society is to enhance cross-cultural harmony, ethnic and racial harmony amongst a group of people of diverse culture. However, despite the advent of multiculturalism, racism and discrimination still exists today (Koppelman, 2014).
Racism is seen in society in relation to rising police violence, increased segregation, crime, attacks on immigrants, increasing poverty, the rise in homeless people, and unemployment. Economically, mass layoffs and downsizing have wiped out the gains from discrimination in the workplace. For example, in the United States unemployment rates are higher among African American, Hispanics, and Asians than in the white population. The homeless population consists of a large percentage Blacks and Latino most of whom live in poverty (Gregg, 2006).
People can deal with racism and discrimination by improving relationships and building a better world. A lot of opportunities exist around us, but it has to begin with the individual. The most important thing is to admit that racism still exists. People need education about racism and which broadens their experience about it. Everyone must take action. The groups being discriminated such as the Blacks or Latinos must learn to speak out, educate themselves and build ties with other cultural groups. Not very white person is……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Throughout this course, you have analyzed data related to the disparity that can be found within criminal justice agencies. In this final week, you will consider juvenile justice and how to work toward a fair and equitable system through educational programs and policies for the public and criminal justice field staff.
Select 1 policy or program that is working to create diversity in the criminal justice system and research the policy or program you selected.
Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you:
Describe the policy or program you have researched, and answer the following questions:
Where is this policy or program in effect?
How long has it been in effect?
Explain which area of the criminal justice system the policy or program designed to address.
Explain how this policy or program impacts juvenile justice.
Could it be more impactful at this level? Why or why not.
Explain how you feel this policy or program will make the criminal justice system processes and procedures more diverse. Provide data to support your points.
