GROUP PRESENTATION

GROUP PRESENTATIONS ASSIGNMENT

This project is a chance for you to demonstrate to me that you understand the concepts discussed in the course, including being able to explain what the different perspectives reviewed mean. This assignment is 20% of your overall grade for the course. The grade for the group presentation is collective (i.e., if the presentation receives an ‘A’, then everyone in the group receives an ‘A’). It is important that the division of labor is split evenly and everyone participates in both the research and presentation components of the project. There is, however, a possibility that not everyone will put their part and others will have to pick up the slack. You should let me know of this (with plenty of time before presentations are due). The group will not be penalized academically.

Assignment:
I will assign each group a different podcast to listen to. The group will discuss how the podcast applies to the class and relate it to the different concepts and perspectives reviewed over the semester. Basically, I am looking to gauge whether or not you “get it.”  If you can show how the elements and perspectives can be explained or applied to the podcast, then you will have demonstrated to me that you understand the basic concept.

Part of this assignment is to conduct research, so that you can properly apply the theory to the podcast.

As you prepare the presentation, you should ask yourselves:

What relationship does the podcast have to this course and everything we’ve discussed?

Your presentation should include (but not be limited to) the following:

  • A BRIEF summary of the podcast. THIS SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN 2 MIN. The biggest mistake groups make is to take too long to summarize. You do not have to take very long. 2 minutes; no more.
  • You should provide examples of how the podcast applies to the class and relates to the different perspectives reviewed.
  • You should also use other information discussed in class, such as statistical data, and/or perspectives associated with the concept.
  • Stay within the time allowed; each group will have 12min.

Be creative and think “outside” the box. Groups should bring some sort of PowerPoint or other type(s) of creative presentation to enhance your report. Please DO NOT wait until the last minute to divide the work among your group members. I know it is hard for students to meet outside of class. My advice is to split the work and then come together a few times before the presentation due date and make sure everyone is making progress and knows what aspect/angle they will speak about.

Things to keep in mind as you prepare for this assignment: 

This project is a chance for you to demonstrate to me that you understand the concepts discussed in the course, including being able to explain how the different perspectives apply. We will have reviewed several concepts for this course that were covered as a way to lay down a foundation for how we will be discussing “Criminal Justice in the Urban Environment”:

  • The Sociological Imagination
    • The personal v. the societal
    • Many problems faced by individuals have societal roots
    • These roots are often related to the structure of our society
  • Navigating Space
    • Once spaces begin to get occupied and used the navigation happens:
      • who do we share these spaces with, how is they being used?
      • Who is using these spaces?
      • Who determines who/what gets to occupy these spaces?
      • Who determines what these spaces are going to look like?
    • We have rules on how we navigate space (personal space, public space, etc.) o We allow breaches to our rules of space, both in our personal realm and public realms
    • One of the ways we allow breaches into our personal space is by allowing entities and institutions to occupy our spaces
      • Examples: corporations taking over parks for concerts; police vans occupying parking spaces, police towers and lights taking up sections of the sidewalks
    • Cities are densely populated spaces and the nature of these spaces results in a sense of anonymity and living in a “world of strangers”
      • Even though we live in a world of strangers, there is still interaction
    • Navigating space is “color-coded”
  • Robert Moses
  • Jane Jacobs
  • Being PRESENT IN THE SPACE THAT YOUR ARE IN
    • Take note of how you “feel” depending on the neighborhood/space that you are occupying
  • Broken Windows