Social Justice in America Project: An introduction

Learning the academic research paper as a “targeted progression”

Students identify and research a current social issue (problem) most interesting to the student

Initially, students choose THREE topics (social issues) - Students are to identify three social issues and define why each is a chronic problem in America. Find an article (magazine, journal, online, newspaper) on each fo the three issues.

Materials:
Students should get a two-pocket folder or 9 X 12 envelope to maintain the collection of articles for the project

Social Justice in America reflects the “targeted progression” of the activity in that it is outcomes-driven and so is, ideally, the discovery of solutions to the problems facing America.

Definition:
A social issue in America is an on-going and complex condition not limited to any single news event (although it may be part of a series of news events) that occurs without permanent relief or solution and by its continuing to exist has implications for inhibiting individual freedoms

This inhibition is reflective of the larger society/ culture’s norms that intentionally suppress these freedoms. For example, the governing body of a city may refuse to address a particular social problem and those who suffer from it and those who are affected may have their freedoms abridged by the city government’s failure to act.

This is an on-going process with very specific “assignments” or directions (targeted) intended to push the student toward a successfully completed academic research paper with MLA documentation and in-text citations (progression)

The project is set up as a series of “DIALOGUES” in which students meet in small groups to complete a targeted task during each class. The culmination fo the project is a completed research paper.

HW: For class on MONDAY 9/14 have THREE topics and two articles for each topic.