Description
Instructions: In groups of 3-4 (designated via Blackboard groups), select a topic among the following choices, OR propose a topic of the groups own choosing. If group chooses to select their own topic, proposal must be discussed with professor in order to be approved. The group will conduct a research project by a) selecting an issue/debate, b) assigning group roles (Researchers, Journalists, Writers, Public Relations/Presenters), c) conducting and documenting the necessary research, d) writing a 4-5 page paper explaining the issue/debate and presenting an argument backed up by evidence and reasons. In addition to the final Group Research Paper, whose main argument will constitute the “Group Component” of a student’s overall Group Project score, each individual will complete an “Individual Component” for his/role group role. Group Component will be determined by evaluating the strength, coherency and/or validity of the main argument. Every group must assign at least one individual for each group role. Final group project score for each student will be calculated by taking the average of the Group and Individual Component. (Ex: 80% Group paper + 90% Individual component = 85% B)
Group Roles:
a) Researcher/s: each researcher is responsible for conducting the necessary empirical research into the background, history and sources of the selected issue/debate. Researcher/s will be required to submit a list of sources along with a brief profile of each source for their Individual Component.
b) Journalist/s: each Journalist is responsible for finding authoritative sources of information on the topic and conducting interviews. Journalist/s will be responsible for submitting a list of interviewed sources along with a brief profile of each source as their Individual Component.
c) Writer/s: each Writer (recommended 2 writers) will be responsible for typing (4-5 pg double-spaced) the group’s paper. Writer’s Individual Component will be evaluated solely on the quality of the organization and grammar of the paper, and not the coherency/validity/strength of the argument made.
d) Public Relations/Presenter/s: Public Relations/Presenter/s will be responsible for determining and presenting the main argument that the group will be making to the class during their in-class presentation. PR/Presenters must be persuasive, and thus their Individual component will be evaluated on the basis of the coherency and persuasiveness of the argument presented. PR/Presenters will be responsible for submitting a brief, 1-2 paragraph summary of the main argument of the group.
Possible Topics:
Pennsylvania Prison Experiments Election 2016
Racism/Discrimination Abortion
Slippery Slope Fallacies in Politics or Legal Arguments Mass Incarceration
Civil Disobedience Standards of beauty
Hate Crime Legislation Poverty
Black Power/Black Lives Matter
Drug War Against Black America
Philosophy of Race, “White Ignorance”
Explanation & Answer
Group Roles
1
Group Roles
Drug War against Black Americans
Researchers
Background and History
Drugs can be defined as those substances that have an effect on the human central nervous
system whose effect causes behavioral changes and even addiction. Some of the drugs being
foug...