Day 1: Media, Crime, Criminal Justice

Day 1 –  Monday, May 20, 2019 – Introduction 

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no “testing.” That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition, you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week’s reading.

 * * * * *

To stay on track: 1) Email me your email address. 2) Start thinking about your visual project topic. Email me your visual project topic soon.

Topic: Introduction

Preparatory Readings:

• • Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
  • Case Against Gold Stars by Alfie Kohn.
  •  Cooperative Learning
  • Preface
  • Potter and Kappeler. Constructing Crime — .
  • Rafter. Shots in the Mirror. Introduction & Chapter 1-2.
  • Surette. Media, Crime and Criminal Justice . Chapter 1-2

Lecture related links:

• • W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation
  • “Who’s Habermas? Why Habermas?”

Concepts to be covered:

• • illocutionary discourse
  • the aesthetics of answerability
  • taxonomy of learning
  • the 6Cs
  • the external and internal motivations of learning
  • dog letters
  • the relationship between “media, crime, and the criminal justice system”
  • the social construction of reality

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to read the links noted under “Preparatory Readings.” Due:  Tuesday, May 21st.

1. What are the connections between the “6Cs,” the taxonomy of learning, and dog letters? How are grades and grading determined in this course? 
2.   How do you analyze and evaluate information? How do you know if the information is accurate? Relate your answer to the following concepts — definition of the situation and the social construction of reality. Provide an example to better illustrate your point. 
3.   Compare and contrast the first two chapters of the Surette textbook with the Rafter book. What are the similarities and differences? 

 

Suggested Visual Projects: 

Note: Start thinking about ideas for your visual project. Must relate to “media, crime, and the criminal justice system.” Must be approved before starting your project. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press — Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). No term papers! Email me your idea ASAP! Refer to instructional handout relating to this assignment.

• • Conduct a content analysis of local television news broadcasts or your local newspaper. How much crime and criminal justice is presented daily? Why.
  • Compare the Uniform Crime Reports and other crime statistics with the crime news in the local media. How much crime and justice news is presented daily? Why. 

 Recommended Readings:

• • Gaye Tuchman. The TV Establishment.
  • Herbert Schiller. Mind Managers.
  • Todd Gitlin. The Whole World is Watching.
  • Gregg Barak. Media, Process and the Social Construction of Crime.
  • Peter Berger & Thomas Luckmann. The Social Construction of Reality. 

 

takata@uwp.edu

 Updated: May 15, 2019