Overview
Write in full sentences and structure your essay clearly. Include a title, an introduction, and a conclusion (and of course body paragraphs). Don’t forget to put your name at the top of your essay. Use at least 4 highly relevant sources. If you use any source without citing it that would count as plagiarism. Please refer to the syllabus for clarity on our standards of academic integrity. Answer the prompt fully. This is an individual assessment, so please refrain from discussing the assignment with classmates before the submission deadline and of course use of large language models to write your essay is in violation of academic integrity (for a list of the elements needed for a successful essay see the elements listed below). Using a large language model to help outline your essay is not, in my interpretation, a violation of our academic integrity standards.
From a systemic lens: Conduct some small research (beyond the course materials to date) to find a
proposed reform or small step towards abolition of some aspect of the current carceral system (do not
think that you can discuss replacing all of the carceral system! Pick one aspect and probably one aspect in
a specific place.) Weigh the benefits (be they, physical health, psychological health, community
self-determination etc.) and the limitations. Here are some questions to help guide your thinking. Do NOT
exhaustively answer all of these questions, but let them guide you in the general direction of your
analysis:
How might this intervention advance equity, how might it just reproduce oppression in a new
way? What is currently missing? What could be improved? (this can be from a reformist or
abolitionist point of view). Using class material, assess the proposed replacement: What might
work? What is the role of racial and socioeconomic disparities in the plan? Are they thoroughly
addressed? How does this compare to ideologies we have discussed in class?
You may also discuss implications not listed here as the guiding questions above are not exhaustive.
We suggest that you choose one or two questions to address, articulate your thesis fully and clearly.
Consider that the depth and clarity of your answer is a bit more important than its breadth.
This assignment will require you to do some online research. You must demonstrate an ability to link
outside evidence and course materials together. Citing two outside sources is required, and citing more
than two is ok. Please be careful when choosing and citing your sources. Examples of sources to cite
might include institutional websites, academic articles, blogs, news media articles, recorded lectures by
reputable scientists or lawyers, and podcasts. Please use a consistent bibliographic format– include both
in-text citations and a bibliography (I don’t care which format, just be consistent). In your bibliography
include author, title, date, and web location. You will need to cite two course lectures or readings, and
citing more than two is also permitted. Someone who hasn't read the texts or attended lectures should be
able to follow your argument. Whenever you quote from course material, include in parentheses the
lecture and slide number or the author and page number; for all other sources give the full reference.