Friday, August 23, 2019

Introducing Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson





HW: read Michael Schwalbe's Sociological Mindfulness.


Pre-reading questions:
What do you know about the death penalty?

What are the strengths of the U.S. justice system?

What are the challenges of the U.S. justice system?

Do you think that the U.S. should use capital punishment?

About the book: 
A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time.

Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machinations, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.

 

JUST MERCY is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of justice.

For more info:  http://bryanstevenson.com/


For sociology class:
As you read, look for connections to sociology.  Annotate the book based on the guide below.  Just Mercy is a true story and thus serves as a real-world example to which sociology concepts can be applied.  You will be required to apply the sociology concepts in class to the stories in the book.



Alignment to sociology by unit:

Unit 1: Thinking Sociologically
            Introduction: Higher Ground
            Chapter 1: Mockingbird Players
                                    Meeting Walter McMillan
            Chapter 2: Stand
                                    The dynamics of criminal justice.
Unit 2: Culture
            Chapter 3: Trials and Tribulations
                                    Walter’s Trial moved to a different county.
            Chapter 4: The Old Rugged Cross
                                    Story of Herbert Richardson; Veteran, mental illness & death penalty
Unit 3: Socialization
            Chapter 5: Of the Coming of John
                                    Walter’s trial has new testimony from Darnell Houston
            Chapter 6: Surely Doomed
                                    Charlie on trial 14yrs old
            Chapter 12: Mother, Mother

Chapter 14: Cruel and Unusual
           
Unit 4: Race
            Chapter 7:  Justice Denied
                        Ralph Myers recants his testimony about Walter.

            Chapter 9: I’m Here
           
Chapter 10: Mitigation

Unit 5: Deviance and Social Class
Chapter 8: All God’s Children
                        Trina, Ian and kids
           
Chapter 11: I’ll Fly Away

            Chapter 13: Recovery

            Chapter 15: Broken

            Chapter 16: The Stonecatchers Song of Sorrow

            Epilogue

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            Postscript

Monday, August 19, 2019

Applying three perspectives to the real world of college

Once you have created examples of the three paradigms in sports,  try looking at the readings below and deciding which reading is best suited for which paradigm and why.  You do not need to read the whole article; try to just read the abstract or introduction.  Each of the three readings is related to college.  On the back of your handout, number 1-3 and answer the following questions for each reading.
A few notes about the paradigms:
These paradigms are not mutually exclusive and sociologists don't necessarily subscribe to one paradigm at the expense of others.
These readings below are primary sources (sociological studies published in academic journals.)  You do not need to read the whole article to answer these questions.  Try to just read the abstract and page 1.
For the answers, focus on what the subject of the research was, NOT what the research concluded.

Reading 1:  by Lori Diane Hill

Which paradigm did the researcher seem to approach this study with?  Support your answer with an explanation of why.

Reading 2:  by Su Jin Jez

Which paradigm did the researcher seem to approach this study with?  Support your answer with an explanation of why.

Reading 3:  by Scott M. Myers and Carrie B. Myers

Which paradigm did the researcher seem to approach this study with?  Support your answer with an explanation of why.


Answer #4
When you finish, choose one of the readings to read it in more detail.  Is it interesting?  What conclusion did the researchers come to?  How did the researchers come to this conclusion?


HW:  Please read the excerpt from Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (packet pages 27-29)