In the United States, at least 1 in 6 persons will be arrested by the time they reach adulthood. Nearly two-thirds of adults have ever had a family member incarcerated. Most people incarcerated in jails have not been convicted of the crime for which they are being held. Public writing is a primary vehicle by which these and other aspects of crime and punishment in the United States (U.S.) have come to the public eye and, in some cases, informed resistance and change. This Calderwood Seminar in Public Writing (CSPW) offers students with the opportunity to learn about and practice various forms of public writing—including research briefs, blog posts, public statements, and op-eds—with crime and justice in the U.S. as our central point of engagement. Success in this class requires a strong commitment to our class community, course policies and deadlines, and personal dedication to the craft of sociological thinking and writing through weekly writing and constructive review. In preparation for the start to the semester, students who enroll in this class will be required to complete a low-stakes review exercise on the sociology of crime and justice and write an introduction letter. Instructions will be distributed in the weeks leading up to the first day of class.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 12

Prerequisites: SOC 238 or two 200-level classes in the social sciences and permission of
instructor.

Distribution Requirements: SBA - Social and Behavioral Analysis

Other Categories: CSPW - Calderwood Seminar in Public Writing

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered

Notes: