Racial Problem & Solution Analysis

Bonam, Psych 148, p. 1

Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Racism (Psych 148)

Racial Problem & Solution Analysis

Outline & Final Paper Guidelines

Overview

You will independently write a 4-page, double-spaced APA-style final paper. Your paper will have two main sections. In Section 1, you will (a) identify a specific example of racism, (b) explain why it is an example of racism, and (c) explain how 1 or 2 social psychological processes covered in this course relate to your example of racism. In Section 2, you will (a) propose a solution to the specific example of racism that you analyzed in Section 1, and (b) draw from core course concepts and readings to explain why you think this solution will be effective. You may use one or more of your previous writing assignments as a foundation for this paper.

Primary Learning Goals

1. To further develop your racial analysis skills, by challenging you to write about the ways in which race functions as a “doing” (i.e., as a systemic process) that is linked both to (a) broad socio-cultural reality, and (b) individual-level race-related psychological phenomena.

2. To synthesize themes that run throughout the different sections of this class and apply these themes to a racially relevant pressing social problem that you are passionate about.

3. To further develop your racial analysis skills, by challenging you to choose a potential solution and write about how it will help dismantle systemic racism.

4. To engage in social transformation, by thinking creatively about solutions in a way that:

· acknowledges that no one solution in any one domain can fully address the entirety of a social justice problem, but that it is still essential to propose and work toward solutions—however small the step may seem.

· acknowledges that effective solutions are interdisciplinary, collaborative, and incorporate multiple perspectives.

5. To further develop your critical thinking and writing skills, as they relate to race within the broader U.S. American cultural context.

Final Paper: Specific Requirements & Grading Criteria

Section 1: Problem Analysis [44 pts]

1. [14 pts] State and describe the focal example of racism that you have chosen to analyze.

a. [6 pts] Your focal racism example must be a clear description of phenomenon that functions on a broader community, institutional, structural, or societal level (e.g., the overrepresentation of Black Americans among those who are incarcerated).

b. [8 pts] Your description should explain how/why your example is itself an important social problem or how it relates to an important social problem. Be sure your description briefly communicates why this social problem is important.

i. Writing Tip: There are many ways to answer this question of importance. One way would be to explain what impact the problem is having on individuals’ quality of life - in terms of physical or mental health or wellbeing, living/working/schooling conditions, etc. Also remember: both racial privilege and racial disadvantage are relevant lenses for describing and defining social problems. You could also frame the mere fact of racial inequality as a problem in and of itself, especially as it conflicts the core U.S. American cultural ideal of equality.)

2. [6 pts] What is one element of the larger U.S. American historical and/or socio-cultural context (e.g., a law in the past or a social movement, or more recently implemented practices - like broken windows policing) in which this problem is situated and has developed? In this section, your goal is to tell a very brief, introductory story about the evolution of the problem.

3. [24 pts] Analyze your focal racism example through the lens of systemic racism, with a focus on the psychology of individuals within systems and how they constitute one another. More specifically:

a. [8 pts] Identify and define 1 individual-level psychological phenomenon (e.g., the Black-crime stereotypic association) that you think is relevant to your focal racism example.

b. [16 pts] Explain how the individual-level phenomenon that you have identified can reinforce the broader level phenomenon that you have identified, AND explain how the broader level phenomenon that you have identified can in turn reinforce the individual-level phenomenon that you have identified.

c. Optional: If you have space and want to address points a and b for one other individual-level psychological phenomenon, you can do that in Part 3 as well.

Section 2: Solution Analysis [21 pts]

1. [21 pts] Propose a solution to the specific example of racism that you analyzed in Section 1.

a. [10 pts] Describe your proposed solution. In doing so, be sure to explain the level at which it would be implemented (e.g., individual, community, institutional, structural, societal). Who or what entity would be implementing this solution, and how? What is this solution’s primary goal?

b. [8 pts] Explain why/how this solution would be effective. More specifically:

i. How would your solution ameliorate your specific example of racism, by interrupting the cycle you described in Part 3b ?

ii. What is one other way in which your solution would ameliorate your specific example of racism?

iii. Writing Tip: Be sure to draw from core course concepts and required or supplemental readings (or relevant outside sources that you have researched on your own) to explain why you think this solution will be effective.

c. [3 pts] Identify and describe at least one potential limitation of your proposed solution.

d. Writing Tip: Your solution could take one of many different forms—it could be policy-focused, activism-oriented, based in scientific research, utilize the arts or media (e.g., journalism, movies, TV shows), be an idea for a non-profit organization, etc. There are many different forms of solutions—big and small—that you could propose.

e. Writing Tip: Your solution should be one example of a strategy for change that will help facilitate progress toward racial equality—even if a small step. Your solution does not need to be an all-encompassing proposal that will “solve” racism. That would be a tall order!

f. Writing Tip: Starting from scratch to think of a solution can feel like a daunting task. One effective way to generate a potential solution is to consider one concrete example of a solution that people have already implemented or are currently implementing (you could even be one of the people implementing it). You can then ask yourself, what is one limitation of this solution? And, given the right amount of time and resources, what is one way in which you would improve upon this solution to address this limitation? How would addressing this limitation provide a more effective strategy for change?

Additional Grading Criteria: [15 pts]

4. [3 pts] Self-evaluation: Include a short self-evaluation with your paper. The evaluation is meant to help you reflect on your work and should be a bulleted list of what you see as at least two (2) strengths of your analysis and at least one (1) challenge you encountered while writing or area for improvement in your paper.

a. Note: This section should start on a new page, following your references section (not included in page-limit).

5. Optional: If you would like to receive written feedback on your paper, include this bolded statement at the end of your self-evaluation: COMMNETS REQUESTED

6. [5 pts] Overall writing quality (e.g., main points are organized clearly, sentence structure is clear, does not make spelling/grammatical errors).

7. [7 pts] Technical Details:

a. 4-pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins

i. Note: we will not read past 4 pages of main text

b. Include at least 4 APA style in-text citations

i. At least 2 in your “problem” section

ii. At least 2 in your “solution” section

c. Include an APA-style references section, starting on a new page (not included in page-limit)

d. Include a single-line header with: your first and last name, TAs' name, section day/time

e. Give your paper a creative title

Outline: Specific Requirements & Grading Criteria

Your outline should include each required component of your final paper (listed again below), and one sentence describing the main point you will make for each required component. You will receive points (allotments listed below) for including each required component and main point in your outline.

Section 1: Problem Analysis [10 pts]

8. [4 pts] State and describe the focal example of racism that you have chosen to analyze.

a. [2 pts] Your focal racism example must be a clear description of phenomenon that functions on a broader community, institutional, structural, or societal level (e.g., the overrepresentation of Black Americans among those who are incarcerated).

b. [2 pts] Your description should explain how/why your example is itself an important social problem or how it relates to an important social problem. Be sure your description briefly communicates why this social problem is important.

9. [2 pts] What is one element of the larger U.S. American historical and/or socio-cultural context (e.g., a law in the past or a social movement, or more recently implemented practices - like broken windows policing) in which this problem is situated and has developed? In this section, your goal is to tell a very brief, introductory story about the evolution of the problem.

10. [4 pts] Analyze your focal racism example through the lens of systemic racism, with a focus on the psychology of individuals within systems and how they constitute one another. More specifically:

a. [2 pts] Identify and define 1 individual-level psychological phenomenon (e.g., the Black-crime stereotypic association) that you think is relevant to your focal racism example.

b. [2 pts] Explain how the individual-level phenomenon that you have identified can reinforce the broader level phenomenon that you have identified, AND explain how the broader level phenomenon that you have identified can in turn reinforce the individual-level phenomenon that you have identified.

Section 2: Solution Analysis [5 pts]

2. [5 pts] Propose a solution to the specific example of racism that you analyzed in Section 1.

a. [2 pts] Describe your proposed solution. In doing so, be sure to explain the level at which it would be implemented (e.g., individual, community, institutional, structural, societal). Who or what entity would be implementing this solution, and how? What is this solution’s primary goal?

b. [2 pts] Explain why/how this solution would be effective. More specifically:

i. How would your solution ameliorate your specific example of racism, by interrupting the cycle you described in Part 3b ?

ii. What is one other way in which your solution would ameliorate your specific example of racism?

c. [1 pts] Identify and describe at least one potential limitation of your proposed solution.