Critical Reading Questions- Assignment #2

Due Saturday, November 23

For this assignment you will need to adequately answer the following questions using both the assigned readings and your critical thinking skills. All responses must be typed and conform to the following format: 12 PT. Font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins (on all sides), single spaced. Your total set of responses should equal at least1-2 typed pages (using this format). Answers should be written in paragraph form and should be long enough to explore the topic thoroughly. Both accuracy and creativity will be taken into account during the grading process. Writing style and structure are also key elements that will partly determine your grade. No outside sources are required for this assignment. Furthermore, the information you present should be taken exclusively from the assigned readings and your interpretation/understanding of these readings.

Point Value = 10% of your course grade

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Which readings are included on this assignment?

1) DelSordi- chapters 2, 3 and 4 (online)

2) Schaefer- chapters 1 (pages 21-33 only), 3 and 5 (text)

3) McChesney (2012)- online

4) Agger (2008)- online

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Questions:

1) (DelSordi 2) Describe the major problem with the American criminal justice system. How are African Americans overrepresented in this particular system? Explain how educational attainment and income relate to the rate of African American crime and incarceration.

2) (McChesney) Why is it difficult for democracy and “unregulated” capitalism to coexist? Explain how “dollarocracy” has lead to economic deregulation, which has ultimately caused greater economic inequality for American citizens. What does the current research suggest about the negative impact that rising economic inequality has for American’s well-being?

3) (DelSordi- 4) Discuss the process by which taxes and public school funding relate to different rates of poverty and income. Describe the Montgomery Public School case and how the problem of educational inequality was solved.

4) (DelSordi- 2) Explain the global relationship between democracy and economic development. How does America fit into this pattern? What features of the American “political economy” can help us to understand why America is the most economically developed yet not the most democratic country?

5) (Schaefer- 1) Explain the concepts of “correlation” and “causality” as they are used in sociological research. As Schaefer explains, why is correlation NOT necessarily the same thing as causality?

6) (Schaefer- 3) Explain the 6 key stages of “socio-cultural evolution.” As societies pass through each phase, explain how the “material” technological changes trigger changes in the societies “non-material” culture.

7) (Schaefer- 5) Describe how World Systems, Modernization and Dependency theory each provide a different, but interesting, explanation of global economic inequality. Be specific!

8) (DelSordi- 4) Compare and contrast the “assimilationist” and “ethnic pluralist” approaches. Provide a historical example of each model. How do educational attainment, language acquisition and inter-ethic marriage (I.e. exogamy) all work together to contribute toward overall assimilation?

9) (DelSordi- 3) Explain why the U.S. ranks where it does on gender equality (based on global measurements). Your explanation should include the intricate relationship between government regulation, democratization and gender equality.

10) Agger (2008): Explain Derrida’s general critique of positivism. What does Agger mean when he says, “reading is writing?” Using “poverty” as an example (from the text), explain what Derrida would say about this topic. Explain Agger’s conception of a “public sociology” and all that it would entail.

Grading Rubric: your grade will be based on a combination of the following 5 criteria.

1) Do you follow the formatting and structural guidelines?

2) Are your responses well written? This means that there are no errors, you use language properly, and you have the correct sentence structure.

3) Is the argument that you present in your response compelling and creative in nature?

4) Do you cite the textbook or articles thoroughly and adequately and are they used to answer all the questions given?

5) Do you adequately answer all of the questions presented?

Resource: Appendix A Review the financial statements in Appendix D. Calculate the following: Current ratio, long-term solvency ratio, contribution ratio, programs and expense ratio, general and management and expense ratio, fund-raising and expense ratio, and revenue and expense ratio for the years 2003 and 2004. Include the current ratio, long-term solvency ratio, contribution ratio, programs and expense ratio, general and management and expense ratio, fund-raising and expense ratio, and revenue and expense ratio calculated in the Week Four Assignment. Provide a 200- to 300-word explanation of the importance of each ratio for all three years listed in Appendix D. Include a statement of whether the organization’s financial picture has improved or not within the 3-year period specified in Appendix D. Calculate the fixed cost, variable costs, and break-even point for the XYZ Corporation for the years 2003 and 2004 listed in Appendix D. Include the fixed cost, variable costs, and break-even point for the XYZ Corporation for the year 2002 from the Week Six CheckPoint. Discuss the purpose, advantages, disadvantages, and type of feedback provided by a line item, performance, and program budget in a 350- to 700-word essay. Provide a 350- to 700-word response to the following: Identify and describe two types of traditional approaches to fund development, and two types of nontraditional approaches to fund development that are appropriate for the XYZ Corporation, and provide a conclusion of the organization’s current and future financial picture. Format all written portions consistent with APA guidelines. Compile all elements, including portions previously completed, and submit them as attachments to the same post.

Assistance needed with research assignment

APA FORMAT

INTEXT CITATION

REFERENCES NEEDED

4 PARAGRAPH

For any type of biometric evidence to be accepted in criminal court, it must be recognized by the court to be a scientifically valid and reliable means of identification. The primary legal litmus test of reliability and validity is commonly known as the Daubert standard.

• Choose a state and explain its guidelines for accepting biometric evidence.
• Which standard is used? The Daubert standard or the Frye standard?
• Compare and contrast the analysis of the standard used to a state using a different standard.
• Which standard do you prefer? Explain why.