I need help writing a (3-5) page paper in which it addresses all of the following: 1. Specific Hypothesis. Introduce your paper by identifying the specific hypothesis you are evaluating in this paper. 2. Applicable Sociological Concepts. Identify the sociological theories and terminology from the text that apply to your social issue 3. Practical Implications. Discuss the value of sociological research into your issue. Determine whether or not there are (or would be) practical implications of sociological inquiry into this issue. 4. Evidence. This is the most important part of the paper. Analyze at least two (2) lines of evidence that pertain to the hypothesis you are evaluating. Does the evidence support your hypothesis? For each type of evidence, consider possible biases and alternative interpretations. 5. Conclusions. Draw conclusions based on the evidence that you have discovered. Does the evidence confirm or refute your hypothesis? Is the evidence sufficiently convincing to draw firm conclusions about your hypothesis? ATTACHED IS MY OUTLINE AND MY REFERENCES.
Assignment-2
Outline and Preliminary List of References
James Sullivan
Dr. Bridgette Hester
Strayer University: SOC100 (Sociology)
10 February, 2015
I. Specific Hypothesis
1
Running Head: OUTLINE AND PRELIMINARY LIST OF REFERENCES
2
The Alabama penal system is lacking in educational and employment opportunities
compared to Georgia, Florida, and Arizona due to funding.
II.
Structural-Functional Approach
a. Definition of Approach, and how it applies to this theory/hypothesis
b. Manifest
i. Allow prisoners to stop committing crimes in order to provide honest living for
themselves and their loved ones
ii. Provide safe environment for prior convicted felons to learn and grow
c. Latent
i. Thrill of committing a crime and what that does to individuals
ii. Fear/anxiety of educational and employment opportunities, have individual run
back to prior life out of comfort and ease?
iii. Social stigma of prior convicts?
III.
Practical Implications
a. Implications for funding reform in Alabama State Funded Prisons
i. Where does money come from? Taxes – Will non-crime committing citizens be
"okay" with using their tax dollars for this type of reform?
ii. Educators and Mentors – how will they be paid?
b. Implications for future or past employers – current felony conviction laws, etc.
c. Implications for society to welcome prior convicts into their communities, places
of work, etc.
IV. Evidence
a. Line of evidence 1
i. Dollar amount currently poured into state funded prison systems
ii. Possible reasons this is not a good investment in the community
iii. Alternative ways the same amount of money can be spent to help grow
productive citizens and community (amount of money that goes into a two year
state college degree)
b. Line of evidence 2
i. Discuss possible ways to fund prisoner reform (i.e. raising state taxes)
ii. Possible reasons that raising taxes would not bode well with Alabama
Residents
iii. Alternative ways the funds could be raised outside of State system (possible
tax breaks? All speculative based on the way other fundraisers are run (ex.
politicians))
V. Conclusion: If the state of Alabama used its funding to promote educational and
employment opportunities, it is easy to see how convicts would be less likely to be repeat
offenders, and would be less likely to end up back to jail. As a result, not only would this lead to
the decrease of overcrowding in Alabama state prison systems, but it would also produce
industrious, fruitful, active members in the state of Alabama. By focusing on prisoner reform
through the allowance of more funding to promote educational and employment opportunities,
this could ultimately limit the cycle of criminal activity.
Running Head: OUTLINE AND PRELIMINARY LIST OF REFERENCES
3
References: (preliminary)
Ward, Cam. "Opening Statement Regarding Prison Reform in the States." Retrieved
February 5, 2015, from http://judiciary.house.gov/_cache/files/a57d078c-35c0-411e-b362b6675616429a/ward-testimony.pdf
Tuition and Fees by Sector and State over Time. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015,
from http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/tuition-fees-sector-state-time
Prison Overcrowding: Alabama – ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 10, 2015, from http://www.alec.org/initiatives/prison-overcrowding/prisonovercrowding-alabama/
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=4220
