This kind of essay requires you to select a topic for an essay and write about it by providing more information through scenarios and examples. For instance, if you choose to write about muscle cars, you would define cars in general, describe regular cars and muscle cars and give examples of muscle cars. As the ending, you could explain what made muscle cars so special or so memorable. Basically you will evaluate the topic as to whether it is good, bad, better, worth the money, not worth the money, whether it lives up to its hype, or any other elements that you think are important.

Remember that you are not to use personal pronouns in this or your other essays. Be sure to choose a topic from the list provided. It is not acceptable to come up with your own topic. The length must be a minimum 650 words. Also, you must include at least one source which is cited in your essay and listed on your Works Cited page

Choose from one of the following topics:

1. ____________ is a perfect example of a fast-food restaurant. (your choice of restaurant)
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of state testing in schools.
3. Gender specific schools are very successful.
4. Pizza is actually a healthy food, especially if it comes from ____________. (your choice of restaurant)
5. The I-Phone is an excellent phone.

Responses should be a minimum of 250 words and include direct questions. You may challenge, support or supplement another student’s answer using the terms, concepts and theories from the required readings. Also, do not be afraid to respectfully disagree where you feel appropriate; as this should be part of your analysis process at this academic level.

Forum posts are graded on timeliness, relevance, knowledge of the weekly readings, and the quality of original ideas. Sources utilized to support answers are to be cited in accordance with the APA writing style by providing a general parenthetical citation (reference the author, year and page number) within your post, as well as an adjoining reference list. Refer to grading rubric for additional details concerning grading criteria.

Respond to Patrick:

New Era of Policing

Post 9/11 has ushered in a new era of security threats from non-state actors and lone wolf attacks. This heightened sense of fear has radically changed almost every aspect of national security operationally, legislatively, and all levels of law enforcement. These mass structural and cultural changes to law enforcement post 9/11 have created a significant rift of loyalty for American law enforcement. Oliver (2006) discusses there has been four eras of American policing starting with the political era (1840s -1920s), the reform era (1920s – 1970s), the community era (1970s – 2001), and lastly the homeland security era (2001- present). The homeland security era of policing has emphasized counter-terrorism strategies across local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies (Oliver, 2006). The concentration of counter-terrorism has led to military style tactics in policing activities (Brown, 2011). Police departments have also increased their levels of high powered military weaponry and armored personnel carriers (Oliver, 2006).

The new era of policing began with the declaration of the War on Terror by President Bush in the days following the 9/11 attacks (Brown, 2011). The political and economic effects of that declaration have changed American society and have pushed us further towards militarization (Brown, 2011). The largest legislative action that set the foundation of the homeland security era was the passing of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Patriot Act). The Patriot Act created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DHS has worked to incorporate law enforcement into counter-terrorism efforts (Oliver, 2006). The Patriot Act expanded law enforcement investigative powers into crimes of terrorism and removed legal barriers of information sharing between levels of law enforcement.

Militarization

Brown (2011) discusses the consequences of the militarization of law enforcement functions and that they have resulted in conflicting decisions for law enforcement officers. “The war on terrorism influenced a new, heightened militarized role for America‘s police agencies. Local police forces mobilized in support of national efforts to combat terrorist threats (Brown, 2011, p. 672).” Historically the role of local police officers are meant to enforce the law, keep the peace, protect the community, and ensure civil liberties (Brown, 2011). With the advent of the homeland security era, the police role has begun to shift and lines of duty have become blurred. Brown (2011) argues that the new militarized law enforcement culture has altered the mindset of police officers to thinking they must wage war on terrorism and other crimes. I would argue that it has given them new responsibilities and maybe a greater sense of purpose but not a new mindset. Law enforcement tactics, gear, and training have changed to be more military oriented in order to advance officer capabilities in responding to threats. There is a divide for law enforcement, but I believe the militarization factor comes second to the societal factors at play.

(P.S: I think I would argue that we are entering a 5th era of policing that emphasizes intelligence/data collection, information systems, and cyber-security)

References

Brown, C. A. (2011). Divided loyalties: Ethical challenges for America’s law enforcement in post 9/11 America. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 43(3), 651-675.

Oliver, W. (2006). The fourth era of policing: Homeland security. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 20(1-2), 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600860600579696

The information is in your book(underting Gotham) but do not quote directly from the book, use your own words.

What is the evidence for settled village life (sedentism) during the Late Woodland period? Include in your answer discussion of the archaeological evidence of the presence of year-round settlements and the significance of the burials at the Aqueduct and Archery Range sites. Was settled village life dependent on agriculture in the NYC metropolitan region? What were the natural resources of the NYC region during the Late Woodland that people could have used as the basis for year-round villages in addition to or instead of agriculture?

This course was actually very interesting and oddly enough each week’s lesson was playing out in the real world. The week we learned about NAFTA was when the President was talking about changing the agreement and so forth. It truly helped me to learn more about the regulations and rules that are in associated with trading and how complex it actually is. I do not believe this course with help me within my career but it helped me on a personal level to learn more about international trade and understand what is currently happening within the United States regarding trade.

Agree or Disagree within 2-3 sentences

RESEARCH METHODS

Assignment 2: Field Observation (25 points):

Due no later than 11:55p ET on Sunday of Week 5

Purpose: The purpose of this two-step exercise is for you to conduct inductive and deductive research using qualitative methods. 

Note: it is important that you conduct the observations as two distinct events during this class; ‘recalling’ past observations is not the same as purposefully observing your surroundings from a sociological perspective, and applying two different types of reasoning to one observation will not be ‘truthful’ or successful.

The purpose of this exercise if for you to observe one social setting or social artifact to begin to detect patterns in human behavior – observance of norms and potentially behaviors that deviate from the norm.  This week’s exercise includes two parts. First, without any prep work, you will need to go to one public place (or conduct content analysis with your social artifact) and observe the people/artifact for 25 minutes.  Social Setting: Note people’s behavior, their demeanor, their reactions/interactions to/with each other.  Social artifact: from second to second (for TV), or page to page (for print), Note themes, sounds (i.. music), texture of page (i.e. ads in magazine), etc.  Second, you will develop a research design with research problem, hypothesis and operational definitions for variables; then you will conduct another 25 minutes of observations.

Disclaimer

Originality of attachments will be verified by Turnitin. Both you and your instructor will receive the results.

Part 1

1)  Choose whether or not you will be conducting non-participant observation in a social setting, or content analysis of a social artifact

a.  Social setting: this should be a public place such as a park, mall, restaurant, etc.

b.  Social artifact: this may be ads in a particular magazine; one television show, a time-block of commercials, etc.

2)  For your inductive approach, you will simply choose a time and location/artifact for where you are going to conduct your observations

3)   

a.  Social Setting: Go to the specified location and proceed with your observations. 

  i.  You must be a keen social observer; a ‘peeping Tom’ in the sociological sense.  Take handwritten (recommended) and/or mental notes of: 

1.  details about your chosen location (time of day, lighting, furniture, plants, sounds, temperature, smell, vibe/energy, etc)

2.  the people around you, not only their behavior but general information about their sociodemographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, SES, etc);

3.  your thoughts and feelings while making observations

1. Social Artifact: At a specified time (i.e. when a particular show is), carefully observe your social artifact

  i. Content analysis provides a sustained, systematic way to observe and measure the portrayal of that reality, as opposed to the quick, impressionistic way that we normally read consume media.  Take handwritten notes of:

1.  Details about the setting in the images you see (lighting, furniture, background, vibe/energy portrayed); if audio-visual (note sounds such as pitch of voice, music, etc)

2.  Note details about the people portrayed, not only their behavior but general information about their sociodemographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, SES, sexuality);

4)  When you have returned from you observation, type up your notes.  Review your notes for patterns in behavior, socio-demographic characteristics, etc. 

5)  Write-up your observations using ‘thick description’ of the location (i.e. building you were in (what is the architecture like), descriptions of people there (in terms of socio-demographic characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status), sounds, smells, temperature, time of day and week, etc);

6)  Analyze trends you identified in your observations/content analysis.  What is a possible sociological/theoretical explanation for the trends you observed?  This is best done by using sources to provide credibility to your analyses.

Part 2

7)   Based on your initial observations and written analyses, develop a specific research problem/question to be further investigated (i.e. the variation in behavior of males versus females when entering a store with a glass store front)

8)  Identify the key variables you are going to be investigating, and develop an operational definition for each of them  (this should include at least two variables, but not more than four). Your operational definitions will help to provide parameters for how record variations in your observations.

9)  Write a hypothesis for what you expect to observe in your second round of observations.

10)  Repeat observations/content analysis

a.  Social Setting – this should be done at the same social setting at approximately the same time of day (if you can do this one week later on the same day, it would be great!)

b.  Social Artifact – this should be done at the same time (if commercial block), or with the same show, or with a different issue of the same magazine , etc.

11)  When you have returned from you observation, type up your notes.  Review your notes for patterns in behavior, socio-demographic characteristics, etc. and how they corresponded with your expectations/hypothesis 

12)  Describe observations using ‘thick description’ of the location (i.e. building you were in (what is the architecture like), descriptions of people there (in terms of socio-demographic characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status), sounds, smells, temperature, time of day and week, etc);

13)  Analyze your observations in terms of how they supported/did not support your hypothesis. 

14)  What is a possible sociological/theoretical explanation for the trends you observed?  This is best done by using sources to provide credibility to your analyses.

15)  Discuss the differences between your inductive observations and your deductive observations.  How did the way you were observing change?  How did what you observed change?

16)  Briefly describe your thoughts/feelings in the two steps.  Did you prefer one approach to the other?  Why/why not?

Grading Rubric

CATEGORY	Outstanding	Above Average	Average	Below Average	Unacceptable
Observation Description	Provided thick description of observations/content analysis with a lot of detail about social setting and socio-demographic characteristics of people observed (5 pts)	Needed some elaboration on either social setting or socio-demographic characteristics of people observed (4 pts)	Need significantly more detail about social setting or socio-demographic characteristics observed; or some elaboration on both (3.5 pts)	Summary of observations lacks detail overall (3pt)	No summary of norm breaking behavior included (0-2 pts)
Research Problem/Question	Clearly identified a specific, measurable research problem (3 pts)	Clearly identified research problem (2.5 pts)	Identified a research problem; it needs some refining/specification (2 pts)	Research problem unclear, not easily measured (1.5 pts)	Research problem not specified or very unclear (0-1 pts)
Variables identified and operationalized	Clearly  identified and operationalized 2+ variables that are clearly used in the research problem (3 pts)	Clearly  identified and operationalized 2 variables that are clearly used in the research problem (2.5 pts)	Identified and operationalized 2 variables that are from the research problem (2 pts)	Missing one variable or operationalization; or variables not clearly associated with/from research problem (1.5 pts)	Variables incorrect; missing operationalizations; variables unrelated to research problem (0-1 pts)
Hypothesis	Succinct hypothesis predicts relationship between two+ variables, based on research problem; in statement form (2 pts)	(1.6 pts)	Hypothesis not in statement form; needs to more clearly specify ‘relationship’ between two variables (1.4 pts)	Hypothesis unclear; does not specify relationship (1.2)	Hypothesis not related or missing (0-1pts)
Analysis	Clearly applied relevant sociological theory(ies) to analysis of observations/content analysis (5 pts)	(4 pts)	Need to more clearly use sociological theory(ies) to analyze observations/content analysis (3.5 pts)	Analysis based entirely on opinion, or application to theory unclear (3 pts)	Did not apply sociological theory to analysis (0-2 pts)
Reflection	Included discussion of your experience of the situation (1pts)	(.8)	Need to elaborate on your experience of the situation (.7 pt)	(.6)	No discussion of your experience of the situation (0-.5 pts)
Compared Inductive to Deductive Approach	Thoughtful discussion about differences between the two approaches; clearly illustrate understanding of the two approaches (3pts)	Needed some elaboration in discussion (2.5 pts)	Need significant elaboration about differences between two approaches (2 pts)	Discussion lacks clarity and  detail overall (1.5 pt)	No discussion of comparison (0-1 pts)
APA Formatted Citations	Included APA formatted in-text citations and full references for ALL paraphrased and quoted work from other sources (1 pts)	Minor errors in APA formatting of citations (.8 pts)	Multiple errors in APA formatting of citations (.7 pt)	Missing some citations, and errors in APA formatting (.6 pts)