Assignment 1: What Is a Gang? How Does a Gang Differ from a Fraternity?

Assignment 1: What Is a Gang? How Does a Gang Differ from a Fraternity?

Due Week 3 and worth 180 points

Fifteen years ago, Esbensen and Winfree published an article in which they challenged the stereotypical image of gang members, specifically with regard to race/ethnicity and sex. In the ensuing years, a number of other publications have reported findings similar to those reported by Esbensen and Winfree, especially with regard to the sex composition of American youth gangs. Studies from Europe have also reported gang member demographic characteristics similar to those reported in the United States. The current article replicates Esbensen and Winfree's research by examining the sex and racial/ethnic characteristics of self-reported gang members in a seven (7) city study. In addition, the article explores these characteristics across five (5) years of data, examining the extent to which gang member demographics remain constant as youth age. Furthermore, given the attention to immigration, the article also assesses the extent to which gang membership is linked to immigration status. More important, the article also explores the extent to which offending rates vary by these demographic characteristics of the gang and non-gang youth.

The following article will be helpful in structuring your presentation and it is titled, "Who Are Gangsters? An Examination of the Age, Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Immigration Status of Self-Reported Gang Members in a Seven-City Study of American Youth", and can be found at http://ccj.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/28/4/465?ijkey=09fuCMBIn7zOM&keytype=ref&siteid=spccj:

Using the supplied article and readings from your textbook, create a ten to fifteen (10-15) slide presentation in which you research a gang in your city or state:

1. Create ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explain the definition of a gang and compares and contrasts three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.
2. Describe three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.
3. Compare and contrast three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs. Note: This could be crimes, activity, demographics, etc.
4. Compare and contrast three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Next provide two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs then in your own words describe the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs. Justify your response.
5. Use at least three (3) academic references besides or in addition to the textbook. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow the following formatting requirements:

• Use a maximum of 15 slides—using this rule of thumb helps to make your presentation effective.
• Make your titles headlines—not descriptions-each slide is a prime piece of real estate, adding information or insight to the story you're trying to tell. You're wasting valuable real estate if you only use pictures, or your slides are filled with just words.
• Close with and ask—Leave your classmates thinking, that's what research is about.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Critically analyze the historical rise in power of gangs and gang affiliation.
• Critically analyze the historical rise in power of organized crime families.
• Distinguish the difference among Italian, Irish, Asian, Russian, and other crime syndicates.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues related to drugs, gangs, and organized crime.
• Write clearly and concisely about the impact of drugs, gangs, and organized crime using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 180

Assignment 1: What Is a Gang? How Does a Gang Differ from a Fraternity?

Criteria

Unacceptable

Below 60% F

Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% D

Fair

70-79% C

Proficient

80-89% B

Exemplary

90-100% A

1. Create ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explain the definition of a gang and compares and contrasts three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.

Weight: 25%

Did not submit or incompletely created a ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explained the definition of a gang and compared and contrasted three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.

Insufficiently created a ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explained the definition of a gang and compared and contrasted three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.

Partially created a ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explained the definition of a gang and compared and contrasted three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.

Satisfactorily created a ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explained the definition of a gang and compared and contrasted three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.

Thoroughly created a ten to fifteen (10-15) slides that explained the definition of a gang and compared and contrasted three (3) public's perceptions of gangs.

2. Describe three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.

Weight: 20%

Did not submit or incompletely described three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.

Insufficiently described three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.

Partially described three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.

Satisfactorily described three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.

Thoroughly described three (3) reasons why the public's perception of gangs defines fraternities as gangs.

3. Compare and contrast three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs.

Weight: 20%

Did not submit or incompletely compared and contrasted three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs.

Insufficiently compared and contrasted three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs.

Partially compared and contrasted three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs.

Satisfactorily compared and contrasted three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs.

Thoroughly compared and contrasted three (3) significant features found in female and male gangs.

4. Compare and contrast three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Next provide two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs then in your own words describe the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs. Justify your response.

Weight: 20%

Did not submit or incompletely compared and contrasted three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Did not submit or incompletely provided two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs. Did not submit or incompletely described the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs in their own words. Did not submit or incompletely justified your response.

Insufficiently contrasted three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Insufficiently provided two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs. Insufficiently described the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs in their own words. Insufficiently justified your response.

Partially contrasted three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Partially provided two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs. Partially described the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs in their own words. Partially justified your response.

Satisfactorily contrasted three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Satisfactorily provided two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs. Satisfactorily described the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs in their own words. Satisfactorily justified your response.

Thoroughly contrasted three (3) behaviors of both fraternities and gangs. Thoroughly provided two (2) recruiting and initiation rituals for both fraternities and gangs. Thoroughly described the significance of using these rituals within both fraternities and gangs in their own words. Thoroughly justified your response.

5. Use at least three (3) academic references besides or in addition to the textbook

Weight: 5%

No references provided

Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices.

Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices.

Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.

Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.

6. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements

Weight: 10%

More than 8 errors present

7-8 errors present

5-6 errors present

3-4 errors present

0-2 errors present