Course Description:
In this course students will look at the history of the American criminal justice system and laws to voice their opinions on the morality of the criminal justice system. Students will create reforms for the laws they believe to be flawed. The course is designed to challenge students’ creativity when it comes to reforms and logistics.
This is a debate-style class where students will explore what they believe to be flawed and how they will attempt to correct it. Students will agree/disagree with these reforms and ideologies. Students will be voicing their opinions, but it is their reasoning, creativity, and logic that will be looked at. Exams will be in the form of papers written on reforms for a law, which will be given every 2 weeks. You’re final will be in the form of a presentation.
Course Goals:
- Develop debate/discussion skills
- Develop humanitarian skills
- Challenge creativity and problem solving skills
Course Breakdown:
Class Participation: 40% (participation is highly critical since this is a debate/discussion-style class)
Exams (paper): 20%
homework: 15%
presentation (final): 25%
This a great course description. Because you so clearly defined the course’s expectations, subject matter and teaching style I can honestly say I’d be happy joining this class that’s core lesson has so much relevant application in the US today.
Thank you!
I think this course is great because students get to work together, find evidence, draw conclusions and finally discuss them with their classmates on how to make this country better. I think this debate-style class will help more shy students voice their opinions with other students in a safe environment and make them feel inclusive. The students get to speak when they have something valuable to add instead of being in a ‘ normal ‘ class setting where the professor picks on students randomly.
Thank you!
I think this a really interesting course, especially since how much of this class would be based on discussions. I think allowing students to engage in such exchanges would be really beneficial since it allows them to think critically and expose themselves to various ideas.
Thank you!
I think this is a really relevant course that I would definitely take. Our criminal justice system is definitely flawed, and this class could change things by informing students on those flaws and creating reforms in the course could probably be used to reform the criminal justice system in reality.
Thank you!
I would definitely take this class because with how you structured it, it allows for the development of a multitude of skills! It allows for a chance of pseudo engagement in making changes in the world. In general, this would be a course I would take out of pure interest rather than to fill a degree requirement.
This is such an interesting course. I like how the course allows students to reform laws they think are flawed, that is such a cool way to inspire change in a way. I think it is vital questioning the system we live by and see if it is actually justifiable.