Lecture Schedule
Week #1: Monday,
August 20:
Introduction : Objective of the course: To contrast
popular images of gangs in the
mass media with perspectives from social science.
Stereotypes.
Weds August 22: Assignment:
Chapter One of People & Folks.
Writing Assignment: “What I know about gangs and
from where”? (No more than 2
pages)
Some not so reliable facts on the extent of the US gang
problem. Problems with Official Data.
Over view of GROL (Gang Research
On-Line).
Discussion Sections: Go over requirements of the course, questions.
Research tools in the media. Electronic Reserve
Week #2 : Mon. August 27: Assignment: Web Seminar on
"What is a A Gang?" .
Lecture: What is A Gang? How does a gang differ from a fraternity?
Weds Aug 29 : Assignment:
Chapter One of People & Folks.
Lecture: Doing Gang Research. The Assumptions of Science.
Discussion Sections: Chomsky excerpt: “Manufacturing Consent”
How does this apply to gangs?
Week #3:
Mon Sept 3
Labor Day: No Class
Weds: Sept 5: Assignment: "What is News?" Postman. Electronic Reserve.
Lecture:
Social Construction of Reality.
The impact of the media in a postmodern world.
How the media frames the "gang problem."
Discussion Sections: Assignment: Chapter 7 of People & Folks Discuss topics for research.
Divide into groups.
Week # 4 : Monday
Sept 10 Assignment: Conquergood's "Power of Symbols" on GROL.
Debate: Is Conquergood's The Power of Symbols an accurate portrayl of stereotypes of
gangs?
.
Weds: Sept 12:
Assignment: What is News?" Postman. Electronic Reserve.
Discussion Sections: Assignment Bring in a clipping or write a one
paragraph report on
a popular image of gangs.
Discuss clippings.
Make sure students are understanding the material. Get ready for exam
Week # 5 : Monday
Sept 17
Eli Anderson's Black Male in the
City. Chapter Seven People & Folks.
Lecture: Moral
Panics, Orientalism, and the War on Drugs. The nature of stereotypes.
C.Wright Mills and “Official Definitions of Reality.”
Weds: Sept
19: John Marshall Law School presentation: the gang loitering
ordinance. Gang Loitering Debate on GROL.
Discussion Sections:
Prepare for exam.
Week #6 :
Monday Sept 24
First Exam.
Weds: Sept 26:
Discussion Sections:
Go over exam. get ready for projects
Week #7 : Monday
Oct 1: Assignment
Thrasher, from website.
Lecture: The Chicago School, immigration, and the urban
machine
Weds: Oct 3: Assignment: Timuel
Black lecture and 1919 Riot article
GROL
Lecture: The 1919 Riots and the formation of the ghetto
Discussion Sections: Research continues.
Week # 8 : Monday
Oct 8: More
on gangs and the ghetto
Weds Oct 10: Assignment
Website Section. Urban Crisis Era
Gangs in the Urban Crisis Era. The Projects, the riots, and civil rights.
Discussion Sections:
Work on Class Research Projects
Week # 9 : Monday October 15:
Weds October 17: Lance Williams. The Blackstone Rangers
Discussion Sections:
Continue Research projects.
Week # 10: Monday
October 22
Assignment: Chapter 8 of People
& Folks.
Lecture: Postindustrial
Chicago Gang.s The informal economy. Gentrification.
Weds October 24
Assignment: Gang Violence
in Chicago. Illinois Criminal Justice Authority.
Discussion Sections: Questions on material. continue research
Week # 11: Monday Oct 29:
Weds: October 31: Assignment: web
material on prison
Discussion Sections:
Week # 12: Monday November 5
Gangs and public policy. Harold Washington (E Reserve). War
on Drugs.
Weds November 7
1. Presentation
Discussion Sections:
Week #13 Monday November 12
2. Presentation.
Weds Nov 14
3. Presentation
Discussion Sections:
Prepare for Presentations
Week #14: Monday
Nov 19
4. Presentation
Weds Nov 21:
5. Presentation
Nov 22-25 Thanksgiving Vacation
Discussion Sections: Prepare for presentations.
Week #15: Monday
Nov 26
6. Presentation
Weds Nov 28
In Class/ Take Home Exercise or final presentation by
Discussion Group.
Fri Dec 1: Instruction Ends
Week #16 December
3-7
Final?