First+Writing+Assignment+2008

Community Connections Opening Writing Assignment Due September 22, 2008

As we begin the year, we’d like to know your thoughts, feelings, and assumptions about the activities we will develop and share together. We are interested first of all in how you define social justice, a concept that will be at the core of our work and our experiences. We want you to define that concept in whatever way you think is appropriate: you might, for example • tell a story that illustrates your sense or your experience of social justice; • distinguish social justice from all other kinds of justice (for example criminal justice); • divide social justice into its component parts and then explain what you mean by “social” and what you mean by “justice;” • start with what you have heard or read about social justice, then explain what you think that means.

There are many more possibilities: the only thing we’re interested in is your thoughts in your own words. If you like to look words up in the dictionary, that’s fine; it’s also fine to consult Wikipedia or any other source. Make sure you cite any sources you use, and that you use quotations accurately. But in the end, this is not a paper that should rely on what others say. We’re really not that interested in what authorities or dictionaries say about social justice: we want to know what you think. We’re not looking for the right answer: we’re looking for your answer. We want your take, your impressions, your associations.

Following this opening section on social justice, choose at least 2 of the following questions and compose a full and thoughtful response.

1. What did you know about your chosen ComCon group/issue before the presentation in graderoom last week? Describe or explain that previous knowledge. How did the graderoom presentation reflect that prior knowledge? What did you hear in the presentation that was new to you (facts, statistics, opinions)?

2. Describe and explain what interests you about this ComCon team; in other words, why did you choose this group/issue?

3. Define the issues as you see them. Think about the group you’ve chosen and all that you now know about its concerns. In your own words, create an extended definition of your chosen issue.

4. Describe your ideal vision of the kind of work you’d like to do over the course of the year with this group. What do you hope to accomplish? What will you wind up knowing or understanding? What do you need to know/be able to do in order to make this ideal vision a reality?