Susan Takata
Office: 370 MOLN
Office Hours: MWF 8:45-9:45am & by appointment
Phone: (262) 595-2116
E-mail: takata@uwp.edu
FAX: (262) 595-2471
Class meets MW 2-3:15 p.m.

Focus:

CRMJ/SOCA 352 will provide a broad theoretical background against which to explore policies in the system of law, in definition and enforcement of the law, and to follow those policies as they have been and are presently affected by social change. Whatever position you take on law and justice, the readings in this course should challenge you to think about the theory and assumptions that underlie your position, and the many alternatives that have been and will continue to be presented in this new millennium.

Texts:

• Arrigo. Social Justice/Criminal Justice.
  
• Mann and Zatz. Images of Color, Images of Crime. 2nd ed.
  
• Curran and Takata. Sociology of Law Handbook. (On DH site)
  
• a small pocket dictionary
• Dear Habermas Website [refer to handout]
• Habermas. Between Facts and Norms. (optional)
  
• Minow. Making all the Difference. (optional)

Materials/Resources:

You must have:

• A bound notebook/journal
• An e-mail address (available through school)
• Internet access (access PCs in microcomputing labs on campus)

Learning Objectives for the Course

The student will learn:

A. to recognize differences between theory, factual knowledge, and the application and synthesis of that knowledge in praxis. Become familiar with the interrelationship between theory, policy, and practice relating to law and social change. Measured by the student's ability to choose between the types of knowledge and to balance them, as evidenced by grade percentage form.

B. to work cooperatively with others, by juxtaposing strengths. Measured by self report and written and oral contributions to discourse.

C. to evaluate materials on law and social change. Measured by self-tests and inclusion of citations in written and oral contributions to discourse.

D. to use a vocabulary which permit discussion of theory: difference, the Other, structural violence, privileging subjectivity, unstated assumptions, transformative discourse, relativism, tolerance of ambiguity, and so forth. Measured by self-tests and incusion of references in written and oral contributions to discourse.

E. to recognize the principle contributions to social theory of Habermas, Minow, Freire, bell hooks, and others. Measured by self-tests and inclusion of references in written and oral contributions to discourse.

Grades and Grading

Grades can be important feedback when they are collaborative and used as feedback to guide further learning. They are harmful when they become a reified end in their own right, when they become commodified. Because we are required by the institution to give grades, there must be a means of your letting us know what you have learned. We expect each of you to communicate with us, so that we come to know you and your learning. Meaningful learnings come when we stretch to corners of each others' minds by looking at concepts from multiple perspectives that come from our myriad unique experiences.

The five 5Cs - communication, consistency, competency, creativity, and cooperation -- continue to represent our standards for evaluation. Refer to Dear Habermas site, Evidence of Learning . Your coursework must show scholarly discipline in conceptually linking your learning to theory, policy, practice, and to course readings and discussions.

Measures of Learning

Three times during the semester we will check that you have provided us with some evidence of your learning. That will establish continuity in your learning. You are invited to choose the measure of learning that fits your learning style best. Each report of learning (rol) will be weighed differently (1st rol=25%. 2nd rol=35%. 3rd rol=40%). More details will be provided in class.

Statement on Plagiarism

DON'T DO IT!! Give credit to those whose ideas and words you use. Cooperation and sharing in this class will earn you a better grade. Adversarialism is not a part of our teaching. We believe that learning flowers in an environment that permits mutuality to flourish.

Important Notes

Students with Disabilities - Students with disabilities are encouraged to meet with me as soon as possible to discuss accommodations. Accommodations should be authorized through the Disability Services Office, WYLL D175, Renee' Sartin-Kirby - Coordinator (595-2610).

Deadlines/Due Dates - All due dates and deadlines are firm. Late assignments and exercises will not be accepted. A "no show" will result in an "F" for that particular task. The absolute final deadline for all course work is Wednesday, April 30th, 2 p.m. central time.

Communicating - It is your responsibility to communicate an emergency and other situations in a timely manner to the professor. Communicating your whereabouts is important. Don't be a field mouse.

Groupwork: You may work in groups on any or all exercises or assignments. Cooperative learning groups are strongly encouraged. You can work with more than one group, and with different groups. All names of active group members should be recorded as indicated on the exercise material. (Refer to Cooperative Learning on the Dear Habermas site ).

!!WARNING: THIS IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL COURSE WHERE THE PROFESSOR LECTURES WHILE STUDENTS QUIETLY TAKE NOTES. THIS PROFESSOR USES A COOPERATIVE LEARNING APPROACH AS WELL AS SEVERAL EXPERIMENTAL AND INNOVATIVE TEACHING/LEARNING TECHNIQUES. GROUPWORK IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN THIS COURSE!

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Week	Topic	Readings due
1	Introduction	Arrigo, intro
2	Who's Habermas? Why Habermas? **Wed,1/29 Computer Workshop in library	M&Z, foreword, ch.1; C&T, ch. 1
3	Difference and Privileging Subjectivity	M&Z, ch. 21; C&T, ch. 2
4	Marxist Criminology Socialist Feminism	Arrigo, ch. 1-2
5	Critical Race Theory American Indians	Arrigo, ch. 9 M&Z, ch. 2 & 7
6	Peacemaking Criminology American Indians	Arrigo, ch. 3 M&Z, ch. 12 & 17
7	Prophetic Criticism African Americans	Arrigo, ch. 4 M&Z, ch. 3 & 8
8	Anarchist Criminology African Americans **Fri 3/14 - Last to Drop Course	Arrigo, ch. 5 M & Z, ch., 13 & 18
9	Spring Break ** M 3/17 & W 3/19 - No Class	no readings
10	Semiotics Latinos and Latinas	Arrigo, ch. 7 M&Z, ch. 4 & 9
11	Constitutive Criminology Latinos and Latinas	Arrigo, ch. 8 M&Z, ch. 14 & 19
12	Chaos Theory Asian Americans	Arrigo, ch. 10 M&Z, ch. 5 & 10
13	Queer Theory Asian Americans	Arrigo, ch. 12 M&Z, ch. 15 & 20
14	Postmodern Feminist Criminology The Invisible Color White	Arrigo, ch. 6 M&Z, ch. 6, 11, 21
15	Law, Social Change and the Future **Wed, April 30th at 2 p.m. central time - The Absolute Final Deadline	Arrigo, ch. 16 M&Z, ch. 22
16	Law and Social Change: Theory, Policy, Practice **Wed, May 7th, The Last Day of Class	---