Objective 1 (10 points): Present a concise history

Present a concise history of a “deviant behavior.” In your 1-page, single-spaced essay, identify a behavior that has made a transition in American history either into or out of deviant status. Define the behavior, and articulate its lifespan in American society. Was it an illegal practice that became a legal one? A legal practice that became criminalized? A “normal” behavior that became medicalized, or religiously or socially rejected?

To receive all 10 points, the student must…

1. Describe this history clearly and concisely, with the aid of at least 3 sources (external to course readings)

2. Incorporate only peer reviewed journal articles from the BC library databases, or, if appropriate, primary sources

3. Define the deviant behavior

4. Concisely position the deviant behavior in American history, directing us to specific changes in policy, politics, law, medicine, religious creed, or other observable institutions

5. Articulate this history in both the 1 page paper, and the 10 minute zoom presentation

6. Cite external sources in APA format, both in-text and in a “works cited page”

Deductions:

• The paper or the presentation relies on somewhat vague or under-researched descriptions of the history of the behavior

• The paper or the presentation over-emphasizes changes in “public opinion” rather than directing us to specific changes in policy, politics, law, medicine, religious creed, or other observable institutional shifts

• The paper or presentation does not identify a clear “shift” in the behavior’s reception by the public via specific, observable changes

• The paper or the presentation makes inefficient use of space or time by covering an incomplete history of the behavior, or by including content that does not serve the purpose of the project

• The history told has incomplete elements, incorrect elements, or elements that are not supported by research

• The citations are incomplete or incorrectly incorporated

• The paper or the presentation is messy, unedited, or difficult to follow

Objective 2 (10 points): Frame your subject with a theoretical lens

Frame the history of your “deviant behavior” with a theoretical lens from the course. In your 1-page, single-spaced essay, and your 10 minute zoom presentation, identify a theoretical framework from our course that helps us understand your topic in more depth, and bring it into conversation with your topic.

To receive 10 points, the student must…

1. Summarize this theory or thinker clearly and concisely

2. Articulate how the theory or thinker illuminates their case study in one of the following ways:

   1. A theory or thinker we’ve discussed in class provides a critical explanation of what you’ve observed. In this case, you will use this theory or thinker to help explain why or how these historical shifts occurred in the way they did

   2. A theory or thinker we’ve discussed in class formulated a flawed, dangerous or harmful theory of crime, deviance, or difference, which is relevant to your topic. In this case, you will articulate how your example illuminates what is troublesome about this theory or thinker

   3. A theory or thinker we’ve discussed in class was a contemporary of your example in history. In this case, you may articulate how the theory/theorist may have shaped the development of your case, as it defined deviance or criminality and influenced relevant institutions in history

3. Make use of the aid of at least 2 sources (from the course - one must be a reading)

4. Present this information in both the 1-page paper and the 10-minute zoom presentation

Deductions:

• The paper or the presentation relies on somewhat vague descriptions of the theory or thinker

• The theory or thinker was an inappropriate choice for interpreting the case

• (If relevant) the student does not address the problematic implications of applying the thinker or theory

• The paper or the presentation over-emphasizes paraphrasing or lecture notes without directing us to specific language from the theory or thinker

• The thinker or theory is not presented in such a way that it assists a better understanding of the topic

• The paper or the presentation makes inefficient use of space or time by covering an incomplete description of the theory or thinker, or by including content that does not serve the purpose of the project

• The thinker or theory is summarized incompletely or incorrectly

• Course readings are incompletely referenced or incorrectly incorporated

• The description of the thinker or theorist is messy, unedited, or difficult to follow

Objective 3 (10 points): Offer an educated explanation

Articulate an educated explanation about why or how your “deviant behavior” transitioned from or to “deviant status.”   In your 1-page, single-spaced essay, and your 10 minute zoom presentation, offer this educated explanation.

To receive 10 points, the student must…

1. Forge an educated guess about one of the following:

   1. What was it about this particular moment in political history, that evoked a shift in the public’s reception of this behavior?

   2. What was it about this particular moment in political history that caused this shift to occur in the particular way that it did?

   3. Why did authority fall to one institution and not to another (i.e. why did the behavior come under the control of medical authorities, or religious leaders, or law enforcement?)

   4. Have different social and political contexts interpreted this behavior differently over time? How so? What do you make of these differences?

2. Present this explanation in the final paragraph of the 1 page paper, and in the closing remarks of their Zoom presentation

3. Articulate this clear, well supported, and historically-grounded explanation, based on historical research, and a strong understanding of course content

Deductions:

• The student does not attempt to offer an explanation of their case in this way

• The student offers an explanation but it is disconnected in some way from either the history of their topic, or from relevant theory/thinkers

• The students explanation presumes too much about the case, without sufficient historical or theoretical evidence.

• The student’s educated explanation is messy, unedited, or difficult to follow

Objective 4 (10 points): Deliver in an audience-aware presentation

Produce an audience-aware presentation of all three of the above elements: a history of your deviant behavior, a description of a relevant theoretical lens, and your educated explanation of the case. You will give this presentation live over zoom on our last day of class, and you will provide two forms of visual aid:

1. A presentation aid (I’d recommend a Powerpoint or Prezi) which you will screen share (or ask me to screen share) with your peers while you present your material to the class

2. A cleanly-organized and visually appealing 1-page handout, which summarizes your case, your theoretical lens, and your argument, and which may include photographs or other eye-catching information.

To receive 10 points, the student must…

1. Deliver a presentation, and both presentation aids (see above) in an articulate, exceptionally organized, and accessible fashion

2. Incorporate all three components of the assignment (history, theoretical lens, and educated explanation)

3. Assist the attention of the class with relevant, appropriate, eye-catching images, graphics, or text

4. Appropriately summarize what is being verbally presented, and assist class in quickly metabolizing the most important components of the presentation using presentation aids

5. Email both the 1-page handout and presentation aid to me prior to class time, so that they can be made accessible to the class

Deductions:

• One or both of the presentation aids is late, incomplete, unedited, or difficult to follow.

• One or both of the presentation aids includes irrelevant, inappropriate, distracting, or clumsily organized information

• The student’s verbal presentation is clumsy or difficult to follow, it appears that the student is not readily familiar with the content of their own presentation, or unable to answer questions about it