Background Information:
Recent high-profile school violence incidents have raised concern about protecting schools. Some states have implemented School Resource Officers (SROs), who are full-time sworn law enforcement officers, to increase security. Currently, 45% of all public schools have SROs. Concerns about the excessive use of force have raised concerns over the necessity and impact of SROs. In November 2019, for example, an SRO in Pompano Beach, FL was charged with child abuse after a video surfaced of him slamming a 15-year-old student to the ground. A few years earlier, a federal judge ruled that SROs in Birmingham, AL had used unconstitutional levels of force when they pepper sprayed students for minor disciplinary infractions, including crying in the hallway. Although the vast majority of school days pass without incident, when an SRO does use force as an instrument of discipline, questions arise about the necessity of a police presence on campuses, particularly if the force is caught on camera.
Process:
The purpose of this assignment is to enhance your critical thinking skills through a mini-essay.
What is critical thinking? It is the ability to think rationally and clearly, understanding the logical connection between concepts and ideas. It requires you to be an active learner rather than just a passive recipient of knowledge and information. Critical thinking is a way of thinking about specific things at a specific time. It is not just the accumulation and recollection of facts that you can use in the same format down the line as you would with a grammar or multiplication table learned in elementary school. Critical thinking is an adaptive skillset that helps enable a way of thinking about whatever the issue/argument is to arrive at the best possible conclusion/solution.
You must write at least a mini-essay of 500-1,000 words showing your critical analysis of the problem or issue presented. The 500-word amount is the minimum. The 500-100 breakdown is as follows:
Structure Your Essay
Create a title page with your essay title, your name, the course name, the professor’s name, and the date.
Write an abstract (not included in the word count) that summarizes your essay in 150-250 words.
Provide an engaging hook to capture the reader’s attention.
Present your thesis statement, which should clearly state your position on the chosen topic.
Outline the main points you will discuss in your essay.
Introduction (Approximately 100-150 words):
Opening Statement (20-30 words): Start with a concise and engaging introduction to the problem or issue.
Background Information (40-60 words): Provide context or background information about the problem or issue’s relevance.
Thesis Statement (30-40 words): Present your main argument or thesis.
Body (Approximately 350-600 words, divided into multiple paragraphs):
First Main Point (80-120 words): Start with your most compelling argument or analysis.
Second Main Point (80-120 words): Introduce your second key argument.
Third Main Point (80-120 words): If needed, present a third major point.
Counterarguments (40-60 words): Briefly acknowledge opposing viewpoints.
Personal Analysis and Insight (50-80 words): Share your insight.
Conclusion (Approximately 50-100 words):
Summary of Main Points (20-30 words): Recap the key arguments or analyses.
Restate Thesis (20-30 words): Reiterate your thesis statement.
Closing Remarks (10-20 words): End with a concluding thought or call to action.
Exceeding the Word Limit:
You can allow for flexibility in the word limit. If your analysis extends beyond the specified range, that’s okay. Just make sure that the additional content adds value to your argument and does not result in unnecessary repetition. However, it’s essential to maintain clarity and conciseness throughout your essay, even if it exceeds the initial word limit.
Total Word Count:
This structure allows for flexibility, so the essay can go over the word limit while ensuring that the core content falls within the 500-1,000-word range.
The questions you need to answer by applying the knowledge from the text, scientific journals, studies, or statistics:
What are the benefits and drawbacks of having SROs involved in disciplining noncriminal behavior by students?
Should we maintain the use of SROs or abolish the practice of having SROs in schools?
Rubric
