Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun by Geoffrey Canada
Introduction….
* First, provide a brief overview of Canada’s book. In your overview, discuss at least three (3) themes, or main ideas, that you believe are important to the author’s overall message here with his book.
Seeds of Violence…
* Describe the incident with the jacket when the author says he “first became aware of violence.” What does it tell us and why do you think he includes it in the beginning of his story?
Crime, Law & Order….
* In Chapter Eleven, Canada discusses the Rockefeller Laws on drugs. These laws were passed during the term of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller in New York during the early 1970s. Describe very briefly the laws and the effects they had on the drug traffic and drug dealers of New York. How might you explain these effects with a criminological theory? (i.e., subcultural theories of crime; strain theory; etc.).
Eliminating Violence…
* Explain at least two of the actions Canada says government must take to eliminate some of the violence in our streets. Why do you think he believes in them? Do you?
* Answer this question from a sociological perspective of crime (i.e., learning theory, subcultural theory, etc.): To what extent is urban street violence (micro) a reflection of national violence (macro), for instance wars (currently and in history), sensational news reporting, the violence of video games and the culture of rap?
Conclusion: Thoughts on the book…
* Do you think it necessary for anyone wanting to work with at-risk youth have some personal experience with violence themselves? Why or why not? In what ways can a youth worker overcome their ignorance of how violence works, and are there some things they simply cannot understand without having experienced such violence themselves?
FORMAT
* Length: approx. 5-6 pages in length
* Font, Margins, Spacing: Times New Roman, Ariel, (something professional!) font, 10-12 pt., 1 inch margins; 1.5 or double-spaced
* Reminders: The reflection should be written as an ESSAY (do not number the responses to the questions). I recommend using headings and sub-headings to identify issues you plan to address in the paper. [You may use the sample headings provided above on page 1.]
** Be sure to cite to your sources appropriately; APA format preferred; In-text citation for paraphrasing: (Canada, 1995); in-text citation for quoting directly from the book: (Canada, 1995, p. 104 (or Loc. #, if using a Kindle/e-book version).
** ATTACH REFERENCE PAGE AT THE END OF YOUR PAPER, which should include ALL sources used in the paper. REMEMBER TO CITE, CITE, CITE! **
