Research Paper #1 Assignment Details

Opened: Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 7:00 PM
Due: Friday, November 8, 2024, 11:59 AM

By now you have summarized, analyzed, and synthesized. Now we are moving to integrating larger amounts of research into our writing to support a claim. Eve Ewing wrote Ghosts in the Schoolyard to examine racism and school closings on the South Side of Chicago. Ewing uses her firsthand experiences and the accounts of families and community members both to discuss the historical sociopolitical happenings in Chicago as well as to examine the ways that schooling and school closures are perceived through various lenses (e.g. politicians, school board members, families, community organizers}.

 

Instructions: 

For this research paper, examine one of several topics that were referenced in Ewing’s text. Be sure to provide a comprehensive analysis and synthesize multiple sources to support your position. You should have at least 6 peer-reviewed academic sources in your paper. You are to write a well developed research paper where you answer the specific research question chosen by you. You should have a strong claim, thoughtful and critical investigation of your topic, and well chosen integration of resources and subsequent quotes. 

Your paper should follow APA guidelines (citations, references), properly formatted, and should be no less than 1,250 words.


Research Topic #1: Choice and Its Impact on Communities

Background- School choice policies, including charter schools, vouchers, and open enrollment programs, have been promoted as tools to improve educational outcomes by providing families with alternatives to traditional public schools. Proponents argue that these policies potentially lead to better academic outcomes. However, critics assert that school choice can exacerbate existing inequities.

 

Research Question #1 What are the perceived benefits and challenges of school choice policies for African American communities, particularly in terms of educational equity and access to quality education?

Research Question #2: How has school choice impacted the type of teachers (training, background, connection to communities) that serve students and families?

Research Topic #2: Neighborhood Schools and their role in Communities

Background- Neighborhood schools have long been a cornerstone of communities, serving not only as centers for education but also as hubs of social and community engagement. These schools often reflect the cultural and social fabric of the communities they serve, fostering a sense of belonging, continuity, and identity among residents

Research Question: In what ways, if any are neighborhood schools in Chicago [or another city] improving conditions for African-American students and families? How do neighborhood schools contribute to the social and cultural cohesion of the communities they serve in Chicago [or another city]?

Research Question: What challenges do neighborhood schools face in maintaining their roles within communities amidst changing educational policies and demographic shifts?

 

Research Topic #3a: The Role of Community Activism, School Closures, and the Historical Struggle for Civil Rights

Background-This research paper explores the intersection of community activism against school closures and the broader historical struggle for civil rights. The closure of public schools in predominantly African American and Latino low-income neighborhoods often echoes past struggles for educational equity and civil rights. By examining how modern-day activism against school closures is built upon historical civil rights movements, this paper aims to draw parallels and contrasts between past and present.

 

Research Question: In what ways do the experiences of community activism in “blank” city related to school closures demonstrate a continuous effort or change in the fight for civil rights in education?

Research Topic #3b: Role of Community Activism in Resisting School Closures

Background- Community activism often arises in response to policies that threaten public resources, such as neighborhood schools. In Chicago, activists, including parents, teachers, and local organizations, have mobilized to resist school closures that disproportionately affect minority and low-income communities.

Research Question: What strategies have community activists in Chicago employed to resist school closures, and how effective have these strategies been?