Essay 3: Policy Paper – New Jim Crow, Mass Incarceration, War on Drugs(100 points)
Essay prompt:
what principles should guide US policy with regard to how we treat criminality and criminals, and how to decrease
the racial bias that appears to exist despite colorblindness of current laws?
You must cite both The Warmth of Other Suns (Stirrings of Discontent) and the New Jim Crow
Use outline to guide your writing.
Organization: This paper should include three main elements: 1) Historical background/context; 2) Analysis and
explanation of current situation; 3) Policy recommendation that addresses current and historical aspects of
problem.
Evidence from Sources
Historical Content and Context
40
Organization
Cite specific evidence, ideas and
concepts from both Warmth of
Other Suns and New Jim Crow.
Clear, in depth response to all
parts of the prompt. Answers
each question in outline.
Author’s intention is accurately
described.
Clearly, accurately and
thoroughly presents and
analyzes information.
Ideas are organized
and presented in a
logical way and
organized around a
thesis or question.
35
Facts from texts are analyzed
and directly connected to a
claim or argument .
Both sources are cited, both intext and in a works cited.
(Last, First M. Title of book, edition.
City of Publication: Publisher, Year
Published. Print)
Minimum of Five in-text
citations. From both authors.
Policy recommendation is
directly and logically connected
to information presented.
Demonstrates a high level of
knowledge, a deep
understanding of material from
class and understanding of
content and historical context.
Minimum 3 pages, MLA format
(see MLA Style Guide on
website)
(Last name page #)
B (28-31)
C (25-27)
D (23-25)
(32-35)
(28-31)
(26-28)
Conventions
10
Each paragraph is
organized around
one central claim.
Essay provides
context, clear claims
& supporting
evidence.
15
Grammar, mechanics,
orthographic
conventions, in-text
citations, spelling, word
choice and punctuation
are used well with few
or no mistakes.
MLA format
Smooth, logical
transitions are made
between topics.
Follows basic
structure provided in
outline.
(8)
(7)
(6)
(12-13) (5-7 mistakes)
(11) (8-10 mistakes)
(10) (11 mistakes)
Stirrings of Discontent
/20
New Jim Crow 1
/20
New Jim Crow 2
/20
New Jim Crow notes from
peers & in class response
/20
In-class response to
Warmth of Other Suns
/10
Outline
/10
Total
/110
Portfolio Contents
Response to Stirrings of Discontent
Response to New Jim Crow (various sections)
Response to New Jim Crow (pages 126-139)
Outline




In Class
 In-class response to Warmth of Other Suns
 Notes from peers on New Jim Crow and in-class response
Total
/100
Essay 3 Outline: New Jim Crow Policy Paper
Introduction: This essay will be aimed at making a policy statement about what principles should guide US policy
with regard to how we treat criminality and criminals, and how to decrease the racial bias that appears to exist
despite colorblindness of current laws.
Organization: This paper should include three main elements: 1) Historical background/context; 2) Analysis and
explanation of current situation; 3) Policy recommendation that addresses current and historical aspects of
problem.
1). Historical Background: What was Jim Crow? How was Jim Crow used as a form of social control? Use
specific examples from The Warmth of Other Suns (Stirrings of Discontent) by Isabel Wilkerson.
2). Analysis and Explanation of Current Situation: What changes in laws and Supreme Court cases help
explain the emergence of Mass Incarceration? What policies and decisions help to explain why African
Americans have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs? Cite specific examples from The
New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.
3). Policy Recommendation:
a) Based on your analysis, what principles should guide US policy with regard to how we treat
criminality and criminals? If mass incarceration is a problem, how can it be solved?
b) Based on your analysis, what changes in law or policy would be most effective in addressing
historical causes and reducing current racial bias in the criminal justice system?