The Baraka School Research Papers

This involves analysis of a project called "The Baraka School." From 1996 to 2003, the Baltimore City Public School System teamed up with a local philanthropic foundation to establish and run a school in Kenya for select seventh-and eighth-grade boys. This school targeted students in the Baltimore area who were considered to be at high risk for adverse outcomes-such as school drop-out or incarceration.

3 sources that describe the Baraka School:

1. provides excerpts from a formal evaluation study of the school
2. presents a feature article about the school in Times Magazine
3. provides excerpts from an article about the school in a local Baltimore
   paper.

Selected Readings for The Baraka School Research Paper:

• 2 Articles on Symbolic Interaction –
• 1 Article on Theories of Rational Choice
• 1 Article on Social Exchange
• 1 Article on Social Capital
• 2 Articles on Structural-Functionalism
• 1 Article on Conflict Theory
• 1 Article on Radical-Critical Theories

Using the sources provided, identify the implicit use of sociological theories within the School’s mission and methods to enhance at-risk students’ likelihood of high school graduation. More specifically, address the following questions with respect to each of the following bodies of theory:

1. Symbolic Interactionism
2. Social Exchange and/or Rational Choice theories
3. Social Capital
4. Structural-Functionalism

Questions to be answered in The Baraka School Research Paper:

1. What are the primary skills, assets, or resources that the program tried to help students develop that might have increased their likelihood of graduating from high school? According to the theory, why are these resources important?
2. What methods did the program use to help students develop these resources? How does the theory further understanding of how these methods should work? (Discuss specific program elements by pulling in information from three sources for this prompt)
3. Throughout this discussion, make sure to note at least two ways in which the theories are similar and two ways in which the theories differ in their approach to various program elements (for a total of four thoughts of compare and contrast)
4. Next, identify and discuss two ways in which a radical-critical/conflict perspective would critique the aims or methods of this program. Within this critical discussion, devote particular attention to the extent to which the program aimed to systematically bridge micro and macro levels of social influences on students’ lives.
5. Conclude with a paragraph regarding how insights from a critical/conflict perspective could be combined with a main idea from one or two of the four other theories to have helped the school more powerfully achieve this aim.

*Only use articles and sources provided*

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A research paper is an in-depth examination of The Baraka School. More than just an overview of what was learned on The Baraka School, like a term paper is, a research paper contains analysis of The Baraka School along the lines of organizational theory and relevant published material. Research papers are highly analytical and can often be more than 8 to 10 pages. The key to a good research project is the examination of recently published journal articles and peer-reviewed material on the The Baraka School chosen. Like the name implies, research papers are exactly that, a paper that examines the information that can be found on The Baraka School.