Factors Causing High Crime Rates

Solving a Problem in Your Community Assignment
Assignment Background and Deliverables
Our everyday lives are filled with problems to be solved. On our commutes to work and college, there is often too much traffic, and public transportation may be unreliable or expensive. At work, we may struggle to attract new customers, improve a flawed product or service we offer, or to contain costs. In our neighborhoods, we may notice that public spaces like parks are neglected and needed services are lacking. In our families, we may find that our children are struggling at school or relatives are suffering from diseases that ought to be preventable.
When we're faced with a problem, we have two choices: we can complain about it, or we can try to do something about it. In order to solve a problem, it's important to have a clear, detailed, and well researched plan to persuade those in leadership roles to take action. Creating that written action plan is the purpose of this writing assignment. This assignment, which begins in Week 3, includes multiple steps, culminating in a completed problem-solution essay in Week 7, followed by a narrated presentation in Week 8.
Choosing a Topic
For this essay, it is important to choose a topic that is personally meaningful to you, something specific to your community. The term community, however, has different meanings for each of us. For a city-dweller, it could mean the whole city, or one part of it, such as San Francisco or Chicago's south side. For those living in more suburban or rural areas, it might refer to a larger region, such as southern Utah or the Finger Lakes of New York. It's even possible that the community that is most meaningful to you is not strictly a physical place but is instead a community of individuals around the country or even the globe who share a common set of interests or a shared profession, such as software developers, Uber drivers, or military veterans.
Keeping with that broader definition of community, some possible topics are as follows.
Improving some aspect of education in your community, either at the K–12 level or in colleges
Addressing a local environmental problem, such as water pollution, hurricane preparedness, or forest fire mitigation
Improving the relationship between law enforcement officials and local residents
Dealing with problems of substance abuse and addiction
Reducing crime and improving safety in your area
Confronting an issue affecting workers in your profession, such as low wages or lack of job security
Attracting and supporting new businesses in your community
Providing affordable housing in your city or region to reduce homelessness
Promoting good corporate citizenship in your city or region
You've probably noticed that each topic focuses on issues at the community level and avoids overly broad topics that are hard to grapple with (e.g., climate change, racism, or war) in the approximately 1,500-word essay you will be writing. That is intentional. We all interact with diverse communities at home, work, school, or cultural institutions, and each has important issues needing attention. Of course, there are many other possible topics than those listed in the previous section. If you have an idea for an essay topic that is not on the bulleted list, please check with your instructor to make sure it is appropriate. In addition, watch for feedback from your instructor and fellow students as you share your essay topic in the Week 3 Discussion, and refine it as needed.
Basic Essay Requirements
Length: Your paper should be at least 1,500 words.
Sources: At least five high-quality sources must be cited in text in your essay. At least one of those sources must be one year old or less.
Format: This essay will be written in APA style.