Chapter 10 Projects

Project Assignment

Purpose

In this chapter, we studied global inequality and different types of poverty, including relative poverty and extreme poverty. The purpose of this project is to explore each type of poverty to gain a better understanding of its characteristics and effects on people.

Directions

Part 1

Divide into groups of three or four. Each group will be assigned a type of poverty to study.

For twenty minutes, research your group's assigned type of poverty and the lived experiences this type of poverty produces. The group should collectively choose one location in which the type of poverty exists. Research your location and the demographics of the people living in this region, and then present your findings to the class. You must address each of the following questions during your presentation:

  • What is your assigned type of poverty, and what location did your group choose?

  • Why did you choose this location?

  • How much income (on average) do people in this location earn?

  • What percentage of the population lives in this type of poverty?

  • How might gender affect people's experiences with poverty?

  • What is a typical day like for a person who lives in this type of poverty in this location?

  • How might a person's life choices be affected based on their experiences with your assigned type of poverty?

  • What types of aid are available for people in this location? How can they be empowered?

  • Is this type of poverty being alleviated or helped? Are people given the tools to improve their own lives? How or how not?

  • What ideas does your group have to alleviate this type of poverty in this location? Remember to make the people experiencing poverty the focus center of your presentation.

Part 2

After each group presents, discuss the presentations. Consider what you learned about each type of poverty and the lived experiences poverty produces that you didn't know before. For each type of poverty, what are the most negative aspects? Which aspects do you think could be overcome? Centering people who experience these types of poverty, can you think of any ideas for new policies or strategies that could alleviate the different types of poverty?

Materials

Access to sources on poverty, presentation software

Checklist

Part 1

  • Include assigned type of poverty and location chosen

  • Include why your group chose this location

  • Include how much income is earned per person on average

  • Include percentage of population that lives in this type of poverty

  • Include a discussion of gender and poverty

  • Describe a typical day in the life of a person in this type of poverty

  • Discuss life choices affected by poverty

  • Identify types of aid available, as well as individual/community empowerment

  • Determine if poverty is being alleviated or helped and how or if people/communities are involved in aid

  • Share ideas for how poverty can be alleviated, with people as the focus

Part 2

  • What did you learn?

  • For each type of poverty, which aspects are most negative? Why?

  • For each type of poverty, which aspects can be overcome? Why?

  • How can the different types of poverty be alleviated? How can individuals/communities be empowered?

Writing Assignment

Purpose

In this chapter, we studied different types of socioeconomic groups around the world. The purpose of this writing assignment is to gain further understanding of two groups of people that exist in the lower economic segment of two different societies.

Directions

For this writing assignment, you will study the differences between people living in America's lower class and those living in India's lowest class (known as the Dalits, or Untouchables). You will write a three- to four-page paper comparing and contrasting the two societies and the lived experiences of each. You will conclude by discussing how the historical and socioeconomic factors of each location differently affect the people living in these two societies.

During your research, make sure to examine the following items:

  • Income

  • Status

  • Discrimination (e.g., class, ethnicity/race, gender, sexuality, ability)

  • Possible movement between classes (social mobility)

  • Disadvantages and/or advantages

Your final paper should be free of any errors in spelling, punctuation, and capitalization and should use APA style.

Materials

Access to sources on these two groups, word processing software

Checklist

  • Income

  • Status

  • Discrimination (e.g., class, ethnicity/race, gender, sexuality, ability)

  • Possible movement between classes (social mobility)

  • Disadvantages and/or advantages