UCSD Sociology They Call Us Monsters Essay

• copy and paste the title of the documentary
• describe a scene in the documentary which connects to a concept or theory of your choice.
• list a concept or theory that we have covered in this course
• copy and paste the definition of the theory or concept
• copy and paste the chapter number of the theory or concept that you selected
• describe a connection that you have made between the scene and the concept/theory through a story about something specific that you have seen or experienced in real life.

They Call Us Monsters

Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all between 14 and 16, face decades in prison. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including Juan’s unrequited love for his childhood friend, Abigail. Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served. Back home, he struggles to avoid the same patterns that first got him locked up. Meanwhile, the realities of Jarad and Juan’s crimes set in. One of Jarad’s victims is only 17 herself and will be confined to a wheelchair for life. Juan faces deportation once eventually released, separating him from his family, including his baby son. While the gravity of their crimes haunts every frame, these young men are still simply teenagers. Do they deserve a second chance? The question is a societal conundrum beyond legislation and data. To their advocates, they’re kids. To their critics, they’re monsters

Answer Question one by one.

1.Describe a scene within the documentary that connects to a concept or theory that has been covered in this course:

2.With which Concept or Theory, Act or Law (covered in this course) does this scene connect? (i.e. Age of Responsibility, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, Antibullying programs, anomalies etc.)

3.In which chapter number was the theory or concept, that you listed in answer to the previous question, covered?

4.What is the definition of the concept or theory (that you selected)? (copy and paste from textbook or PowerPoint)

5.Using 2 paragraphs: What is the connection between the concept or theory that you have selected above, the concept/theory and something SPECIFIC that you have seen or experienced in real life? (This could be something that has happened to you or someone you know, a movie, tv show, social media post, tik tok trend, etc.)

1st paragraph will describe your real life experience

2nd Paragraph will show how this experience connects to the concept/theory you’ve selected