PROJECT 4-Synthesis
"Synthesis means to combine a number of different pieces into a whole. Synthesis is about concisely summarizing and linking different sources in order to review the literature on a topic, make recommendations, and connect your practice to the research."
https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/nursing/students/What_is_synthesis.pdf
https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/nursing/students/What_is_synthesis.pdf
My inspiration for this project came from a documentary that I watched on YouTube. During my lunch period I stayed in Apollo and wanted to just relax and decompress. I decided to eat a snack and watch YouTube. In doing so, I found my topic! This was one of the first projects where I didn’t know what I already wanted to create or do, so it was really fun to be able to work and look for something that I would not have thought of organically. The reason why I was so drawn to solitary confinement is because deep down I really just wanted to help. I wanted to help the young inmates who aren't convicted of violent crimes turn their life around. I know that I can’t actually go to Rikers Island and turn things out, but by meaning learning and sharing what I learned can help to solve the problem of solitary confinement. One thing that I was really happy about was that there are already programs in place and work being done to help hundreds of inmates in America, so I was very happy to learn that and to continue to learn about the good progress that is being made in this country!
English
English was the core part of this project. I not only wanted to study solitary confinement and what it is, but I wanted to create a program for young inmates who are convicted of nonviolent crimes. The goal is to have an alternative program for them that will help with their development and that can help with recidivism. In jails with solitary confinement, so many of them do not have laws that ban young inmates from having to go to solitary. This is hard on the younger inmates because their brains have yet to still fully develop. There have been studies that solitary can have serious, irreversible damage to an inmate's brain, and to their mental health. This is even more dangerous with inmates whose brains are underdeveloped. My program was written to provide an alternative to solitary confinement being a punishment, or an option really, for these inmates who are at risk. My program is built off of 5 key principles to help reduce recidivism: education, career/future training, wellness, counseling, and community. To present my information I made a keynote presentation and I went in depth to explain why these 5 principles are the 5 principles and how they can be worked into a program for jail facilities. I also wrote down lists of activities for each part of the program. The activities and ideas all are a combination of my own and of other activities and ideas from other research facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and other jails. Combining all of these ideas together was how I incorporated synthesis into this part of the project. Lastly, I concluded each explanation of the programs with how the activities can work in any jail and how they specifically help the inmates. This program is more than just avoiding solitary. I wanted to create a program that actually builds and teaches the young inmates so that when they are released they can go out better so that they won’t be incarcerated again. However, this program won’t be perfect for everyone. I cannot promise that my ideas will keep every inmate from returning, but the goal is to help be a part of the solution and to find small wins that will lead to change. As mentioned before this was the core part of my project so the other subjects build and relate to the program that I developed.
ART
As with all projects, I like to tie two subjects together. I choose to tie Art and English together. I thought it would be a great idea to actually create or participate in some of the activities that I suggested in the plan for my program. There were a plethora of ideas and activities that the inmates could participate in, but I chose to only pick out a few to focus on for art. I wanted to be able to have physical examples of what some of the inmates would be doing with their time. At first, I wanted to create a drawing, a painting, cook a recipe, and create a piece of pottery, but it was a little too late to do pottery when I started my art component, so I stuck with the other 3 activities. In addition to having physical examples of what they could be doing I wanted to give an example to how they should be taught the activities. The reality is that there will be several inmates who wouldn't know how to draw, paint or cook. I choose artworks and patterns that are easily teachable but still fun and challenging so that all the inmates could participate and not feel left out. My painting started with just a doodle and then I colored everything in with POSCA paint pens and markers. The drawing that I did followed a similar process. I started with a design then I just traded over everything with black markers. Both the designs were fairly simple since they consisted of lines and shapes. Lastly, I also did some cooking and baking. I made several items but what was most important to the project was explaining how cooking and baking have helped my mental health during this time. After I finished making everything I wrote down how cooking and baking helped me and how it can help the young inmates in these prison systems. Obviously my situation is much different than that of an inmate but I tried to see how I can make the activities that I choose applicable so that no matter the situation, any inmate can reap the benefits.
Social Studies
Lastly, for Social Studies I focused on the government's outlook on solitary confinement. When researching this topic I was encouraged by Mr.Wimmer to look into the history of solitary to gain a better understanding of how it has made its way into modern-day America. When researching I learned that solitary was started by one of the founding fathers with the belief that if a criminal were to spend such an expensive amount of time alone in a cell they would then feel guilty and bad for the things that they have done. Because this belief was so popular, it has made its way into the prison system today. Even though there has been studies and research done that proves that solitary confinement can dramatically impact an inmate's mental health negatively, people still believe in solitary confinement because it is a measure of punishment and it is a way to control harmful and violent inmates. While there is a need for control for dangerous inmates, many prison systems are dissolving solitary confinement because they view it to be a form of cruel punishment. I also researched this idea as well. In the 8th amendment there is a ban of cruel and unusual punishment in America,, but the terms are very vague. MAny people view solitary as cruel and some don't. I was encouraged to use this opportunity to rewrite the 8th amendment for my project. I decided that there needs to be two additional rules added to that amendment in the Constitution. I concluded that, “All crimes shall be looked at and trialed individually. However, sentencing must be equal and fair for the same charge. Firm investigation must be held to ensure that the defendant is truly guilty of any charge and of conviction. Sentences will be determined by the severity of the conviction.” Along with that addition, I wrote a pretty extensive write up on why I believe those additions needed to be added and the ideas and examples that I synthesized together. For example, I wrote, “Lastly, combining fair and equal trials with the same sentencing for the same charge will lead to the last addition, “Sentence will be determined by the severity of the conviction.” If the defendant is found guilty of several charges, they will face the sentence of all the charges. Likewise, if they are not found guilty, they will not have to serve that sentence. However, it would be very easy for a judge to wrongly convict someone or to over-charge them, but that is why a statement specifying the fair and equal investigations is a right granted for all Americans if so important in the Constitution. Justice for all means exactly that. America needs to avoid being like other countries that leave their justice system too open where criminals are not serving enough time for their crimes.” The examples that I used from other countries ,put together with some of the issues that I see here in America, really encouraged me to do this and to study this project. I overall was really happy with this project and the many things that I learned from it.