Reading and Writing Workshop: The Future of Social Justice in the US
Overview This workshop explores historical and contemporary perspectives on social justice through literature, memoirs, and political discourse. Each week includes guided discussions, comparative analyses, and creative writing exercises inspired by public domain texts.
Week 1: Social Justice in the Age of Technology and Globalization
Essential Questions:

• How do digital technologies impact social justice (e.g., surveillance, digital divide, misinformation)?
• How have global justice movements shaped US policies?

Public Domain Readings:

1. 1984 by George Orwell (1949) – Discusses surveillance and government control.
   [Note: Not available in Project Gutenberg US, but accessible in other countries.]
2. Democracy and Education by John Dewey (1916) – Examines the role of education in an evolving society.
   Full Text on Gutenberg
3. The Souls of Black Folk (excerpts) by W.E.B. Du Bois (1903) – Discusses systemic racial justice issues.
   Full Text on Project Gutenberg

Activities:

• Discussion: Debate the role of technology in justice – does it help or hinder?
• Comparative Analysis: Relate Orwell’s surveillance state to modern digital privacy concerns.
• Creative Writing: Write a dystopian or utopian short story about social justice in 2050.

Week 2: Rethinking Justice – Restorative vs. Retributive Approaches
Essential Questions:

• What are the differences between restorative and retributive justice?
• How could restorative justice reshape American society?

Public Domain Readings:

1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866) – A philosophical exploration of justice and guilt.
   Full Text on Project Gutenberg
2. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (1849) – Advocates for moral resistance to unjust laws.
   Full Text on Gutenberg
3. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass (1845) – Discusses justice from the perspective of an escaped slave.
   Full Text on Project Gutenberg

Activities:

• Comparative Reading: How do Dostoevsky and Douglass address justice?
• Socratic Seminar: Should restorative justice replace punitive systems?
• Creative Writing: Write a courtroom monologue arguing for a restorative justice approach.

Week 3: Building a More Just Society – Policy Solutions and Grassroots Actions
Essential Questions:

• What policies and grassroots movements have historically advanced social justice?
• What structural changes are needed to build a more equitable society?

Public Domain Readings:

1. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1848) – A foundational text on economic justice.
   Full Text on Project Gutenberg
2. Women and Economics by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1898) – Discusses gender and economic justice.
   Full Text on Project Gutenberg
3. Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington (1901) – Memoir on education and economic empowerment.
   Full Text on Project Gutenberg

Activities:

• Policy Analysis: Compare Marx’s views on economic justice to modern policies like Universal Basic Income.
• Grassroots Case Study: Research and present on a successful grassroots movement.
• Creative Writing: Write a legislative proposal for a social justice issue of choice.

Final Assessment Options:

1. Argumentative Essay: Choose and respond to one of the unit’s essential questions.
2. Multimedia Presentation: Envision and present the future of social justice in the US.
3. Fictionalized Account: Write a first-person narrative of a historical or future activist’s experience.

This workshop integrates classic public domain texts with contemporary issues to encourage deep thinking about the future of justice in the US. Through discussion, analysis, and creative expression, participants will develop a nuanced understanding of historical and modern social justice movements.