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During the semester, we
have investigated many areas of criminality through film and text. Through this
course’s materials, we have entered into the dark world of criminality. Gangs,
organized crime, trafficking, drug networks, and all types of illicit systems
and structures appeared to have intertwined, making it almost impossible for
people of whatever country to hide from the giant shadow of criminal
obsessions.
Liliana’s Invincible
Summer written by Cristina Rivera Garza was our final book.
This book was about the murder of the author’s sister, Liliana. CRG often
stated in interviews, podcasts, or conferences that she did not wish her sister
to become a nameless statistic and forgotten victim of violent crime. She
wanted her personhood and life to be remembered, not only the conditions of her
death and the killer who had caused it. Yet, she also wanted the term,
“femicide”, to be more widely known and understood, as a criminal obsession, a
hate crime committed against females because of their gender.
Directions:
In
a 5-page creative essay, pretend you are a doctor, detective, friend, or
psychologist and have been called in by Cristina, to advise her on her sister’s
death. Using your investigative, personal. and/ or professional skills, center
on the character of Cristina’s sister, Liliana, as exhibited by the letters,
books, and other memorabilia left in her apartment. Even though you may not be
able to exactly know why she was murdered and by whom, you are offering a
commentary on this criminal act, the area of femicide, and helping to solve a
murder.
If
you are a friend from childhood, you may be capable of filling in some of the
blanks. If you knew her at the university or were her neighbor, perhaps you saw
her talking with someone. If you are in law enforcement, maybe you find an
important document or file and are able to track down witnesses who may know
something. If you are a sociologist, you may be commenting on nefarious social
events, on a national/global level which probably have permitted the growth of
femicide. As a psychologist, you may be documenting your observations of her
particular case and offering some sort of help to the family as they undergo
different stages of grief and mourning. Whichever moments from the past, you shared
with the author’s sister or her case, might shed light on her killing and help
to lessen the family’s grief. You do not have to assume all roles. It would be
best to choose only one or two. The time period you choose to appear in is up
to you. Since the book took many years to write, direct information, such as
files, may be missing concerning points of possible investigation. What does
this resulting absence tell?
Hearing
the author while she speaks about her sister and this book in podcasts, and you
tube videos, shows that trauma is also associated with the book and the author.
Kai Erickson, sociologist, has written that “trauma is a wound to the psyche
that breaks through the subject’s defense so suddenly and brutally that the
subject cannot react.” Therefore, Cristina’s text can also be seen through this
lens of hurtful and haunted situations/memories.  These elements have definitely been reflected
in CRG’s novel, especially regarding society’s norms, law enforcement, and
traumatic scenes of violence and power. 

Essay Two: Independent Research –    Helping Ourselves to a Better Self-Image
(based on Chapters 5 and 6 of The Honest Truth About Dishonesty
What is the Purpose of this assignment?
The purpose of this assignment is to apply the theme of “Helping Ourselves to a Better Self Image,” based on chapters 5 and 6 of The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, to an independent research project that taps into social media posting as a research basis–whether you are using Instagram posts, TikTok videos, Vlogs or trending Reddit threads. Acceptable samples of social media will be by individuals who highlight themselves—as individuals—in their post(s), and whom you can LINK to, so that their social “statements” can also be viewed by the reader of your essay as well. The individual(s) you choose as your “sample” must demonstrate a particular brand of “self-presentation,” as shown in selected visual post(s) that you will use as your primary evidence. Our prior Discussion Board posts and Journals should have prepared for you for this assignment, as they mostly all asked for very specific examples of your reaching out to social media.  Remember the theme, “Helping Ourselves to a Better Self Image!”
What Position ABOUT “Helping Ourselves to a Better Self-Image” Will I Take? 
By now, it is clear to you that Ariely is an observer of our sometimes inconsistent, sometimes even comical, practices of “helping ourselves” toward honesty (or dishonesty) about ourselves. So collectively, all in all, Ariely presents varying views of whether our tendency toward both honesty and/ or dishonesty is “good” or “bad.” Really, our tendencies toward dishonesty, in Ariely’s view, just “is” what it is; I don’t think Ariely is judging us.  But just because Ariely “doesn’t judge,” that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take a position. 
For this essay, you should take a definite position and that position should carry through your entire paper. The two possible theses for this paper to work are given to you below. 
CHOOSE ONE: 
My Position Choice: 
CHOOSE EITHER Thesis One OR Thesis Two for your paper.
Thesis One:
Self-puffery, like the blue crab (see chapter 6), impacts our social relations today, usually negatively, in which individuals create exaggerated or unhealthy means toward “helping ourselves toward a better self-image.” This kind of self-puffery is evident in the type of posting which I am calling ___, as exemplified by ____ , as it infuses an individual’s self-presentation and perpetuates harmful messages about ___ through their popularity. 
OR
Thesis Two:
Self-puffery, like the blue crab (see chapter 6) , fulfills the essential function of “fake it ‘til you make it” –a practice that constructively promotes self-signalling for positive effect. This kind of self-puffery is evident in the type of posting which I am calling ___, as exemplified by ____ , as it infuses an individual’s self-presentation and builds confidence and helpful messaging about ____ through their popularity. 
Sources You Will Use.
An individual who exemplifies the type of posting you want to draw attention to
A comparison individual who exemplifies the same type of posting (comparison as a way to show off your additional insight) or a CONTRAST individual who exemplifies a kind of opposing, or opposite, type of posting (still relevant, but opposite).
One other research source that could be either based in psychology, communications, behavioral economics, or marketing. While you do not need to report in-depth on your research, it should be written about in such a way as follows the format of Assistive Handout # ___ in the Course Menu.
How Should This Essay Go?  Let’s Keep Working in “Steps”
Basically the essay goes like this:
Step 1:
An introduction that opens the essay to the topic of “helping ourselves to a better self-image,” also including some reference to Ariely from the opening pages of either “Calling All Chloes” (chapter five) or the story of the blue crab (chapter six); some concept or keyword terms related to “self-presentation” from Discussion Board Post 5 (Who Do We Think We Are); your thesis statement choice (either Thesis One or Thesis Two). 
Step 2:
A paragraph that deals with the “type of posting” you are identifying. (If you did a good job on Discussion Board Post 6, step 1, this shouldn’t be hard—it’s the same thing.) This paragraph should also include your description that critically characterizes this type of posting for a better self-image. (Again, this is being taken from Discussion Board Post 6, step 2—it’s the same thing.) 
Step 3:
A restatement of your thesis at the beginning of paragraph three; what Ariely might say about this type of posting and how you know he would say this. (Refer to some writing and details from either Chapter Five or Chapter Six to back up your idea of what Ariely would say about this type of posting.)  A sentence or two that leads into an individual—a specific person who posts—doing this type of posting; general statements about this individual’s posting style that connects to the beginning of this paragraph three.
Step 4:
A full-in, ALL-IN, description of ONE post by this individual as an example. You know what to do! Follow Assistive Handout #6 in Course Menu for how to read and describe a post with visual elements. Make sure you offer the details you choose to include as proof and support of your thesis.
Step 5:
A comparison post of some kind—either by another individual doing the same kind of thing like your first individual, or someone who offers a kind of contrast (maybe showing an “opposite” demonstration of self-presentation).
Step 6:
A personal perspective: Who are you in terms of your style of self-presentation? How do you compare to or contrast the individuals you’ve studied? What from your own life or experience connects you—in terms of interest or background—to the individuals you have highlighted? 
As part of this reflection (either within your Step 6 paragraph or in a separate paragraph), add some supplemental research—one source—that backs up the personally-relevant point you are bringing forward in this step of your essay.  Make sure the way you write about this source coordinates in style with Assistive Handout 3 on incorporating research, which you will find in the Course Menu.
Step 7:
Back to Ariely—Bring him back in; Recap and re-mention (a sentence or two) the supplemental research you included in step 6; find a way to conclude (offer your resolve to self-present in this way or not to self-present in this way). Your conclusion, and DONE! 
Step 8: 
Make sure you have a Works Cited list that includes the two posts you used, Ariely’s text, and your supplemental source as well.  Required Length:  4-5 pages (not more).