Blog 24: Last Presentation Reflection

1) This entire year I researched so many different parts of the American justice system. It's was a lot of information that I didn't think was going to stick with me. I was always worried that at the time of my presentation I'd completely blank out and not know what to say, even with my slides there. I think I'm most proud of the fact that I actually know my topic and that I was able to present without having to feel like I didn't know what I was talking about.

2) If I am being honest I think I deserve an AP. I went up there and presented about the American Justice system. I know my topic and I was able to present a variety of real life scenarios and sources. I believe that I kept it professional, and I was good at speaking in front of everyone. I included the audience as much as possible and in my opinion explained my answers to them pretty good. But what I was worried about was my timing, Once the presentation started I got nervous and started to speed through my slides and I couldn't slow myself down.

This year has been so stressful, and I admit I slacked off a bit. But at the end of the year, I am able to recognize that I did grow through out this year. At the beginning of the year I knew just a little bit about the American Justice system and now it's a complete different story. I up myself out there and met a lot of people that could possibly be future mentors, if I decide to follow a career in the American justice system. In my opinion I think I deserve a P.

3) I think connecting with the audience really worked for me, I was nervous but I was able to include with the audience. I had them participating and they all seemed interested while I was presenting.

4) If I had a time machine, J would go back to my presentation and slap myself because I was going so quickly through my slides and my activity. I would give myself more time to debrief everything a bit more.

5) I think I put my self out there enough to say that I now have connections if I ever choose to be an attorney. though my Mentorship I was able to meet a lot of people who offered to help me if I ever needed anything. Like I went to a mixer that the American Bar association was hosting with my mentor. While I was there I met five judges, and a few other attorneys who were happy to talk to me.

Exit Interview

1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why?

What is most important to understand about the modern American justice system?

1) The American justice system doesn't stay the same, yes it has it's strong foundations,but it  is constantly evolving with society.

2) The idea of "presumed innocent until proven guilty"  is not as simple as it seems.

3) The American justice system is complex and branches out into different divisions. 

In my opinion my best answer is #3, My wording isn't very good. But what I mean is that it goes into both a criminal and civil side of the American justice system.  Even then one can easily say just saying criminal justice system is so vague because there is so much to go into.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

I changed my EQ twice, so looking at all of my research it kind of just clicked. I was thinking this the entire time and being able to use it as an answer is cool. 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

I changed my EQ twice, IO think feeling comfortable with what I wanted to talk about was my biggest issue. There was so much to choose from but I never knew exactly what I wanted from this project.I think I was able to resolve my problem by asking for help. Being able to communicate and ask for the help I needed was the key.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

Well my mentor was definitely my biggest and best source. I can definitely research and read articles or see videos and movies, but I think talking about my topic with my mentor was the best source for me. She didn't just give me information and expect me to learn it. She always explains and then allows  me to ask any questions.

Watching videos on you tube was also pretty helpful, listening to the discussions about cases or public opinion on a law.

Blog 19: Third Answer

1) What is most important about the modern American Justice System?

2) "Innocent until proven guilty" s a vital rule that the American Justice system is based off, and continues to follow.

3) 

• These sources talk about the evolution of the criminal aspect of the American Justice system. Before in the middle ages those accused of a crime were automatically considered guilty. Now there is a big process that the system has created.
• The five components of the American Justice System
• Law enforcement
• Prosecution
• Defense
• Courts
• Corrections
• Now there is a big process that the system has created.
• Preliminary trials
• Cross examinations
• Trials
• Jury

4) Source 9,13, 14,and 16.

The modern American Justice system is well known for the concept of innocent until proven guilty, and it solely stands on this when it comes to convicting people of their accused crimes.

Blog 18: Answer Two

1.  What is your EQ?
What is most important to understand about the modern American Justice system?

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
Social movement is an important factor to think about when it comes to the American Justice system. People decide to act, and start a movement that will change the injustice going on around them.

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
The evolution of culture is another important aspect of the American Justice system. As time continues to pass, society evolves. It effects the American Justice system in a number of ways. 

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.

• 1. New laws are passed each year, and they're all made out to fit society. 
• Megan's Law- sex offenders have to register, to let their community know of their status
• 2, Over the years society has become more liberal and is constantly making the change for the benefit of everyone.
• Marriage Equality 2015
• 3. History is an important piece of the American Justice system, today there are rules that we have to follow.
• Miranda Rights
• Death Penalty

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?
Right now i need to do more research, because i changed my EQ, but as of right now my best resource is a list I have of important court cases.

6.  What other source supports your answer?
I have  a few other articles that talk about the evolution of the American Justice system.

7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.
Changing my EQ has definitely made it easier for me to think about my answers, and I feel more grounded on where I stand with my topic.

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to do 30 hours with my mentor. I can go in and listen when she's with her clients or help her with her paper work. I can also go to court with her, or shadow some of her coworkers.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will be logging it on my link every time I go, and I can scan anything I help her with through out those hours. I can take pictures to show that I'll be spending time working with her.

 3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

My mentor is a really good resource, and through out those 30 hours we can work both on her work and she can help me with senior project.

Blog 16: Independent Component #1

• LITERAL
  (a) Write: “I, Paula Montano, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 34 hours of work.”
  (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.
• I watched a total of 11 movies, and Rivas my amazing house teacher was the one who gave me the idea to watch the films and review them. And my mentor Noreen Barcena recommended me to watch Lincoln Lawyer.

• 

  A scene from End of Watch Bryan and Miguel are checking out a complaint.

  Movie

  To Kill A Mockingbird

  Lincoln Lawyer

  12 Angry Men

  The Witness for the Prosecution

  My Cousin Vinny

  Presumed Innocent

  A Few Good Men

  The Paper Chase

  And Justice For All

  Conviction

  End of Watch

  
  
• 
  (c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.
• 
  

  Date	Movie	Movie Length	Hours Spent
  12/21/2015	To Kill A Mockingbird	2 hrs 9 mins	4 hours
  12/22/2015	Lincoln Lawyer	1 hr 58 mins	3 hours 30 mins
  12/29/2015	12 Angry Men	1 hr 36 mins	3 hours
  12/31/2015	The Witness for the Prosecution	1 hr 56 mins	3 hours
  1/2/2016	My Cousin Vinny	2 hrs	3 hours 30 mins
  1/8/2016	Presumed Innocent	2 hrs 7 mins	3 hours
  1/9/2016	A Few Good Men	2 hrs 18 mins	3 hours 30 mins
  1/12/2016	The Paper Chase	1 hr 53 mins	3 hours
  1/15/2016	And Justice For All	2 hrs	3 hours
  1/21/2016	Conviction	1 hr 47 mins	2 hrs 30 mins
  1/25/2016	End of Watch	1 hr 49 mins	2 hours 23 mins
  Total Time:	34 hours 23 mins

  
  
• (d) Explain what you completed.    
• I watched 11 criminal justice films, and reviewed them. I was able to see different scenarios and interpret them in whichever way I wanted.
• INTERPRETIVE 
  Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  
  



I was watching "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I was taking a break from watching the movie. I stopped at this scene and it made me giggle so I had fun with it,

• Each movie was able to show me a bit of what the criminal justice is like. They might be films, but when it comes to film there has to be an influence of real life. Courtroom scenarios, attorneys strategies, and police procedures are some of the important factors I was able to get from this.
• APPLIED
• How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate this. 
• I already knew that everything in the criminal justice system was one big web, but watching these films gave me an idea of how it works when you focus on just one specific branch of the criminal justice system. The court room is a complete different process to what its like when someone is actually being arrested. I was able to view it from the jury, convict, and the attorneys side. The fact that evidence was really important was a repeating factor I saw.