Urban Gangs Paper

Read "Islands in the Street: Urban Gangs in the United States" (p.172) in Essentials of Sociology to obtain background information. Then, using your textbook and additional resources, write a 2 - 3 page paper addressing the issues of gangs in America, considering the following questions:

• What are the functions that gangs fulfill (the needs they meet)?
• Suppose you have been hired as an urban planner for the city of Los Angeles. How could you arrange to meet the needs that gangs fulfill in ways that minimize violence and encourage youth to follow mainstream norms?

Be certain to use all three major sociological theories - functionalism, conflict theory, and interactionism - in your analysis. Explain deviance such as street gangs from all three of the main sociological perspectives.

Paper Requirements:

• Use your textbook and additional resources. You must cite, in APA style citation, any sources used and include a works cited page.
• Use double-spacing and one of these fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier, size 12.
• Please note that your grade will be based on the content of your work as well as on the spelling, grammar, and presentation.