DOCSLIB.ORG

Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: an Alternative Reading and Response Diane Kroeger University of South Florida

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: an Alternative Reading and Response Diane Kroeger University of South Florida University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 12-31-2010 Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: An Alternative Reading and Response Diane Kroeger University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons, and the Other Education Commons Scholar Commons Citation Kroeger, Diane, "Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: An Alternative Reading and Response" (2010). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3463 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: An Alternative Reading and Response by Diane C. Kroeger A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosopy Department of Childhood Education and Literacy Studies College of Education University of South Florida Co-Major Professor: Danielle V. Dennis, Ph.D. Co-Major Professor: Jenifer J. Schneider, Ph.D. James R. King, Ed.D. J. Edwin Benton, Ph.D. Date of Approval: November 12, 2010 Keywords: literacy, reading, adolescent, policy, assessment Copyright © 2010, Diane C. Kroeger Dedication There are several loved ones who made this project possible and my feeble words here inadequately convey what resides in my heart. I dedicate this project to my brother Pete whose resolute belief in the potential of public policy inspired me to take this particular approach to my studies. Pete, we miss you so very much. To my dear husband Tony who was so patient, steady and attentive through this long process. Tony, you are my most trusted advisor and my best friend. To my son Ryan who is, and has always been, wise beyond his years, and my daughter Kelly who never ceases to amaze me with her vigor and capacity for learning. I can only hope to be like you both when I grow up. To my parents, Jerry and Justine Chance, whose prayers, advice, encouragement, and financial support made this five-and-a-half year journey much sweeter than it otherwise could have been. Mom, thank you for being my biggest advocate, the source of my tenacity and for instilling in me a keen sensitivity to people who don’t “fit in.” Dad, thank you for sharing your intellectual curiosity with me. My head is filled with cherished conversations I’ve had with you that have shaped my thinking and this work. Also, it meant a great deal that you knew what I was going through during this process. Many others lent their support during this project. In particular, I want to thank Stephany for always being interested in my work and for checking in when I disappeared for days (and weeks) at a time. Peggy and Doug, thank you for the meals we shared on so many Friday nights. They were the perfect antidote to deadline pressures. Diedre, thank you for sharing your books and your technological prowess. Acknowledgements I am indebted to the members of my doctoral committee whose expertise, mentorship and advice helped strengthen this work. In particular, I am grateful for the support of Danielle Dennis and Jenifer Schneider who guided me through the research and writing process with a perfect sense of the “enabling constraints” needed to help me move this project toward completion. Secondly, I want to thank the public officials and agency leaders who contributed to this study. Public service places an individual in a precarious position. It affords the possibility of directing policy while at the same time opening one up to critique. I admire the fortitude of each and every person who takes this risk in order to strengthen the quality of education for Florida’s students. Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to Lisa Adkins. Her technical support has been most appreciated as I navigated the final weeks of the university’s submission requirements. i Table of Contents List of Tables…………………. ...................................................................................... iv List of Figures................................................................................................................... v Abstract ......................................................................................................................... vi Chapter I: Introduction…………….. .............................................................................. 1 Problem Statement: The Education Policy-Practice Dilemma ............................. 2 Purpose of the Study……….. .............................................................................. 4 Research Questions……………………………. ................................................... 5 Rationale…………………………………. .......................................................... 7 Crossing the Domain Divide….. ............................................................... 7 The Power, Potential and Scope of State Literacy Policy………… ......... 10 Theoretical Framework in Brief…………………………… ............................... 12 Key Terms…………………… .......................................................................... 15 Limitations, Delimitations and Assumptions……… ........................................... 21 Chapter II: Review of Related Literature…….. ............................................................. 24 Theoretical Framework…………….. ................................................................. 25 Complexity…………… ......................................................................... 25 Enabling Constraints………. ...................................................... 28 Enabling Constraints for Teaching and Learning…….. ............... 29 Enabling Constraints for Policy Making…………….. ................. 31 Criticism of Complexity………. ................................................. 33 Primary and Secondary Speech Genres……… ....................................... 34 Related Studies……………………… ................................................................ 35 The Policy-Practice of Education………….. .......................................... 35 Adolescent Literacy………………… ..................................................... 40 Historical Foundations……………. ............................................ 41 Research Findings………………………… ................................ 44 In-School/Out-of-School Literacies……….. .................... 46 Adolescents’ Values………............................................. 48 Adolescents’ Social Nature…………. ............................. 52 Multiliteracies………… .................................................. 56 Policy Research…………………. .......................................................... 59 Summary………………………. ........................................................................ 64 Chapter III: Methods……………………………………….. ......................................... 66 Design………………………………………….. ................................................ 67 Interpretive Policy Analysis……………………………………… .......... 68 Procedure………………………………………… ............................................. 68 Modifications to IPA Framework and Study Overview ........................... 69 ii Phase 1: Identification of State-Level Policy Actors…. ........................... 71 Phase 2: Identification of Artifacts that Carry Meaning……. .................. 73 Interviews……. .......................................................................... 74 Public Meetings………………………. ....................................... 77 Documents…………………….. ................................................. 78 Phase 3: Identification of Communities of Discourse…………… ........... 80 Analytic Memos (Journal)…….. ................................................. 81 Pre-Coding……….. .................................................................... 81 First-Cycle Coding………… ...................................................... 82 Second-Cycle Coding…………. ................................................. 83 Third-Cycle Coding………… ..................................................... 83 Phase 4: Identification of Meanings in Conflict….. ................................. 85 Phase 5: Explanation and Determination of Intervention………. ............ 86 Protection of Human Subjects………………….. ............................................... 86 Dependability and Credibility…………………………. ..................................... 87 Chapter IV: Results…………………………………….................................................. 90 Categorizing the Data………………… .............................................................. 90 Primary and Secondary Speech Genres……. .......................................... 91 Interviews…………………….. .................................................. 92 Meetings…………………………….. ......................................... 92 Documents…………………………. .......................................... 93 Knowledge Tiers……………………………………. ............................. 93 Discourse Communities……………………………………………. ....... 96 Question 1: Overview of Results………………………………… ...................... 97 Reading as Literacy………………………………… .............................. 98 Institutionally Imposed Student Profiles.................................................. 98 Policy Solutions and Problems……….. .................................................. 99 Question 1: Detailed Results…………………….. .............................................. 99 Reading as Literacy……. ....................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Facts Are Stubborn Things": Protecting Due Process from Virulent Publicity
    Touro Law Review Volume 33 Number 2 Article 8 2017 "Facts Are Stubborn Things": Protecting Due Process from Virulent Publicity Benjamin Brafman Darren Stakey Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/lawreview Part of the Civil Procedure Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, and the First Amendment Commons Recommended Citation Brafman, Benjamin and Stakey, Darren (2017) ""Facts Are Stubborn Things": Protecting Due Process from Virulent Publicity," Touro Law Review: Vol. 33 : No. 2 , Article 8. Available at: https://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/lawreview/vol33/iss2/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Touro Law Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Touro Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Touro Law Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Brafman and Stakey: Facts Are Stubborn Things “FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS”: PROTECTING DUE PROCESS FROM VIRULENT PUBLICITY by Benjamin Brafman, Esq.* and Darren Stakey, Esq.** *Benjamin Brafman is the principal of a seven-lawyer firm Brafman & Associates, P.C. located in Manhattan. Mr. Brafman’s firm specializes in criminal law with an emphasis on White Collar criminal defense. Mr. Brafman received his law degree from Ohio Northern University, in 1974, graduating with Distinction and serving as Manuscript Editor of The Law Review. He went on to earn a Masters of Law Degree (LL.M.) in Criminal Justice from New York University Law School. In May of 2014, Mr. Brafman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Ohio Northern University Law School. Mr. Brafman, a former Assistant District Attorney in the Rackets Bureau of the New York County District Attorney’s Office, has been in private practice since 1980.
    [Show full text]
  • Bayes Theorem and the Law
    PROBABILITY MODELS 21 5. Bayes Rule Suppose C1; C2;::: are mutually exclusive and exhaustive cases (hypotheses) and E is some event (evidence) that has been observed. We have some prior “belief” on each hypothesis, which we write P[C1]; P[C2];::: and we want to update our beliefs in the face of the evidence in E. By standard conditional probability calculations, we have P[Ci]P[E Ci] (10) P[Ci E] = P j ; for each j 1: j P[Cj]P[E Cj] ≥ j j (Note that if there are only two cases then P[C E] P[C] P[E C] j = j : P[Cc E] P[Cc] × P[E Cc] j j 5.1. Bayes theorem and the law. Bayesian reasoning naturally arises in connection with legal proceedings. For example, in a criminal trial, some crime was committed, for which they may be various hypotheses as to what happened and who is responsible. Evidence is collected in an attempt to deduce which of the hypotheses actually occurred. We assume that the hypotheses are exhaustive in the sense that they contain all reasonable scenarios and, most importantly, one of the hypotheses is correct. (This is not always the case.) In the language of Bayes rule (10): of all possible outcomes, there are several hypotheses that might be feasible (say, C1;:::; Ck) and we collect evidence to discern which hypothesis is most likely. Before seeing the evidence, we might have a belief (rather, a “hunch”) as to which of the hypotheses are more likely. After viewing the evidence, we update our beliefs (perhaps, according to Bayes rule).
    [Show full text]
  • Keith Jacobshagen
    Keith Jacobshagen Feb. 28 - April 9, 1993 Johnson County CommunityCollege • Galleryof Alt Keith Jacobshagen geography and metapho r, but it is also abo ut autob iograph y. It's about those moments in my life when I'm making the painting. The autob iogra phy of my life goes into the painting , but it's not neces­ The followin g interview between Keith Jacobshagen and Melissa sarily there for peop le to read as they would read a book. Rountree took plac e in Jan uary 1993 . MR In the 1988 interview you said, ·'One qf the extraord inaiy MR Your art training was in design. When and bow did you begin things that happens when you 're painting, [fyou 're lucky, is that you paintin g? make a kind of breakthrough into a state of grace at times. Tbal doesn 't happen ve1y often, but it happens sometimes. And at the end KJ I actually began painting - like man y peopl e do - as a kid, and of ii, you sit back in a state of sublime exbaustion and you say to even though I studied design, I was painting during my time in yourse lf; 'I don 't know exactly what bappened, but sometbing ve,y schoo l. I didn 't begin to respond to painting in a really personal, extraordinaiy happened. "7 Would you discuss this aspect ofyour revelatory way until my senior year at the Kansas City Att Institute work? when I took a drawing class from Bill Fuhri, who taught in the night school. His seriousness of purpo se and his attitude toward making KJ That's not something that I consc iously aim for.
    [Show full text]
  • San Diego Public Library New Additions September 2007
    San Diego Public Library New Additions September 2007 Adult Materials 000 - Computer Science and Generalities Biographies 100 - Philosophy & Psychology California Room 200 - Religion CD-ROMs 300 - Social Sciences Compact Discs 400 - Language DVD Videos/Videocassettes 500 - Science eBooks 600 - Technology Fiction 700 - Art Foreign Languages 800 - Literature Genealogy Room 900 - Geography & History Graphic Novels Audiocassettes Large Print Audiovisual Materials Fiction Call # Author Title [SCI-FI] FIC/ADAMS Adams, Douglas The ultimate hitchhiker's guide FIC/ALLEN Allen, Woody. Side effects. FIC/ANDERS Anders, Donna. Night stalker FIC/ANDREWS Andrews, Mary Kay Hissy fit FIC/ARCHER Archer, Jeffrey Cat o'nine tales and other stories FIC/ARGUEDAS Arguedas, José María Yawar fiesta FIC/ASIMOV Asimov, Isaac The complete robot FIC/ASTON Aston, Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy's daughters [MYST] FIC/ATKINSON Atkinson, Kate. One good turn FIC/ATWOOD Atwood, Margaret Eleanor The handmaid's tale FIC/AUCHINCLOSS Auchincloss, Louis. East Side story FIC/AUSTEN Austen, Jane Pride and prejudice FIC/AUSTEN Austen, Jane Sense and sensibility FIC/AYLMER Aylmer, Janet. Darcy's story FIC/BAGGOTT Baggott, Julianna. Girl talk FIC/BALDACCI Baldacci, David. Simple genius FIC/BALDACCI Baldacci, David. The collectors [MYST] FIC/BARNARD Barnard, Robert. A murder in Mayfair FIC/BARNES Barnes, Julian. Arthur & George FIC/BARON Baron, Aileen Garsson. The gold of Thrace FIC/BARRY Barry, Maxx. Jennifer Government [MYST] FIC/BASS Bass, Jefferson. Flesh and bone FIC/BATTLES Battles, Brett. The cleaner [MYST] FIC/BEATON Beaton, M. C. Agatha Raisin and the terrible tourist [MYST] FIC/BEATON Beaton, M. C. Love, lies and liquor FIC/BELLE Belle, Jennifer Going down FIC/BERG Berg, Elizabeth.
    [Show full text]
  • Authority, Gender, and Representation by Louis Montrose
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Department of History History, Department of Summer 2007 Review of The Subject of Elizabeth: Authority, Gender, and Representation by Louis Montrose Carole Levin University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historyfacpub Part of the History Commons Levin, Carole, "Review of The Subject of Elizabeth: Authority, Gender, and Representation by Louis Montrose" (2007). Faculty Publications, Department of History. 65. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historyfacpub/65 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Department of History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Shakespeare Quarterly, Volume 58, Number 2, Summer 2007, pp. 248-249; DOI: 10.1353/shq.2007.0027 Copyright 2007 The Folger Library; published by Johns Hopkins University Press. Used by permission. 248 ShaKespeare quarterly who wrote the scribblings. The authors once again are unable to argue that any of the handwriting is Sir Henry Neville’s (their discussion of handwriting styles [239–40] is typically confused), and there is no reason to think that the scribbled name “Nevill” refers to him. It is more likely to refer to a different branch of the family related to the earls of Northumberland, in whose papers the manuscript was found. Katherine Neville was the mother of Henry Percy, the “wizard earl,” who held the title when this manuscript was compiled. Further examples of problems with this train wreck of a book could be multi- plied almost indefinitely.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critique of the FX Mini-Series the People Vs. O.J. Simpson
    A Critique of the FX Mini-Series The People vs. O.J. Simpson Jerry Eckert 2017 @All Rights Reserved On February 26, 2016, I began posting weekly commentaries on the FX docudrama series The People vs. O.J. Simpson. They were originally posted to http://www.jerryeckert.blogspot.com/. This critique is based on those blog commentaries. I have given Mike Griffith permission to post this on his website. O.J. didn’t do it. Ten years ago, I undertook a careful study of the O.J. Simpson case. It became the backdrop of a novel I wrote at the time in which I solved the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Hardly anyone believed me. Now “American Crime Stories,” a fairly popular television show, is presenting a mini-series about O.J.'s case. Blurbs about the series say it does not attempt to give full evidence but seeks more to dramatize the dynamics surrounding the case, such as police-on-black violence, spousal abuse, and privilege of the wealthy. Even so, it still must offer evidence or it could not accurately portray the story. I will be looking to see if the evidence is adequately provided, if evidence is omitted, or if evidence is inaccurately presented. You know I believe he was innocent. You must also know that the book on which the TV series is based, The Run of His Life, is written by someone who believes O.J. is guilty. The author, Jeffery Toobin, says as much in the book. Update: He reaffirmed his belief again on March 5 in a New Yorker magazine essay.
    [Show full text]
  • Gayle Bradley-Palmer
    An Interview with Gayle Bradley-Palmer at The Historical Society of Missouri St. Louis Research Center, St. Louis, Missouri 12 November 2014 interviewed by Dr. Blanche Touhill transcribed by Valerie Leri and edited by Josephine Sporleder Oral History Program The State Historical Society of Missouri Collection S1207 Women as Change Agents DVD 22 © The State Historical Society of Missouri NOTICE 1) This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). It may not be cited without acknowledgment to the Western Historical Manuscript Collection, a Joint Collection of the University of Missouri and the State Historical Society of Missouri Manuscripts, Columbia, Missouri. Citations should include: [Name of collection] Project, Collection Number C4020, [name of interviewee], [date of interview], Western Historical Manuscript Collection, Columbia, Missouri. 2) Reproductions of this transcript are available for reference use only and cannot be reproduced or published in any form (including digital formats) without written permission from the Western Historical Manuscript Collection. 3) Use of information or quotations from any [Name of collection] Collection transcript indicates agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the University of Missouri, the State Historical Society of Missouri, their officers, employees, and agents, and the interviewee from and against all claims and actions arising out of the use of this material. For further information, contact: The State Historical Society of Missouri, St. Louis Research Center, 222 Thomas Jefferson Library, One University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121 (314) 516-5119 © The State Historical Society of Missouri Gayle Bradley-Palmer 11-12-2014 PREFACE The interview was taped on a placed on a tripod.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Sentencing Commission Reprint Series
    United States Sentencing Commission Reprint Series Volume I June 1992 UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION WILLIAM Wi WILKINS. JR. Chairman - JULIE EL CARNBS - Comniilssioner "MICHAEL S. GELACAK Commissioner A. DAVId MAZZONE Comniissioner ILENE PI. NAGEL Comniissioner CAROL PAVILACK GETtY Ex-micro PAUL L. MALONEY ' Ex-djjicio CONTENTS 1. "Relevant Conduct: The Comerstone of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines,' W. W. Wilkins, Jr. and J.R. Steer (reprinted from South Carolina Law Review IDS?) 3 2. "The Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the Key Compromises Upon Which They Rest,' $. Breyer (reprinted from Hofstro Law Review 1988 . 43 3. "Plea Negotiations. Acceptance of Responsibility. Role of the Offender. and Departures: Policy Decisions in the Promulgetion of Federal Sentencing Guidelines,' W.W. Wilkins, Jr. (reprinted from Wake Forest Law Review, 1988) 95 4. "Plea Agreements Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.' DA. Purdy, Jr. and J. Lawrence (reprinted from Criminal Law Bulletin, ' 1990) 119 H 5. 'Stmcturing Sentencing Discretion: The New Federal Sentencing Guidelines." l.H. Nagel (reprinted from The Joumal hf Crimina in and Criminologg, 1990) . 147 6. "Equality Versus Discretion in Sentencing,' l.H. Nagel, S. Breyer, and T. Maccarthy - ireprinted from American Criminal Law Review I989) . 211 F.' 7. "Rights in Conflict: Fairness Issues in the Federal Semencing Guidelines," H.G. Corrothers (reprinted from Criminal Lew Bulletin, 1990) . 239 i 8. 'the Development of the Federal Sentencing Guideline for Dmg - Traflicking Offenses.?' ll.M. Scutkin (reprinted from Criminal law Bulletin, 1990) 253 1 RELEVANTVCONDUCT: THE CORNERSTONE OF THE FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES William W. Wilkins, Jr. John Ri Steer Reprinted from: South Carolina Law Review 41(3):495- 531 (1990) by permission of the authors.
    [Show full text]
  • The Angel of Death Spurned Lover Gangster
    [MODUS[ [OPERANDI[[OOPERAND HARD BODIES. DEAD BODIES. SUNNY L.A. IS KNOWN FOR BOTH— AND FOR OUR ONGOING FASCINATION WITH WHAT LURKS IN THE SHADOWS. DAVID MILCH CONSIDERS WHY WE CAN’T LOOK AWAY HeArT Of DaRkNeSs HOUGH THE TOURISM department won’t soon be put- motives that separate us from sim- ting it in brochures, crime in Los Angeles has always held a pler beasts—envy, bitterness, regret. certain dark allure. Maybe it’s the long shadow of noir that Most of us have a measure of self- makes our bad guys seem glamorous; maybe it’s that so of- control that reins in that little killer, ten the perp in the mug shot is familiar for his decadent TV stops us from looting RadioShacks smile. Could be that in L.A. we’ll take our mysteries unsolved, and crushing our enemies in a bloody keeping the threat loose, turning crime into legend: the Black spree. But that little killer still de- Dahlia, Nicole Brown Simpson. Crime reminds us that Tin- mands a workout. seltown can be a hard, messy place where dreams get carved Cop and courtroom shows get up and gutter out, providing some satisfying contrast to the us only so far. There’s a puzzler’s di- version in watching the mystery un- paradise promised in ads; under all those gentle palm fronds, this packed. But in stories and in natural life, what often engages us on is a city of devils. a more cathartic level than the gory details of how one person man- Sometimes the devil is us.
    [Show full text]
  • Race Issues in the OJ Simpson Case
    Race Issues in the O.J. Simpson Case – Analysis of Alexander and Karaszewski’s American Crime Story Boban, Monika Undergraduate thesis / Završni rad 2018 Degree Grantor / Ustanova koja je dodijelila akademski / stručni stupanj: University of Zadar / Sveučilište u Zadru Permanent link / Trajna poveznica: https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:162:313005 Rights / Prava: In copyright Download date / Datum preuzimanja: 2021-09-28 Repository / Repozitorij: University of Zadar Institutional Repository of evaluation works Sveučilište u Zadru Odjel za anglistiku Preddiplomski sveučilišni studij engleskog jezika i književnosti (dvopredmetni) Monika Boban Race Issues in the O.J. Simpson Case – Analysis of Alexander and Karaszewski’s American Crime Story Završni rad Zadar, 2018. Sveučilište u Zadru Odjel za anglistiku Preddiplomski sveučilišni studij engleskog jezika i književnosti (dvopredmetni) Race Issues in the O.J. Simpson Case – Analysis of Alexander and Karaszewski’s American Crime Story Završni rad Student/ica: Mentor/ica: Monika Boban Dr. sc. Zlatko Bukač Zadar, 2018. Izjava o akademskoj čestitosti Ja, Monika Boban, ovime izjavljujem da je moj završni rad pod naslovom Race Issues in the O.J. Simpson Case – Analysis of Alexander and Karaszewski’s American Crime Story rezultat mojega vlastitog rada, da se temelji na mojim istraživanjima te da se oslanja na izvore i radove navedene u bilješkama i popisu literature. Ni jedan dio mojega rada nije napisan na nedopušten način, odnosno nije prepisan iz necitiranih radova i ne krši bilo čija autorska prava. Izjavljujem da ni jedan dio ovoga rada nije iskorišten u kojem drugom radu pri bilo kojoj drugoj visokoškolskoj, znanstvenoj, obrazovnoj ili inoj ustanovi. Sadržaj mojega rada u potpunosti odgovara sadržaju obranjenoga i nakon obrane uređenoga rada.
    [Show full text]
  • The Trial of O.J. Simpson
    Moments in Time by Frank C. Clifford THE CRIMINAL TRIAL OF O. J. SIMPSON: JANUARY 24, 1995; 10:34:29 A.M. PST; LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA A gruesome double murder on Bundy Drive. A mesmer- (the 11th-house emphasis, his Sun trine Jupiter, and Mars ising slow-speed highway pursuit of a Ford Bronco on live trine Neptune from the 10th to the 2nd house). (See Chart 1.) TV. The “insurmountable evidence” demolished by the best It suggests his fame as a running back in American football as defence team that money could buy. The People v. O. J. well as his infamous association with two “knife-slashing” kill- Simpson was hailed as “the trial of the century”: The idol- ings (Mars in Gemini in the 10th). His chart also reflects the ised former football star and occasional actor had been the (now) overriding public opinion that he got away with murder most famous person in America ever to be arrested for mur- and that, in private, he was a possessive, physically threaten- der. Simpson was on trial for killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown ing, and emotionally controlling spouse (Jupiter in Scorpio on and her friend Ron Goldman. Forensic evidence (hair, blood, the IC square Saturn–Pluto). Given that Simpson’s Saturn– DNA, clothing fibres, hand prints, a sock, and a glove) con- Pluto in Leo in the 12th is square his MC–IC axis, his lawyer nected him to the crime scene — yet he was famously acquit- Johnnie Cochran skillfully portrayed Simpson as a victim of ted. Simpson’s nine-month trial divided America along racial institutionalised racism and police corruption.
    [Show full text]
  • Book Review: If I Did It by OJ Simpsonif He Did It, Would It Matter?
    American University Criminal Law Brief Volume 3 Issue 1 Article 5 2007 Book Review: If I Did It By OJ SimpsonIf He Did It, Would It Matter? Kimberly Nguyen American University Washington College of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/clb Part of the Criminal Law Commons Recommended Citation Nguyen, Kimberly. "Book Review: If I Did It By OJ Simpson If He Did It, Would It Matter?" Criminal Law Brief 3, no. 1 (2007): 38-39. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington College of Law Journals & Law Reviews at Digital Commons @ American University Washington College of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in American University Criminal Law Brief by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ American University Washington College of Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BOOK REVIEW: IF I DID IT BY OJ SIMPSON IF HE DID IT, WOULD IT MATTER? Kimberly Nguyen* Last month’s release of OJ Simpson’s previously can- has a Homestead Law protecting his house and a right-to-work celled book IF I DID IT proved to be controversial, raising an policy, safeguarding his wages. abundance of moral and legal issues. The book is a hypotheti- Frustrated with Simpson’s ability to evade all respon- cal tell-all, an account of how OJ Simpson would have mur- sibility related to the civil judgment, the Goldmans reviewed dered his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her their options, which on the advice of their attorneys included acquaintance, Ron Goldman, had he been the true killer, placing a lien on the rights, title, and interest of Simpson’s inter- although even post-publication, Simpson still maintains his est in his IF I DID IT manuscript – the very same book they had innocence.
    [Show full text]