Research urban decay in the early 1960s, and make a chart that correlates social unrest of various forms with the rate at which urban poverty increased and white populations decreased.

Read about Grace Paley's social activism, and then write a report on "The Long-Distance Runner" that analyzes how her socialist views and stand for equal rights are suggested in the fiction.

Return to a former neighborhood, noting the changes that have taken place during your absence. Write a short story in which the main character not only returns but takes up residence among the more recently established neighborhood dwellers. Let the story expose the differences between the character who returns and the current residents, and hint at ways in which these differences can or cannot be bridged.

Research the correlations between poverty and three factors: race, gender, and single head of household...