PROJECT TASK 1: ACADEMIC READING

1- Article:
Crime, (counter-) insurgency and the privatization of security – the case of Medellín,
Colombia

http://eau.sagepub.com/content/16/2/17.full.pdf+html

2- Skimming:
General Idea: This article describe the levels of violence in Medellin, Colombia over the last
20 years and how Medellin has experimented unusually severe violence and several peace
process undertaken within the city have failed to provide more than temporary relief.

3- Scanning:
 What is the problem described in the text?
The violence in Medellin, Colombia.
 According to the text, what are the causes of this problem?
 The metropolis seems not to be an insurgency-friendly environment.(1) Given
territorial and social factors, urban guerrillas are easy to repress.
 Medellín only follows a Colombian trend, aggravated by idiosyncratic factors.
 Colombia has long been in the midst of internal conflict and, in the late 1980s, it
became the main coca exporter to the United States. And it is well known that
Medellín was the epicenter of the eponymous cartel.
 product of a “politicization of crime”
 According to the text, what are the effects of this problem?
 The problem has been linked to global markets and a breakdown in the state’s
provision of security.
 This failure of state provision created the opportunity for various insurgent and
counter-insurgent forces to provide security themselves
 This problem has motivated to create armed groups or “guerrilla”, like M-19.
 According to the text, what are the solutions of this problem?
The best solution is to make a peace process stable and long-lasting, that provide
tranquility and progress to the city. Because the last process only provide a
temporary relief.
ANALYSIS OF TERMINOLOGY
Glossary

 Registered (Regular verb in past):

1. Recorded, as in a register or book; enrolled.
2. Officially listing the owner's name with the issuing corporation and suitably inscribing
the certificate, as with bonds to evidence title.
3. Officially or legally certified by a government officer or board.
 Mother (Noun family):
1. A female parent.
2. One's own mother.
3. A woman looked upon as a mother, or who exercises authority like that of a mother.
4. Something that gives rise to something else.
5. The mother of, the greatest, most powerful, most outstanding example of (something
mentioned next).
 Father (Noun family):
1. A male parent.
2. Forefather: Our fathers came from many different lands.
3. A person who has originated, started, or established something.
4. One of the leading men in a city, town, etc.
 Really (Adverb Mode):
1. Actually.
2. Genuinely.
3. Indeed.
 Together (Adverb Mode):
1. Into or in one gathering or body.
2. Into or in union, as two or more things.
3. Into relationship, etc., as two or more persons.
4. Considered as a group.
5. Into a condition of being squeezed tight.
6. At the same time; simultaneously.
7. Continuously; without interruption.
 8. In cooperation; with united action; jointly.
 Finally (Adverb order):
1. At the final point or moment; in the end.
2. In a final manner; conclusively or decisively.
3. At last; eventually; after considerable delay.
 This (Demonstrative adjective):
1. (Used before a noun to indicate that the person, place, thing, etc., that is mentioned
is present, near, or known).
2. (Used to indicate a person, thing, etc., that is nearer in time, place, or thought than
some other person, thing, etc.; opposed to that).
3. (Used to suggest a contrast; opposed to that).
4. (Used instead of a or as to emphasize the next, unknown noun; it means "a certain'').
 Some (Quantitative adjective):
1. Being an unknown, or not specified one.
2. Certain; a few but not all.
3. Not specified in number, amount, etc.; a certain amount or part of, but not all of.
4. Not specified but fairly large, great, or considerable in number, amount, degree, etc.
5. Used, esp. when stressed, to express irony or sarcasm, or that the next noun is
unusual, remarkable, undeniable, etc.
 His (Pronoun):
1. The form of the pronoun he used to show possession or some relation, used before
a noun.
2. The form of the pronoun he used to show possession, or to mean "that or those
belonging to him''.
 Why (Conjunction):
1. For what cause or reason.
2. For which; on account of which (usually after reason to introduce a relative clause).
3. The reason for which.
 Colombia (Noun):
Is a place; a country.
 Showed (Irregular verb):
 1. To (cause or allow to) appear, be seen, etc.
2. To present or perform as a public entertainment or as an exhibition.
3. To indicate; point out.
4. To guide; escort.
5. To make known; explain.
6. To reveal; prove or make clear.
7. To register; mark.
8. To exhibit or offer for sale.
9. To offer; grant.
10. To make an appearance; be present; show up.
 Speak (Irregular verb):
1. To say words or pronounce sounds with the ordinary voice; talk.
2. To communicate with the voice; mention.
3. To converse.
4. To deliver an address, discourse, etc.
5. To use, or be able to use, (a language) as a way of communicating.
6. Speak for, to speak in behalf of.
 Fallen (Adjective):
1. Having dropped or come down from a higher place, from an upright position, or from
a higher level, degree, amount, quality, value, number, etc.
2. On the ground; prostrate; down flat.
3. Degraded or immoral.
4. (Of a woman) having lost her chastity.
5. Overthrown, destroyed, or conquered.
6. Dead.
 Agreed (Regular verb):
1. To be of one mind.
2. To have the same opinion.
3. To give consent; assent; accept; approve.
4. To arrive at a settlement or understanding.
5. To be consistent; be the same as or similar to; correspond; harmonize.
6. To be healthful or pleasing.
7. (Of a subject and a verb in English, or of a pronoun and the word it stands for) to
correspond by having the correct forms.