***The Topic***:
In criminology, examining why people commit crime is very important in the ongoing debate of how crime should be
handled and prevented. You are required to submit a topic related to the examination of why crime occurs and how you
would go about preventing crime. Your topic along with at least three (3) academic sources must be emailed to the Instructor
prior to your submission. This will need to be reviewed and approved.
This paper should have you select a specific theory. With that theory you should select at least one personal crime and one
property crime. For each of those crimes you should demonstrate how your chosen theory explains the reason for the crime.
You should also explain what a preventative measure would be based off of your theory for each crime.
From the Syllabus…
Written Work Requirements:
Students are required to use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th ed.) as
the primary reference as they prepare their written work for submission. Paper submissions must be written
using Times New Roman with 12 point Font, double spaced throughout the document, and one inch margins.
Items submitted are expected to be of college level quality, language, and depth and in APA format. APA format
is emphasized and used in most social sciences. All written work submitted for grading must include a cover
page that includes all required APA cover page information. See D2L content for APA examples or you can
purchase an APA manual. It is imperative that the written work is the student’s work; therefore, direct quotes
are not appropriate and the student must give the proper credit in any work to avoid any plagiarism issues.
Exploratory Research /Analysis (This is a mandatory assignment. Failure to submit may be grounds for
an automatic drop.):
Minimum Requirements:
All research papers must be written in essay format (Introduction, Body, and Conclusion – 5 paragraph essay
minimum) and have the proper paragraph structure (minimum of five sentences per paragraph). All papers
are required a minimum of 2+ pages in length not including the cover page, abstract page, or reference page(s).
2+ pages means that there must be two complete pages of text in addition to at least one word on the third
page. Likewise, 3+ pages indicate that there must be 3 complete pages of text as well as at least one word on
the 4th page. Each paper must include an APA cover page, APA abstract, APA citations within the paper that
document/support the major points (all citations must be listed on the reference page and all references must
be cited), and an APA reference page that lists all references in the required APA format. All papers must have
at least 3 scholarly references. The student must address the topic specified. All papers must be submitted
using .doc, .docx. or .rtf. Papers must be one complete document (do not submit a separate cover page, body
and references); additionally, all papers must be submitted using the D2L dropbox. Do not write in first
person (no – I , we, me, us, or our) and no direct quotes (it is imperative that students paraphrase the
information from their references in their own words; however, paraphrasing still requires proper citations).
“Many paper assignments call for you to establish a position and defend that position with an effective
argument. However, some assignments are not argumentative, but rather, they are exploratory. The main point is
to conduct inquiry into a topic, gather information, and share that information with readers.” (“OWL online writing
lab”, 2014)
Criminal Justice Paper Grading Rubric:
A Paper: 100-90
The student has an excellent analysis of the subject with no quotes and no issues with plagiarism.
The student has superior use of APA 6th edition format within the paper, which includes properly cited
references within the body of the paper and has numerous citations to give proper credit to all sources
throughout the paper.
The student has excelled above the required minimum page length and required references (3+ pages
and 6 references).
The student has minimal grammatical errors and an overall superior level of college work.B Paper: 89-80
The student has a good analysis of the subject.
The student has only minor problems with APA 6th edition format within the paper but includes an
APA reference page and APA citations within the body of the paper.
The student has completed a paper that is above the required minimum length and required
references (3+ pages and 4 references).
The student has some grammatical issues or clarity issues; however, the paper is considered higher
than average college work.
C Paper: 79-70
The student has an average college level analysis of the subject.
The student includes an APA reference page and has APA citations within the body of the paper for all
references.
The student meets minimum page length requirements and required references (2+ and 3 references).
The students writing style and clarity are considered average.
D Paper: 69-60
The student has met the minimum requirements; however, the quality of the paper is below average.
**Late work is not accepted.
If any student has difficulties with writing assignments, they are encouraged to contact the instructor for
assistance. Additionally, the students are encouraged to utilize the Education Assistance Center (EAC), Temple
College Writing Center, or Smart Thinking (located within D2L) for assistance.