Term Research Paper
One of the primary goals of this course is to give students a broad understanding of the different components and the current state of the criminal justice system. Given however the number of components and the complexity of topics in the criminal justice field, another aim of this course is to guide students into becoming experts in one or more very specific areas.
*You are expected to work independently on this paper throughout the duration of the course (this paper should be a work in progress throughout the term, if left until the end, it will conflict with your other exams/assignments).For this paper, each student is required to identify one specific topic of their interest and write a term paper.THE TOPIC FOR YOUR TERM PAPER CAN EITHER FOCUS ON AN ISSUE (e.g. the low ratio of women to men as state police officers, the use of bail as a proxy for discrimination based on race and poverty), OR SIMPLY DESCRIBE THE HISTORY/CURRENT STATE OF A CERTAIN AREA OF A COMPONENT OF THE SYSTEM (e.g. the police's use of recording devices, riots in prisons, work programs in prison, increased militarization of the police).
BE SURE TO SPECIFY IN YOUR PAPER, WHICH OF THESE TWO GOALS YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. Finding a topic that is narrow is crucial (e.g. officers accepting small gratuities, media coverage of mass murders). A large and vague topic is likely to produce a vague and low quality paper (e.g. discrimination in the CJ system is a large an vague topic). YOU MUST, PERSONALLY, ORTHROUGH EMAIL, CONFIRM YOUR TOPIC WITH ME BY THE END OF THE THIRD WEEK OF THE COURSE.
First, introduce this topic (i.e., introduce the topic to a casual reader), being sure to present evidence (from the literature) that supports your conclusion that the problem is worthy of concern (How serious is the problem? How common is the problem? And so on). This section should be about a page. Then summarize the available literature on the topic. It is wise to organize this review with appropriate subheadings to help you organize this information (e.g. historical overview, the role of certain key issues such as race or gender, as they relate to your topic, the role of policy, or whatever subheadings best fit your topic). Your review of the literature should constitute at least 5-6 pages of your paper. The last section of your paper-the discussion, should summarize the findings in your literature review and should include your own conclusion regarding your topic. This section gives you the opportunity to add your own opinion, based of course on what you have found in the literature.
Your paper should have at least 8 scholarly sources (most of which will be journal articles or books) cited throughout the paper, and contain a bibliography at the end.
As we review each week's chapters, I highly suggest being on the lookout for possible topics for your paper. As soon as you have one, email me so that I can approve it. Note:You may also identify topics from future chapters we have not reviewed in class yet or even suggest a topic from a different source (something you saw in another class, the news, etc.)
Your paper must be a minimum of 8 pages in length, typed in twelve-point font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced with standard one-inch margins. Include your name and assignment due date in the upper right hand corner of the first page (no cover page is necessary). This paper is worth a very large percentage of your grade. Treat it accordingly. You are expected to have the writing center, or someone with exceptional writing abilities, help you edit and make corrections to the paper before final submission.
Some guidelines to consider:
Grammar / Tone
1. Do not write in the first person. Do not write "I think" or "I conclude" or "My opinion is" etc. The essay should be impersonal. Similarly, never write ‘Our next move must be' or ‘We must' to refer to something that must be done in the world or by a government (in particular, do not refer to the US government as ‘we').
2. Do not write ‘you' either to make something impersonal or as if you are writing a letter to the professor. E.g. Do not write ‘If you understand this theory, you can prevent crime' or suchlike.
3. Do not use slang.
4. Do not use abbreviations such as aren't and don't - spell them out (i.e. are not, do not).
5. Research papers should have a formal tone like a journal article rather than a chatty tone like a newspaper or an informal letter.
6. Be sure to write whole sentences rather than fragments of sentences. 12. Make sure that your grammar and syntax are correct.
7. If the piece of work is an essay, do not write a list of bullet-points.
Content / Substance
8. Quality (rather than quantity) is the key to getting a good grade. A quality research paper makes sound arguments that are supported by research findings.
9. Always start with a detailed outline before you begin writing your paper. This outline is your "roadmap" and should break the paper down into substantive sections to keep you "on track" as you write. Continually refer back to this outline to be sure all of the substantive issues have been covered in the paper in a coherent, logical manner.
10. The goal of a research paper is to integrate research findings (or in some cases entire bodies of literature) in a unique and thoughtful manner. With this in mind, be sure that you have at least one thesis statement, or central argument that the paper is structured around. Some research papers will have several propositions or theses, but all research papers must have at least one.
11. It is not appropriate to simply offer opinions or assertions unsupported by research. Express arguments based on logic, or conclusions based upon evidence, with references as appropriate.
12. In research papers, use subheadings to differentiate sections of your paper. These subheadings should be titled according to the content of the material included in that section. Sections of the paper should be differentiated based on substantive changes in the content / arguments of the paper. Use scholarly journal articles as a guide to writing in this format.
13. A research paper should begin with an introduction, sometimes titled "Introduction" in longer papers. It is short and gives an overview of the essay.
14. For longer essays, if a section of the essay reviews the literature, you might want to use the subtitle "Literature Review." If the entire paper is primarily a literature review, you should put appropriate subtitles on different sections of the literature.
15. A research paper often has a section titled "Discussion/Conclusion," which restates the central thesis of the paper and summarizes the arguments made within the paper. ?This section also often speculates on policy implications and suggests areas ?for future research. This section provides the finishing touch on your research paper and is your last opportunity to make an impression on the reader.
Editing
16. Before submitting your research paper, read it through, and pretend that you are somebody else - read it through their eyes. Then, clarify those sentences that made sense to you earlier but which may be less clear in meaning to someone else.
17. Use a spellchecker.
18. Have someone else read through your essay to make comments on both substance and presentation/grammar. Then read through your essay again.