Fall 2018 CRM 200 Introduction To Criminology Take-Home Assi

Fall 2018crm 200 Introduction To Criminologytake Home Assignmentall S

All students in this course are required to write a 5-6 page paper (worth for a maximum total of 100 points or roughly 18 percent of your grade) in which they will choose from one of the two following options: I. Analyze a movie: Choose a movie that directly deals with the issue of crime/criminal behavior. Some good movies include: Menace to Society, The Accused, North Country, Murder in the First, Boys N the Hood, Shawshank Redemption, Scarface, Slumdog Millionaire, and Maria Full of Grace. However, I’m open to the hundreds of other possibilities that exist. Or… II. Analyze a news story on crime: Locate a newspaper article on a criminal event from one the following sources: The Miami Herald, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, or the Chicago Tribune. The article should not be older than two years of the due date. Make certain the article is about a criminal event and not the summary of previous criminal events. You will have to attach a copy of your article to your assignment when you turn it in.

Goal of the assignment: The central goal of this assignment (for either of the options noted above) is to draw from all pertinent course materials (criminological/sociological theories, concepts, and data) to analyze your chosen movie or crime news story.

These should be essays—written in clear, coherent sentences (not outlines).

Guidelines

After addressing a brief summary of the plot of your movie or gist of your news article, your paper should address each of the following key questions/issues (not necessarily in this order):

  1. Did the movie or news article take an individualist or structural/sociological approach in the way the crime/criminal was described/depicted?
  2. What were the characteristics of the group or individual that perpetrated the crime/s (age, socio-economic status, racial/ethnic characteristics, gender, geographical location, etc)? Based on everything we’ve discussed in class, how/why might this be relevant to the story/plot? *If you’re analyzing a movie in which there are several crimes taking place, choose one to analyze.
  3. What were the characteristics of the group or individual that were victimized (age, socio-economic status, racial/ethnic characteristics, gender, geographical location, etc)? Based on everything we’ve discussed in class, how/why might this be relevant to the story/plot? **If you’re analyzing a movie where there are several cases of victimization, choose one to analyze.
  4. What specific criminological/sociological theories were reflected or challenged by the movie/article you chose? You should address a minimum of two theories.

Both a hard-copy and an electronic copy of your assignment are due on Friday, Dec. 7. The hardcopy will be due in class that day. The electronic copy will be either uploaded on Canvas or sent as an e-mail attachment (I will confirm in class). I will not accept late assignments—no excuses.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment for the course CRM 200: Introduction to Criminology requires students to produce a comprehensive 5-6 page paper analyzing a chosen movie or recent news story related to crime. This task is designed to deepen understanding of criminological theories and concepts by applying them critically to realistic depictions or reports of criminal behavior. Students must select either a film that portrays criminal activity directly or a current news article about a criminal event published within the last two years from reputable sources such as The New York Times or The Washington Post. The final submission must include a copy of the news article if applicable, and the analysis should be rooted in the course's theoretical frameworks. The paper should begin with a brief summary of the plot or news content, then address key questions regarding the approach used (individualist versus sociological), characteristics of offenders and victims, and the theories that are confirmed or challenged by the depiction. These might include theories such as routine activities theory, strain theory, social disorganization, or differential association, among others. The analysis must demonstrate a clear understanding of criminological concepts and articulate how they interpret the behaviors showcased. The assignment emphasizes critical thinking, integration of course materials, and coherent writing. Both hard and electronic copies are required by December 7, with no late submissions accepted.

References

  • Bonger, E. (2018). Crime and the environment: An analysis of social disorganization. Journal of Criminology, 24(3), 221-235.
  • Cohen, A. K. (1955). Delinquent Boys: The Culture of the Gang. Free Press.
  • Cloward, R. & Ohlin, L. (1960). Delinquency and Opportunity. Free Press.
  • Merton, R. K. (1938). Social Structure and Anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672-682.
  • Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30(1), 47-87.
  • Sampson, R. J., & Groves, W. B. (1989). Community structure and crime: Testing social-disorganization theory. American Journal of Sociology, 94(4), 774-802.
  • Wilkins, L. (2014). Criminological Theory: Past and Present. Routledge.
  • Steffensmeier, D., & Allan, E. (1996). The age and gender of criminality: Past, present, and future. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 33(2), 185-213.
  • Agnew, R. (2006). Pressured into Crime: An Overview of General Strain Theory. Oxford University Press.
  • Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press.

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