Overview
Throughout the semester we have covered various sections in the course textbook (Vito and Maahs, 2021) which reviewed different academic disciplines and their relationship to explaining criminal behavior. Many sections provided theoretical models and their respective key variables for researching crime. Criminologists and practitioners often use theoretical models and their important theoretical variables toward developing crime-reduction strategies.
Please see attached Reading Outlines that you have completed. They summarize all the sections covered throughout the semester.
The final writing assignment will be organized into a short 5-6 page essay reviewing a crime-related issue in society. Please use this topic: MURDER
In this essay you will begin by exploring a general crime category (iN THIS CASE: MURDER) then narrow the scope of your topic into a focused crime-issue (crime research question) that has been investigated by academic research; and where such theory-based research may be adapted toward crime-reduction policy. You are not conducting research; you are summarizing research applied to crime theory and crime-reduction policy.
* The purpose of this essay is to summarize an example of modern research. After choosing a topic (IN THIS CASE: MURDER) and a relevant theoretical premise, you should locate a peer-reviewed research article from an academic journal .
**Your mission is to review the key details about your chosen crime topic (MURDER), develop a theory-based research question that would guide your summary of academic research and policy implications; then provide an example of how the topic (MURDER) is portrayed in society through media.
[Report statistics & relevant information --> Review of Crime Theory/Policy --> Current example]
Your report should be organized into (4) distinct section headings:
(Title page)
CRIME TOPIC (MURDER) (1.5 – 2 pages)
THEORY & POLICY; (2 – 3 pages total)
CURRENT EXAMPLE; (1 – 1.5 page)
CONCLUSION (~ .5 page)
(REFERENCES)