THEORIES IN CRIMINOLOGY
This assignment is designed to assess your ability to apply a criminological theory to analyze a specific problem within the field of criminology. You are to use the information collected in your previous assignment to develop your analysis. Also, you must review the feedback provided in your previous assignment. The feedback will alert you to issues that you need to pay attention to when writing papers, including this one.
For this assignment, you are to:
1. Choose ONE of the following theories:
- Social Disorganization Theory, or
- Sutherland's Differential Association Theory
2. Building on the findings from your first assignment, discuss the ability of the theory to explain why youth join gangs. Your answer must address whether the theory can or cannot explain the 3 factors identified in your previous research assignment (i.e., you need to narrow your focus and choose a reason from within each of these factors that you discussed in your first assignment). In doing so, you are identifying the strengths and limits of applying this theory to analyze the problem of youth gang involvement.
On the due date you are required to:
A. Submit the original paper version of the essay at the beginning of lecture.
B. Submit an electronic version of the essay to turnitin. If for some reason you are unwilling to submit the paper to turnitin.com, you should discuss this with the instructor before the due date. Alternative arrangements will be made (i.e., discussions and/or submission of drafts).
The essay must:
- include a cover page with the title of the essay, your name, student number, course code, and date.
- be typed, double spaced and stapled.
- be approximately 4 pages in length (approximately 1,000 words maximum).
- pages are to be numbered.
- include a bibliography with proper ASA citation format.
- include a minimum of 5 scholarly peer-reviewed sources that discuss why youth join gangs. Regarding the chosen theory (either social disorganization OR differential association), students will draw on the textbook and lecture.
All students are to hand in the original paper version of the assignment on the due date at the beginning of lecture. Failure to hand in the assignment at the beginning of lecture will result in a penalty. The penalty for late assignments is 5% per day, including weekends. This penalty is strictly enforced unless proper documentation of illness or hardship is provided (conflicts related to employment or heavy workloads in other courses do not quality). A copy of the University of Toronto Student Medical Certificate must be provided for late assignments. Faxes and e-mail copies will NOT be accepted.
All students are required to keep a photocopy of the assignment. In NO case will the instructor or teaching assistant be held responsible for the loss or misplacement of any assignment. If requested, a student must provide a copy of the assignment. Keep all assignment materials until after you have received your final grade for the course.
Your assignment will be graded according to the following six criteria:
- how precisely and perceptively you respond to the topic;
- how well you apply your chosen theory to analyze the selected problem;
- the degree of clarity and organization;
- the quality and persuasiveness of the argument;
- the quality and degree to which evidence and resources are integrated into the analysis;
- the style and grammar of your writing, and the use of proper ASA citation format.
Stylistic considerations are important. Lapses of organization, logic, syntax, grammar, and idiom will figure significantly in the grading process, so take time to carefully review your assignment. Your course syllabus contains a list of writing manuals that should be consulted. If you are uncertain about your ability to write a sociology/criminology essay, you should contact the Academic Skills Centre at www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc. Teaching assistants will be available to assist you with the research essay.
Students are expected to acquaint themselves with the rules of plagiarism that govern exercises of this kind. Not knowing what constitutes plagiarism is no excuse. If you have any questions, ask the course instructor. The rules concerning plagiarism and parallelism are covered in the Academic Calendar as are the rules for Academic Honesty. You are encouraged to consult the following site: https://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using- sources/how-not-to-plagiarize. You are expected to be familiar with the "Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm) and the Code of Student Conduct (https://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/studentc.htm) which spell out your rights, your duties and provide all the details on grading regulations and academic offences at the University of Toronto.