Assignment:
Term Paper Assignment Directions:
Each student is required to write a APA Style 7th edition term paper that consist of three (3) full pages of substance, not including the cover page and reference page.
It is more important that the 100 level student work on writing mechanics so that you start to demonstrate critical thinking in your written communications. Academic writing takes practice and is a process. The only way to improve academic writing skills is through practice and writing papers.
Each paper must include at least three peer-reviewed journal articles that support your analysis. Students must format in-text citations and references in APA Style 7th edition.
MEAL Plan for Paragraph Construction.
Students will be introduced to APA Style formatting as you progress in your studies; however, it is more important that you learn how to write in an organized manner, have a good thesis statement, supporting paragraphs that flow into the next paragraph, and start to demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing the literature at this level of your education.
Stay away from using Quotes. Paraphrase your analysis and stay away from using quotes in your paper. What is needed is your original analysis of the literature. If you use direct quotes, you will lose points. Once again, your analysis in your original voice is needed.
Think about the audience that you are trying to connect with in your paper. Are you writing to the discipline, profession, or policy-makers, etc.? Use scholarly language that demonstrates your command of the topic.
Stay away from using first person voice. Work on using third person. Make sure you are not using the passive voice in your work. Use good time management and edit your paper looking for errors so that you submit your best work.
A good tool to use for your academic writing is to set-up your Word document to check for basic spelling, English & grammar errors, passive voice, and first person. To do this you need to set-up the advance setting in your Word Spell Check. This tool is a great resource to help you establish good writing habits and edit your paper.
Your work should be your own original writing. Please view the university plagiarism policy to avoid problems. Make sure to give credit to all sources that inspired your thinking with in-text citations in the body of your work and listed in alphabetical order on your reference list.
Students must select one of the topics below to research and write on. The topic choice is up to the learner, but the top selection must come from this list.
The United States Criminal Justice System
Criminal Law in the United States
The History of US Law Enforcement
Compare different police patrol procedures
Law Enforcement Jurisdiction
Analysis of a Supreme Court Case (Student can select any US Supreme Court Case that impacted police producers or protocols)
Federal law enforcement (select only one agency)
Police Patrol Procedures (select one are to focus on)
Local Police/Law Enforcement (Select a state, county, or city department)
Technology used to enhance police patrol strategy
History of US Jails
The State Court System (Students are free to select the state court system they write about)
Corrections (any area but it is advised to select a narrow topic)