RESEARCH PAPER SECTION
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CRIM 495 Spring 2019 Professor Johnson
RESEARCH PAPER SECTION 2 NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
Due Date Thursday, March 21 by 12noon Requirements
1. Submit a draft of Section 2 of your paper (Nature of the Problem). In Section 2, you should describe the nature of the disparity or inequality that you have selected. First, you should provide some context, data, and/or background information about the disparity: how widespread or prevalent is the problem, who or what groups are most affected? Next, you should discuss the causes of the disparity: what are the reasons why the inequality exists? For example, does the disparity exist because a law is enforced or applied unequally? Does the disparity exist because of a specific criminal justice policy or practice? Does the disparity exist because of how a criminal justice process is implemented? Finally, you should discuss the implications or consequences of the disparity: what are some of the adverse effects of this inequality?
2. Your draft of Section 2 should reference at least 4 scholarly sources.
Format and Word Count Section 2 should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Pages should be numbered. There is no specific page requirement or word count for Section 2, but keep in mind that the full paper should be at least 3,500 words (excluding the title page and reference list) and Sections 2 and 3 will comprise the bulk of the paper. Organization and Mechanics of Writing Be sure to organize your paper in a logical manner and use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use headings and subheadings as appropriate. Remember to include your name and the assignment name at the top of your essay. Use and Citation of Sources Your paper must be based on research comprised primarily of scholarly references, including appropriate social scientific and/or natural scientific sources (peer reviewed), reports from prestigious institutions/organizations, and policy materials. The majority of your scholarly sources should be published between 2000 and 2019. Newspaper and other reference sources also may be used, as appropriate, but should be used sparingly. Avoid plagiarism by using your own words, properly citing source material with in-text or parenthetical citations according to APA format, and properly identifying direct quotations. Papers may be evaluated using anti-plagiarism software, such as SafeAssign. Submission This assignment must be submitted via Blackboard by the date/time indicated. The late submission of assignments is strongly discouraged. Late assignments submitted within 3 days (72 hours) of the due date will receive a grading penalty for each day they are late and may not receive detailed feedback. No assignment will be accepted for credit if it is more than three days (72 hours) late.
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Assessment of Draft Sections Section drafts will be evaluated based on effort, not achievement. Students who make a good faith and sincere effort to submit a draft that meets the assignment criteria, by the due date, will receive full credit for that assignment. Students who demonstrate less effort and/or do not submit their drafts by due date will not receive full credit for the assignment. See attached rubric for detailed assessment criteria.
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CRIM 495 Spring 2019 Professor Johnson
Assessment Rubric for Research Paper: Draft Section #2
GENERAL [ENTIRE PAPER] Excellent Good Ok Marginal Unacceptable
Structure and organization Structure is clear, organization makes sense and topics flow smoothly. Use of transition words. Use and proper format of headings and subheadings.
Content is organized in a logical way, topic sentences clearly illustrate main points, transition words/phrases connect one idea/paragraph to another. Headings formatted and used correctly.
Content is organized in a logical way, some topic sentences and transition words/phrases are used. Use of headings for all sections with some formatting errors
Each section is presented separately with few connections between different sections. Use of headings for major sections only with some formatting errors
Sections presented in a confusing or illogical manner with little to no use of topic sentences and/or transition words/phrases. Use of headings for major sections only and with incorrect formatting.
Sections presented in a confusing or illogical manner with little to no use of topic sentences and/or transition words/phrases. Use of headings is inconsistent and incorrect.
Citations Incorporates scholarly sources to back up claims with in-text or parenthetical citations.
All cited works are done in correct APA format with no errors.
Some cited works are done in correct APA format. Inconsistencies evident.
Few cited works are done in correct APA format.
Works are often not cited, and when they are, the APA format is incorrect.
Missing/No Evidence; Paper is based mostly on opinion.
Format Double-spacing, 12- point font, 1-inch margins, page numbering, typed, etc.
No errors in formatting.
Almost no errors in formatting.
Regular errors in formatting (e.g. continually misses indent)
Many errors in formatting.
Numerous and distracting errors in formatting
Writing Mechanics Word choice, syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, voice and tone, use of first person
All of the writing is formal and in active voice. Avoids contractions and slang. Proper syntax, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Appropriate use of first person
Most of the writing is formal and in active voice. Generally avoids contractions and slang. Almost no errors in syntax, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Some of the writing is informal and in passive voice Regular errors in syntax, grammar, spelling and punctuation. May use contractions. First person used incorrectly.
Most of the writing is informal and in passive voice Many errors in syntax, grammar, spelling, punctuation and use of first person. Contractions and slang common.
All of the writing is informal and in passive voice Numerous and distracting errors in writing mechanics.
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DRAFT SECTION #2: NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
Excellent
Good
Ok
Marginal
Unacceptable
Prevalence of the Problem -Identifies what groups the problem affects the most, as well as identifies the main group the paper will address -Indicates how common this problem is using scholarly sources and statistical information
The section is concise, organized, and based on scholarly research. It is clear what the main group the paper will focus on as well as indicates the prevalence of the issue.
The section is concise, organized, and based on scholarly research. It might not be clear what the main group the paper will focus on or includes some unnecessary information.
The section is not concise, not organized, but is based on scholarly research. It is not clear what the main group the paper will focus on and includes some unnecessary information.
The section is unorganized and/or is not based on scholarly research. It includes too much unnecessary information.
The prevalence of the problem is missing, is based primarily on opinion rather than scholarly research, and/or is plagiarized.
Potential Causes of the Disparity -Identifies potential reasons that this disparity occurs using scholarly sources or other theoretical explanations
The potential causes of the disparity are clearly addressed using scholarly sources or theoretical explanation.
The potential causes of the disparity are mostly addressed using scholarly sources or theoretical explanation.
The potential causes of the disparity are somewhat addressed or includes some unnecessary information.
The potential causes of the disparity are unclear, unorganized, and/or are not based on scholarly research or theoretical explanation
The potential causes of the disparity are missing, are based primarily on opinion rather than scholarly research, and/or are plagiarized.
Implications/ Consequences of the Disparity -Explains the adverse effects that can occur because of this disparity based on scholarly sources
The implications and consequences of the disparity are clearly addressed through the use of scholarly sources.
The implications and consequences of the disparity are mostly addressed through the use of scholarly sources.
The implications and consequences of the disparity are somewhat addressed or includes some unnecessary information.
The implications and consequences of the disparity are unclear, unorganized, and/or are not based on scholarly research
The implications and consequences of the disparity are missing, are based primarily on opinion rather than scholarly research, and/or are plagiarized.
Scholarly References -Minimum of 4 scholarly references required in this section
At least 4 scholarly sources are cited, maybe more.
At least 4 scholarly sources are cited.
Only 3 scholarly sources are cited.
Only 1-2 scholarly sources are cited.
No scholarly sources are cited.