Final Paper Preparation

To prepare for your Final Paper (due in Week Five), complete the  following assignment and submit it to your instructor for feedback. Your  paper should include a problem statement, outline, and annotated  bibliography.

Problem Statement: Describe the social problem selected for your paper.

Outline: Using the sample below as a guide, provide  an outline for your Final Paper. Remember that papers are expected to  define a significant problem faced by the justice system, describe the  scope and consequences of the problem, and discuss society’s responses  to the problem (including public policies and other less formal  responses). Your paper should also present a clearly reasoned  alternative, supported by scholarly research.

• Title
• Abstract
• What is the problem? Be sure to narrow your problem enough to allow a focused examination.
• What are the individual and social implications of this problem?  Discussion of implications should be supported by accurate research  data.
• What do the experts say about the problem?
• What have we, as a society, done about this problem? Consider public policies and other, less formal responses.
• How are public policies and other, less formal responses working?
• Describe an alternative solution to the problem.
• Discuss why the alternative is, or can be, an effective response to  the problem. Remember to consider negative consequences of the  alternative response.
• Conclude with your thoughts about your chosen social problem. This  is a good place to include personal opinions, assuming you wish to share  them in a research paper.
• References

In short, define a problem, discuss the response, and provide  alternative responses to the problem. For example, your problem could be  drug use/abuse, with a focus on prescription drug abuse among  teenagers. Your description of the problems should be fact based,  relying on expert opinion. Your alternative can be an adjustment of  current policy or a new direction. For example, you may propose longer  prison sentences, or legalization of all drugs. Be creative, although  suggestions must be supported by scholarly research.

Annotated Bibliography: The purpose of creating a  list of sources is to assist you in organizing and evaluating your  research. The list should include the following information for each  source (minimum of five):

• Name of the source, including the complete bibliographic citation in proper APA format.
• Summary of the source (at least one paragraph) including how this source will contribute to your paper.

The paper must be three to five pages in length and formatted  according to APA style. You must use at least five scholarly resources other than the textbook to support your claims and sub-claims. Cite your  resources in text and on the reference page.