Homework answers / question archive / Crim 2252 Research paper guidelines This assignment is worth 20% of your grade Length: 5-6 pages exclusive of a title page and reference page (consult APA for format) Please review and refer to APA 7th edition: https://guides

Crim 2252 Research paper guidelines This assignment is worth 20% of your grade Length: 5-6 pages exclusive of a title page and reference page (consult APA for format) Please review and refer to APA 7th edition: https://guides

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Crim 2252 Research paper guidelines

This assignment is worth 20% of your grade

Length: 5-6 pages exclusive of a title page and reference page (consult APA for format)

Please review and refer to APA 7th edition: https://guides.douglascollege.ca/APA-7

See this link for paper format:

https://guides.douglascollege.ca/APA-7/PaperFormatGuidelines

For a sample paper, open the link on this page:

https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/sample-papers

You are to conduct research and write a formal academic essay (this is not an opinion piece). This paper

is to be done independently. The Student Learning Centre is an extremely resource for Peer and Writing

Support. You can schedule an appointment for a tutor, and you can submit a draft of your paper for

feedback. (DO NOT USE ANY OTHER ONLINE SOURCES/EXTERNAL TUTORS OR HAVE ANYONE ELSE

WRITE THIS PAPER. YOU WILL RECEIVE 0 FOR ANY WORK THAT IS NOT YOUR OWN AND IF YOU HAVE

FAILED TO CITE SOURCES CORRECTLY. BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT A DRAFT OF YOUR WORK TO VERIFY

AUTHORSHIP SHOULD YOU BE ASKED TO DO SO).

Please note that you are required to use academic peer-reviewed journals when conducting research.

Wikipedia is NOT an academic source. You must include the course text (instead of an online

encyclopedia). Contact me for clarification.

For this paper, you will need to find several news paper articles/sources (credible sources and links as

well as documentaries) about the specific topic as many of them are current issues. You may not find

academic sources specifically on your topic but on the general area. The academic sources are meant to

be used as supporting material to assist you to establish the broader context. For example, if you were

examining a specific case about individuals who were involved in a Ponzi scheme where hundreds of

people were defrauded, you need to find news articles about the facts of the case, and perhaps the trial

and outcome. You then conduct academic research, finding what is known in the scholarly field, which

allows you to provide further context. For example, after collecting details in the news media, you can

follow by finding academic peer-reviewed/scholarly articles about related issues as you build your

paper. For example, what are Ponzi schemes and how they work; who are the typical perpetrators;

harms and impacts on victims as well as on society as these schemes can range in the millions; public

perceptions of these crimes; sentencing and deterrence.

You are to explore a specific case (CHOOSE ONLY ONE) and follow with research explaining the specific

phenomenon. The paper mirrors an activity on deviance from earlier in the course:

1. Identify individuals/groups and discuss why they may be considered deviant (from the list below)

(you need to provide background information and context. For this portion of the assignment, you are to

draw on news sources). You are to identify the issue/problem, concerns, debates in society surrounding

the individuals/groups

2. Provide a detailed discussion on why these individuals/groups may be considered deviant: For

example, their ideas/values, actions/behaviours

3. Discuss the threats posed to society (perceived or actual). Follow with a discussion of harms that

apply (physical and/or psychological, financial/economic, or moral-See Chapter 2 of the course text)

4. How might these individuals neutralize/justify their behaviours? (See course text for techniques that

are often used)

5. Conclude with a discussion of what is involved in defining and conceptualizing deviance, informal and

social sanctions, and how norms and values shift and change in society (a dynamic process) over time.

Where possible, you are also to make connections to any sociological theories covered in the course

(identify the theory, core assumptions and how it provides insight into any aspect of the chosen

phenomenon)

Do not choose a topic that is not on the list.

You are to choose only 1 topic from the following list and conduct research:

 

b) Subcultural deviance:  (This is the topic)

- Q-anon (how it began, connections to the insurrection on the US capitol, its global spread, and recent

endorsement by the former president)

 

Sources: In addition to media sources, you are to include 3-5 peer-reviewed academic sources (no older

than 2010) and the course text. More details will be provided.

Outline of the paper:

Introduction: provide some brief background information/context, definitions, relevant facts/dates,

statistics if relevant, and summary of the issue/problem

You must include a thesis statement that outlines the objectives of your paper-what you plan to discuss

(the case, concerns/debates; threats/harms, neutralization/justification, and concluding reflections on

deviance)

In the following body paragraphs, remember to use topic sentences which describe what the paragraph

is about

-research the type of deviance you have chosen for your paper address the issues outlined on the

previous page

Cite all sources for ideas that are not your own (including paraphrased content) and use quotation

marks and include page numbers

For the conclusion, use the course text to help you address the broader issues of deviance

Use the library as a resource:

Make use of information located on the library’s site: how to research topics, how to write a research

paper, contact the librarian with questions, and use the Student Learning Centre for assistance with

writing and organization of your paper. (Do not hesitate to consult me)

Criteria for grading papers:

1. Identification of the problem, type of deviance and detailed discussion

2. Discussion of threats and harms-connections to course text

3. Use and integration of relevant academic sources (and media sources)

4. Comprehension of the issues involved and critical analysis (Note: this is not an opinion piece or an

informal commentary but an academic paper)

5. Use proper citation/referencing (APA): title page, references page (include page numbers for both

direct quotes and paraphrased material-Avoid the pitfalls of patch writing and be mindful about what

constitutes plagiarism)

6. Ability to write and express your ideas clearly and comprehend mechanics and style: grammar, syntax,

spelling, organization

Attached is a Checklist to assist you in the proofreading and editing process of your paper. USE IT!

Checklist - Avoiding Common Errors

Basics

? Ensure that your paper is securely fastened together. If you do not have a stapler that is adequate, use a

clip that is very secure and will not get caught on other papers or fall off easily

? Observe page maximum (title and reference pages excluded)

? Use APA for title and reference pages and for all citations

? Include a creative title, not simply Crim 2252 paper-your title needs to indicate the subject matter of your

paper and the theories chosen (Observe APA format for title pages)

? Review APA for reference pages (format, indentation, and proper citation for different sources)

? Your paper should be double spaced throughout. There is no need for extra space between paragraphs

? Number your pages

? Observe margins and font size according to APA

? Use headings but not unnecessarily so as they can affect the flow of your paper which can make it

choppy

Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation

? In your introductory section, include a thesis statement which outlines the key issues/themes you plan

to discuss in your paper

? Pay attention to topic sentences which begin your paragraphs. They indicate what the paragraph is

about. (Review the function of topic sentences)

? Avoid inappropriate capitalization. For example, unless it is the first word in a sentence or part of a title,

the entire names of theories are not capitalized. e.g., NOT Agnew’s Strain Theory, but Agnew’s Strain

theory. Similarly, criminal justice system is not capitalized

? Avoid using semi-colons (;) unless you know how to use them properly. Semi-colons are used: 1) to

separate two independent clauses (complete sentences) that are clearly connected; or 2) in lieu of a

comma to separate items in a list that is preceded by a colon (:)

? Review colons if you plan to use them: http://www.libraryonline.com/default.asp?pid=32

? Review commas to avoid comma splices (a very common problem)

? Avoid contractions: it’s, didn’t (write in full)

? Review the difference between the possessive and the construction of plurals

? Write using the present tense: The authors of the article outline, describe, state…as opposed to outlined,

described, stated

? Avoid writing in the future and conditional tenses unless it is logical to do so

? Titles of publications (including newspapers, magazines, movies, cases and the like) should be italicized

? Use Canadian punctuation: quotation marks follow commas and periods (“ or .”). Quotation marks

precede colons and semi-colons (“: or “;)

? Pay attention to the placement of punctuation after brackets: (p. 20).

? Check to ensure you are writing complete sentences and not fragments or run-on sentences

? Avoid over-long paragraphs (several pages long): ensure that your ideas are all connected so that your

paragraph is cohesive and flows

? Do not overuse the passive voice

? Avoid malapropism/misuse of words and the invention of words. In the attempt to sound scholarly, do not

write overlong sentences while also tossing in synonyms from the Thesaurus. Sacrificing clarity for

verbosity is not recommended

? Noun/pronoun agreement - If your subject is plural then a plural pronoun is required (e.g., the pronoun

for participants [plural] is they; the pronoun for participant [singular] is s/he).

? Subject/verb agreement - The verb you use must agree with the subject of the sentence (e.g., they are

going; s/he is going)

? Avoid personification of inanimate objects. For example, this paper argues. This author argues or

discusses…

? Review parallel structure when you are creating lists. For example, for punishment to be effective, it

must be swift, certain, sure and have proportion. The correction here is proportional as the list contains

all adjectives. See the following: http://www.grammar.net/parallel-structure

? Use Canadian spellings – remember this is a Canadian university (set your word processor’s dictionary

to English Canada).

? Check to ensure sentences and lists are parallel (a common error)

? Spell check and proofread/edit before submission!!!

Style: APA 7

th edition-You are responsible for knowing how to cite sources, format, etc.

? Write out numbers that are less than ten and avoid starting sentences with numbers (e.g., 45 of the

participants were female)

? You may use the first person and for this assignment it makes sense that you do

? Do NOT use long lists of authors and titles of books/articles in your text. This is simply space filler and

unnecessary with a properly cited paper and reference page. In general, identify all authors of a cited

work in the first reference (in the order in which they appear in the source – do not alphabetize) and

when there are three or more authors replace all but the first with “et al.” for subsequent citations

? Avoid informal language that is chatty in tone, colloquialisms-e.g., use children, not kids; police officers,

not cops; this is a formal, academic paper

? Avoid value laden and overwrought language (e.g., People lack morals; there is too much sex on

television. If you use men, use women; if you use male, use female)

? Avoid vague generalizations: “Everyone knows,” “Crime plagues every society,” “In this day and age,”

“Nowadays”

? Be careful with assumptions/interpretations – you should provide evidence of your arguments with

specific sources from the academic literature (note: wikipedia.com is NOT an academic source)

? Don’t assume I know what you mean when you use etc. If you have more to say, please be specific

? Note: i.e. means ‘that is’ (not ex.); e.g. means ‘for example’

? Use signal phrases to introduce quotes (avoid beginning and ending a sentence with a quote which

requires elaboration): While often seen as a minor or victimless crime, Gabor (2010) explains that “the

shoplifting of merchandise represents a major source of loss for retail businesses” (p.96). NOT “The

shoplifting of merchandise represents a major source of loss for retail businesses” (Gabor, 2010, p. 96).

Citations

? Direct quotes that are over 35-40 words or 4 lines of text need to be put in block paragraphs with .5-inch

indents on both sides and double-spaced. The citation appears at the end of the quote and quotation

marks are not used in this instance only. The block format indicates it is a direct quote. (Do not overuse

as space filler in a short paper)

? Please pay particular attention to how to correctly cite an edited text (see APA)

? Review how to cite within-text citations. Charmaz (2007) provides some steps on how to conduct

grounded theory (as cited in Hesse-Biber & Leavy, 2011, p. 308)

? If you refer to sources contained within an original source, you do not include the indirect source in your

references

? You MUST include the page number in your citations whether you are providing a direct quote OR

paraphrasing. All paraphrases must be cited. If a paraphrase is too close to the original, it should

be left in quotation marks so as to avoid being tagged as patch-writing. If you are using an online

article that is not available in pdf format, then use the pages as they appear when the online article is

printed in html format or refer to paragraph number

Avoid patch-writing (which is a form of plagiarism: combining words/phrases of an author with your

own. It is, therefore, important that you use proper citation (even when paraphrasing ideas from a

source)