Assessment Item 5 Instructions
Objectives
The objectives for this assessment item are for students to show:
1. Knowledge of how to find and use criminological source material to support a point of view.
2. Understanding of how to use that material to present a logical and reasoned argument in answer to a specific question.
3. Ability research and write in clear, correct English.
Instructions
Choose ONE of the following topics and write a 1500 word essay:
1) All police should be required to have tertiary qualifications. Why/ why not?
2) Are offender profiles useful in police investigations? Why/why not?
This assignment builds on assignment 2, where you constructed an essay plan for one of the above questions. It is expected and recommended that you answer the same question for this assessment piece so that you can work your plan into a full essay. Be sure to carefully review the feedback provided on your essay plan and incorporate this into your essay.
How to translate an outline to a full essay
You should present your ideas according to the same structure as your essay outline (taking into consideration any feedback from the marker). However, for the essay you are expected to write in full paragraphs. To translate your outline into a full essay, follow this guide:
1) Introduction paragraph (first paragraph)
a) The claim identified in your essay outline introduction will become your thesis
b) The essay plan identified in your introduction will become the essay plan
2) Body paragraphs (there should be 3 – 5 of these, one for each grounds)
a) The grounds statements in the essay outline will become the topic sentences (first sentence) for each body paragraph
b) Each grounds section (i.e. the evidence, warrant, and backing for each point) will become individual body paragraphs
3) Conclusion paragraph (last paragraph)
a) The conclusion will become the conclusion paragraph
4) References
a) Your reference list should again appear in full at the end of your essay.
Going from 750 to 1500 words
As the essay will contain double the words of the outline (1500 vs. 750) you should use the essay to expand on each point in your outline. The main ways to do this are to:
• Discuss your reasoning (i.e. the warrant) in more detail. In other words, provide more of your own commentary about why each point is important and how it links to your claim.
• Describe empirical studies in more detail (e.g. describe the participants, methodology, additional findings)
• Where possible, incorporate transition sentences at the end of body paragraphs which link to the next grounds.
