Length: 2000 words
Value: 50% of Final Grade
ULOs assessed: 1, 2 and 3
You must write a 2000-word essay in response to one of the topics set out below. Your essay must be referenced in the Harvard Style with a minimum of 12 academic sources. Standard penalties and processes apply according to Faculty Policy.
- Should the causes of offending be theorised separately for men and women, or should a legitimate causative theory of crime apply to all sexes? Discuss using specific examples to illustrate your ideas.
- Are some social environments more “criminogenic” than others? Use criminological theory and specific examples to explain why or why not.
- Is there a need for a “general theory of crime”, or are different theoretical approaches required to explain different types of crime or different offenders? Discuss using examples.
- To remain relevant and have a significant impact on criminal justice policies and practices, criminologists will have to agree on the causes of crime and find effective ways to address them. Discuss using examples and with reference to relevant criminological theory.
- When looking for the cause of most types of crime, there is no need to look beyond inequality. Discuss the validity of this statement using examples.
The following criteria will be used to assess the essay:
- Relevance of arguments raised in response to the question (30%)
- Demonstrated understanding of criminological theory (30%)
- Essay structure (20%)
- Writing skills – expression, grammar and spelling (10%)
- Adequacy of sources and referencing (including quality and range of material) (10%)
Sources
The Unit textbook (Williams, KS, 2012, 7th edition) and Digital Reading list should be considered starting points for your research. You will need to draw on additional peer-reviewed academic sources to support your arguments. Media sources can be used to help source relevant examples only. It is best to use Australian examples to illustrate particular points, but you are welcome to draw on international academic sources when outlining theoretical perspectives.
Referencing
Correct referencing is absolutely essential for this assessment. Students must use Harvard Style referencing, and supply a correctly formatted reference list. Your reference list doesn’t count towards the word count.
Word Count
2000 words is the required limit. Sticking to this is important. A 10% leeway applies for the word count of this Assessment Task overall (1800-2200 words). Your reference list does not contribute to your word count. Significantly exceeding or falling short of the word limit detracts from the overall quality of your work and this will be reflected in your final mark.
