PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

The two assessments for this unit are focused on developing your skills in critical analysis and require you to undertake independent research. This guide is applicable to both assessments 1 and 2 for Perspectives in Criminology 2018.

1. PREPARATIONS AND RESEARCH:

• You need to relate your writing to the specific topic provided in the Learning Guide. You cannot make your own topic. If you are struggling with the questions, contact your tutor or the unit coordinator.
• You are expected, as university students, to go to the library and do your research there. Make sure you log on to the UWS library website and have a look at the e-resources database. You should have no trouble finding good peer-reviewed work here to reference in your essay. If you are not sure about how to best utilise the library website, ask you tutor or contact your unit coordinator, but make sure you do this well before the due date of the assignment.
• Wikipedia is not accepted as an academic source!
• For the two assignments you are expected to have no less than5(assessment 1) and8(assessment 2) academic references respectively. Media articles do not count as academic sources, but may be used. Keep in mind, these figures are the minimum required to pass the assignment, it is highly recommended that you engage with as many relevant texts as possible.

PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

1. STRUCTURE, CONTENT AND PRESENTATION:

• Your essay should be 1.5 or double spaced
• You must have a title and indicate which of the assigned questions you have selected.
• You must include an introduction whichoutlines the purpose and objectives of your assignment, including answering the following questions:
  • What is your topic (briefly outline)?
  • What is the purpose of your essay?
  • What is/are your main argument/s?

PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

• Structure is an extremely important part of writing. It not only includes your writing and sentence structure, but also the narrative flow of your work:
  • Most often one of key problems
  • Can be avoided if you plan your writing carefully
  • It is essential to organise topics, issues and arguments and present them as a logical and coherent unit

PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

• Conclusion:
  • Your essay needs to have some closure that is based on your previous arguments.

• Grammar and expression:
  • As students, you HAVE TO use academic language. Avoid:
    • Long sentences
    • Long quotes
    • Dot points
    • Contractions (‘didn’t’, ‘doesn’t’); spell out full word (did not, does not) and avoid using ‘etc’. If you have more to say, say it. Etc. is a lazy way out.
    • Emotive language (‘huge’, ‘enormous’, ‘gigantic’, ‘massive’)
    • Direct questions and simplified answers (For example sentence like: “Should we say she is a victim? No!”)

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PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

• Referencing:
  • Reference list has to be included at the end of your essay
  • Lecture notes are not references
  • All in-text references have to be in reference list
  • Always put quotes in context! Do not leave quote to ‘speak for itself’
  • Refer to library website for correct referencing
  • Pay attention to direct quotes AND give page numbers!
  • Use Turnitin to see where you make mistakes

PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

• Academic analysis:
  • Your opinion/argument is an essential part of your writing but should be supported with references where possible.
  • Your paragraphs need to be linked to one another
  • Critical engagement with the theory and literature is a must if you want higher grades. Move beyond superficial claims and tell me why certain phenomena exist and how theory relates to your discussion.

1. SUBMISSION:

• You need to read your essay prior to submission. If it doesn’t make sense to you, it won’t make sense to your marker either!
• Proof-read for errors and spelling mistakes AND run a spelling and grammar check!
• Get familiar with Turnitinand read the Originality Report before final submission. If you have a high similarity index, you may not be referencing correctly and/or may need to adjust your writing.

PERSPECTIVES IN CRIMINOLOGY 2018 ASSESSMENT

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT EITHER OF THE ASSIGNMENTS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING THEM TO CLASS AND/OR EMAIL YOUR TUTOR OR UNIT COORDINATOR.

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