CRIM 495 – Spring 2014
Guidelines for Individual Research Papers
Nature of the Research Paper
There is general agreement that when a crime is committed, justice should ensue. However,
there are different ideas about what justice means and how to bring it about. The purpose of this
assignment is to apply different models and meanings of justice to an actual criminal event,
analyzing how those models would be applied, what outcomes they might produce, the
advantages and limitations of each, and which you think is the best approach, and why.
You will do a case study of a real crime using document review data collection methods. You’ll
sign up to study one of the court cases listed on Blackboard. These files will be available in the
Clerk’s Office of the Prince William County or the Fairfax County Circuit Court. Instructions on
accessing and reviewing the file are provided separately.
Your paper will present an in-depth analysis of the crime/s and the circumstances, the offender/s
and his/her/their circumstances, and the victim/s and the impact of the crime/s on him/her/them,
and on the community. You will then apply each of the models of justice we discuss in this
course to the case: offender-focused justice (retributive/utilitarian), restorative justice, and
parallel justice. Your sources for information on these models of justice are the readings,
lectures, videos, etc. presented in the lecture part of this class. You will discuss how each model
could be applied to the case, what outcomes it could produce, and the advantages and
disadvantages of each approach to justice. You will then state which model you believe best
meets the goal of providing justice, and you will explain your reasoning.
This paper should NOT summarize the way the case was processed through the justice system.
The purpose of this paper is not to examine justice system processing of cases, but rather to use
the case as an example of how different approaches to justice can be applied and the strengths
and weaknesses of each. If your paper describes that first there was a hearing on this, then there
was a motion on that, then . . . blah blah blah . . . it will receive a failing grade.
If you are unclear on what the nature of this research and the written report should be, ask
questions and don’t stop asking until you’re sure you understand the answer.
This paper is assigned to students as individuals, meaning you must do the research, analysis and
writing on your own, with assistance as provided in the writing lab/recitation. You will develop
your paper through an iterative process of draft, review, revision, and resubmission, in the
writing lab/recitation. 2
Grading Criteria
These are the criteria on which your papers will be graded, listed in order of importance.
Assume a continuum from A to F for each criterion, with papers that are stronger on a criterion
getting a grade more toward the A to C end of the scale for that criterion (depending on how
strong), and papers that are weaker on a criterion getting a grade more toward the C to F end of
the scale for that criterion (depending on how weak). The overall grade for your paper will be a
weighted average of the grades on each of the grading criteria, with the more important criteria
playing a larger role in the overall grade. Use of the recitation part of this class and the writing
workbook will help you to produce a well-written paper. You can also find resources on
effective writing at writingcenter.gmu.edu, click on the “Resources” tab.
Coverage of Specified Points
Be sure to address the specific questions in the assignment instructions. If it’s not in the
instructions, I don’t want to read about it. The more relevant points you miss and/or the more
irrelevant discussion you include, the lower your grade.
Critical Thinking
The more clearly, logically, and strongly you make your points, using valid reasoning and
evidence, the higher your grade.
Structure and Organization
Use headings to organize your paper, and make sure the discussion flows smoothly from one
topic to another; don’t ping-pong back and forth among topics. Say what you need to say as
efficiently and concisely as possible, avoiding excess verbiage.
The sections of your paper should include:
Abstract
Introduction (topic and purpose of the paper)
Literature review (explanation of the different models of justice)
Methods (explaining the case study approach with data collection through document
reviews)
Findings/results (explaining the criminal case, how each model of justice would be
applied, and what outcomes it would and would not be likely to produce)
Discussion/conclusions (evaluating the advantages and drawbacks of each model of
justice for this case, and explaining your preferred model and your rationale for that
choice)
3
Use and Citation of Sources
The content of your paper should show that you used the sources provided, and the sources
should be cited as needed and appropriately (when in doubt, cite!). You may also use additional
sources that you find on your own if you wish (this is not required), as long as they’re relevant
and credible. Be sure to use quotation marks to denote quoted material, and cite all sources
quoted and all sources you drew on to develop your ideas. Use quotations very, very
sparingly. The large majority of your discussion of resource material should be
paraphrased into your own words, so I know that you understand it. When I see extensive
use of quotations, I assume that you’re parroting what you heard, rather than actually explaining
it, because you didn’t understand it. That will not help your grade.
Failure to cite all sources you read and used, as well as citing sources you didn’t actually read
and use, are both plagiarism and will result in an F on the paper and a referral to the Office of
Academic Integrity.
You need to use APA citation formats for both in-text citations and the reference list at the end
of your paper. Your writing workbook provides information on both in-text citations and
reference lists for some of the types of sources you should use (such as journal articles and
books). Here are guidelines on how to cite other types of sources not covered in the workbook.
For PowerPoints, use this format for in-text citations (using PPT 2 as an example): PPT 2, 2013.
Use this format for giving the full citation in the reference list: PPT 2, “What is Justice?” CRIM
495, Spring 2014.
For videos and websites used in class, cite the information provided in the PPTs.
For the criminal case file, cite it in text as Commonwealth of Virginia v. full name of defendant.
After the first in-text citation, you can abbreviate it to Virginia v. last name of defendant. Cite it
in the reference list as Commonwealth of Virginia v. full name of defendant, CR number, year
the case was disposed.
For news articles, cite them as you would a research report, according to your writing workbook.
Composition
If your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and writing style are so poor as to cloud your meaning,
this will lower your grade. Elements of composition are not the most important criteria, but they
should not get in the way of communicating your ideas. I strongly recommend that you read
your paper out loud to yourself and correct any errors you hear; if it sounds bad in your ears, it
reads poorly on the page.
4
Timeliness of Submission
All papers are due on hardcopy in class by the start of class time on the due date. If you
don’t turn it in by then, you can make a late submission by email, but there’s a 5-point-per-day
(with a day defined as a 24-hour period beginning at the start of the class on the due date)
penalty for late submissions, and no papers will be accepted more than 7 days late. If you submit
by email you must ALSO provide me with a hardcopy ASAP. I won’t grade your paper until I
receive it on paper.
If you don’t get your paper in by 7 days of the due date, you’ll get a zero for this part of your
course grade.
Format
Provide the name of the case you’ve analyzed and your name on a cover page. Please print it out
single-sided, numbering the pages and stapling them together. Use 1-inch margins all the way
around and no smaller than 12-point font (any font that’s easily readable). Use double spacing
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