The current event paper will require each student to select a news article about a crime that occurred in the previous year. The expected paper length is 2-3 pages (double spaced, Times New Roman Font, 1-inch margins). This paper will summarize the key elements of the crime, and then use one or more theories discussed in class to explain why the crime occurred. The article can be from any reputable international or national journalistic news outlet. The story CANNOT be an editorial or opinion article. If you have questions about whether an article is appropriate, please discuss it with me before writing the paper. Further details about the paper will be provided in a rubric later in the semester.
ter in the semester.
Assessment Criteria
1. Content & Accuracy (40 points). The summarizing of the content and discussion of how it is related to course material should be accurate. Your job will be to accurately describe the article and describe the relevance of the article to this course by including information drawn from the lectures, reading, and/or discussion. Factual errors in the discussion of this information will result in a lower grade.
2. Structure & Logic (40 points). Your relation of the article to the class materials should follow a logical structure. The reader should be able to clearly follow how the current event article is related to material discussed in class. Do your best to avoid including information that distracts from this. The goal is a straightforward connection between the current event article and topics discussed in class.
3. Spelling & Grammar (20 points). Please give attention to ensuring that your writing abides by the conventions of spelling and grammar. An abundance of misspelled words, incomplete sentences, and other errors will result lower marks.
