CCJS389H Fall 2013 (Gottfredson).pdf - Criminology and Criminal ...
CCJS389H Fall 2013 (Gottfredson).pdf - Criminology and Criminal ...
CCJS389H Fall 2013 (Gottfredson).pdf - Criminology and Criminal ...
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<strong>CCJS389H</strong>: Independent Research in <strong>Criminology</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Criminal</strong> Justice<br />
Departmental Honors Seminar<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
LeFrak Hall, 2165E<br />
Wednesday 1-3:45<br />
Professor Denise C. <strong>Gottfredson</strong><br />
Department of <strong>Criminology</strong> & <strong>Criminal</strong> Justice<br />
2220D LeFrak Hall<br />
301-405-4717<br />
gott@umd.edu<br />
Office hours: by appointment<br />
Teaching Assistant: Katie Zafft,<br />
2220A LeFrak Hall<br />
301-405-6738<br />
kzafft@umd.edu<br />
Office hours: TBD <strong>and</strong> by appointment<br />
COURSE DESCRIPTION<br />
This course is the third course in the required four-semester (12<br />
required credit hours) honors program sequence. In this course, students<br />
will write <strong>and</strong> defend the honors thesis. They will follow the outline<br />
developed in the last course in this sequence to write each section of the<br />
thesis, provide feedback to fellow students on their work, <strong>and</strong> prepare <strong>and</strong><br />
deliver a presentation summarizing their thesis.<br />
HONORS THESIS<br />
This will be a research proposal, <strong>and</strong> will include a full literature review<br />
that provides a persuasive case that the chosen research question has not<br />
yet been answered in rigorous research <strong>and</strong> is worthy of empirical attention.<br />
The proposal then describes the data <strong>and</strong> methods that will be used to<br />
answer the question. You may propose to collect “primary” data, in which<br />
case you will explain <strong>and</strong> justify a sampling strategy, data collection method,<br />
<strong>and</strong> measures. You may also propose to use “secondary” data, in which case<br />
you will identify the data set, justify that it is appropriate, <strong>and</strong> argue how the<br />
fundamental concepts are captured by measures in the data set. Then you<br />
must explain how the data will be analyzed <strong>and</strong> how this analysis will answer<br />
the question. Finally, the thesis ends with a critical consideration of the likely
implications of the research, limitations of their proposal, <strong>and</strong> directions for<br />
future work. (about 30 pages).<br />
CLASS FORMAT<br />
Most of the work in this class will be independent, as students write<br />
<strong>and</strong> rewrite sections of their thesis. However, we will use a structured peer<br />
review process in which students will provide feedback to each other on<br />
sections of the thesis. We will use Dropbox for all file submissions (drafts to<br />
peer reviewers, peer reviews, <strong>and</strong> updated drafts to Prof. <strong>Gottfredson</strong>).<br />
Details on the file submission specifics will be provided the first day of class.<br />
All assignments will be posted for assigned peer reviewers by 4 p.m. the<br />
Monday before the assignment date. Peer reviewers will post their<br />
comments in the reviewed student’s Dropbox folder <strong>and</strong> provide feedback in<br />
class on Wednesday. After editing the work based on peer feedback,<br />
students will submit (by 4 p.m. Friday) the edited section to Prof.<br />
<strong>Gottfredson</strong> for additional feedback. Class meeting time will be used to<br />
provide <strong>and</strong> receive this feedback. Students are expected to participate fully<br />
in the peer review process, to make continuous progress towards the thesis,<br />
<strong>and</strong> to ask intelligent questions of the visitors during the two panel sessions.<br />
REQUIRED READING<br />
Students will be reading literature related to their thesis topics throughout<br />
the semester. In addition, sections of the following textbook will be<br />
assigned:<br />
Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.C., & Williams, J.M. (2008). The Craft of<br />
Research, 3rd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [ISBN-13:<br />
978-0-226-06566-3/ISBN-10:0-226-06566-9]<br />
GRADING POLICY<br />
Grades will be based on the quality of final thesis (80%), participation<br />
in the peer review process (10% for on time submission of feedback), <strong>and</strong><br />
the presentation of the thesis (10%).<br />
DISABILITY SUPPORT<br />
Every effort will be made to accommodate students who are registered<br />
with the Disability Support Services (DSS) Office <strong>and</strong> who provide a<br />
University of Maryl<strong>and</strong> DSS Accommodation form, updated for the current<br />
semester. Students requiring special accommodations must inform me <strong>and</strong><br />
provide the required DSS form within the first two weeks of class.
COURSE OUTLINE<br />
Below is a schedule of class meetings <strong>and</strong> milestones.<br />
Date Class Meetings Milestones/<br />
Readings/<br />
Assignments<br />
(due before class)<br />
Sept 4 Overview, assignment<br />
of peer review teams/<br />
Sept 11<br />
Writing Tips<br />
Statement of the<br />
problem <strong>and</strong> brief<br />
description of it<br />
Read Booth Chapters 13 <strong>and</strong> 16.<br />
Email your assignment to 2 peer<br />
reviewers by Monday, September 9<br />
Post your revision of the assignment to<br />
Prof. <strong>Gottfredson</strong> by Friday, September<br />
13<br />
Sept 18 Optional Help Session Read Booth Chapter 17<br />
Sept 25<br />
Oct 2<br />
Review of the<br />
literature/Research<br />
questions<br />
Preparing Methods<br />
Section<br />
Optional Help Session<br />
Email your assignment to 2 peer<br />
reviewers by Monday, September 23<br />
Post your revision of the assignment to<br />
Prof. <strong>Gottfredson</strong> by Friday, September<br />
27<br />
Oct 9<br />
Oct 16<br />
Oct 23<br />
Methods: Measures,<br />
Sample, <strong>and</strong> Analysis<br />
Optional Help Session<br />
Limitations, Summary<br />
<strong>and</strong> Conclusions<br />
Guidance on<br />
Presentations<br />
Email your assignment to 2 peer<br />
reviewers by Monday, October 7<br />
Post your revision of the assignment to<br />
Prof. <strong>Gottfredson</strong> by Friday, October 11<br />
Re-Read Booth Chapter 10 on<br />
acknowledging alternative explanations<br />
for your conclusions.<br />
Email your assignment to 2 peer<br />
reviewers by Monday, October 21
Post your revision of the assignment to<br />
Prof. <strong>Gottfredson</strong> by Friday, October 25<br />
Oct 30 Presentations Read Booth chapter 14.<br />
Nov 6<br />
Nov 13<br />
Nov 20<br />
Nov 26<br />
Dec 4<br />
Presentations<br />
Presentations<br />
ASC – no class<br />
Thanksgiving - No<br />
Class<br />
Optional Help Session<br />
Dec 11<br />
Written Thesis Due