Topic: Research paper that critically examines an issue related to Criminal Justice.

Order Description Students may earn up to an extra 5 percentage points by preparing a 5-7 page (title page not included in total page length) research paper that critically examines an issue related to criminal justice. The paper must be submitted at the beginning of class by 12/3. In taking this course, the student acknowledges and accepts that their paper will be submitted to a plagiarism detector (e.g., TURNITIN, SAFEASSIGN). Plagiarism is a very serious academic offense. Refer to the University’s academic dishonesty policy which outlines the severe sanctions associated with plagiarism (available online: https://www.assurance.vcu.edu/Policy%20Library/Honor%20System.pdf. 1 Dr. Mancini, CRJS181, Introduction to Criminal Justice Extra Credit Paper Grading Rubric: NAME:__________________ Prior approval MUST be given by Dr. Mancini before starting on the paper. Deviating from this required format will result in a loss of points. Please print a copy of this grading rubric and attach it to your paper (as the very first page), along with acknowledgement of Dr. Mancini’s prior approval (see Syllabus). You can receive up to 100 points on this assignment, which translates into a maximum of 5 additional percentage points added to the final score. Required Length (5-7 Pages) and Rubric Sheet Attached (10 points) ? Paper is required length and rubric sheet is attached. TOTAL: Title Page, Page Numbers, and Stapled (5 points) ? Title page and page numbers are present and paper is stapled or bound with a binder clip. TOTAL: Content (25 points) ? Paper covers appropriate topic. ? Content-wise, all headings are addressed. TOTAL: Organization (20 points) ? Thesis clearly stated. ? Paragraphs follow based on thesis statement. ? Ideas are clearly formed and distinct in separate paragraphs. ? Headings are clearly and consistently defined (bold or italics, capitalized headings). TOTAL: Balanced and Draws from Empirical Studies (15 points) ? Paper sufficiently discusses all aspects of the thesis statement and summarizes extant research on the topic. TOTAL: Formatting (5 points) ? 12 point, Times New Roman font. ? Margins are appropriate (1 inch on each side). ? Paper is double-spaced. TOTAL: Spelling, Grammar, and Structure (10 points) ? No/ few spelling/grammatical or sentence structure errors are present. TOTAL: References (10 points) ? At least nine references are present and they are consistent and in an appropriate format. TOTAL: OVERALL TOTAL POINTS: 2 Required Headings: You may add additional headings in your paper, but I expect you to address all of the following sections: Introduction (i.e., include a few introductory sentences along with a thesis or roadmap statement—that is, a sentence or two regarding the specific ideas you will discuss further in the paper) Description of Criminal Justice Issue/Controversy (i.e., approved topic general description) Historical Significance (i.e., describe the historical context of issue) Research Needed to Better Understand Issue (i.e., what needs to be done research-wise to better understand the complexities regarding the paper topic) Implications of Issue (i.e., what are the “real world” consequences regarding the paper topic) Application of Course Concepts (i.e., describe how course readings/discussions have contributed to your understanding of the topic) Commentary (i.e., your personal opinion regarding the topic)