Writing Assignment 3

Instructions Step 1 Review the Module 6 textbook readings (Chapters 11-14) on sentencing and corrections. Review the Module 6 Learning Unit Review the Module 1 Learning Unit Review the Writing Assignment Rubric which outlines how this assignment will be graded. Read the Paper Format and Helpful Hints sections listed below. Step 2 There are numerous topics of debate when it comes to sentencing and corrections today. Choose one of the following issues related to sentencing and corrections as discussed in the Module 6 textbook and Learning Unit readings. Prosecuting Death (see the Chapter 11 textbook readings and the Policy Matters section at the end of Chapter 11 in your textbook) Civil Forfeiture (see the Chapter 12 textbook readings and the Policy Matters section at the end of Chapter 12 in your textbook) The Right to Vote (see the Chapter 13 textbook readings and the Policy Matters section at the end of Chapter 13 in your textbook) Solitary Confinement (see the Chapter 14 textbook readings and the Policy Matters section at the end of Chapter 14 in your textbook) Step 3 Write a 6-paragraph essay following the paper structure and APA paper format requirements below. APA Cover Page Introductory Paragraph (15 points) Introduce sentencing and corrections (whichever your paper will focus on). Identify the four purposes of sentencing (as discussed in your text, the Module 2 Overview of Criminal Justice Components reading, and the Module 4 and 5 readings). In your own words, discuss each of the four purposes of sentencing. Provide the reader with an overview of the issues and terms you will be discussing in your paper and their relevance to the modules materials. At a minimum, you must cite your textbook throughout this paragraph with APA in-text citations. You should also cite any other sources you use. You must cite sources in this paragraph to earn credit for this paragraph. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion language in this paper. This is not an opinion paper. Body Paragraph One (15 points) In your own words, introduce the issue you selected in Step 2. In your own words, provide at least three current (no older than 5 years), separate, specific facts or statistics to support your discussion. You should conduct research to locate these facts. You must use a government or scholarly research publication for this information. You can use FSCJ’s library website to locate a scholarly research article. Cite any sources you use in this paragraph (textbook, news article, research, and so on) with APA in-text citations. You must cite sources in this paragraph to earn credit for this paragraph. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion language in this paper. This is not an opinion paper. Body Paragraph Two (15 points) As the assignment instructions and module materials indicate, the topic you selected is a matter of debate today. In your own words, clearly identify and discuss at least one argument in support of the issue you identified in Step 2 of this assignment. Provide at least one accurate, reliable, specific fact or statistic to support your discussion, citing your source(s). In your own words, clearly identify and discuss at least one argument not in support of the issue you identified in Step 2 of this assignment. Provide at least one accurate, reliable, specific fact or statistic to support your discussion, citing your source(s). Cite any sources you use in this paragraph (textbook, news article, research, and so on) with APA in-text citations. You must cite sources in this paragraph to earn credit for this paragraph. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion language in this paper. This is not an opinion paper. Body Paragraph Three (15 points) Research one recent (no older than 5 years) news article discussing an incident relevant to the issue you identified in Step 2 of this assignment. In your own words, provide a brief summary (1-3 sentences) of the incident in the news article. In your own words, provide a brief analysis of how the incident in the news article relates to the issue you identified in Step 2 of this assignment. In your own words, identify what elements of the debate over this issue are relevant to the news article you identified and discussed. Cite any sources you use in this paragraph (textbook, news article, research, and so on) with APA in-text citations. You must cite sources in this paragraph to earn credit for this paragraph. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion language in this paper. This is not an opinion paper. Body Paragraph Four (15 points) Identify one concept listed in the lists of Key Terms at the end of Chapters 11-14 of your textbook that is relevant to the issue you selected in Step 2 of this assignment. Clearly identify the concept you are discussing (put it in bold). Provide a definition for the concept in your own words. Cite your textbook for the definition (even when putting it in your own words) as that is where you got the information for that definition. In your own words, clearly, specifically, and thoroughly discuss how the concept you identified is relevant to the issue you identified in Step 2 and the incident you located in Paragraph 4 of this paper. Cite any sources you use in this paragraph (textbook, news article, research, and so on) with APA in-text citations. You must cite sources in this paragraph to earn credit for this paragraph. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion language in this paper. This is not an opinion paper. Conclusion Paragraph (10 points) Based upon your understanding of the readings, the debate, and the research you conducted on your issue, propose one specific policy you would implement to address this issue in our country today. Examples here include (but are not limited to) a proposed law, a community program, an organizational policy, or creation of a task force. Your policy must be clearly and logically stated in your own words and must be clearly informed by the readings and research you conducted on this issue. Cite any sources you use in this paragraph (textbook, news article, research, and so on) with APA in-text citations. You must cite sources in this paragraph to earn credit for this paragraph. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion language in this paper. This is not an opinion paper. APA Reference Page Paper Format You do not need subheadings or abstracts for these papers. Use the APA Word Template and personalize it for this assignment. Your paper should be double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and with 1-inch margins all the way around your paper. See Module 1 Learning Unit for examples of in-text citations and references for your textbook. You should have in-text citations in every paragraph of your paper to align with the materials, concept(s), and definitions you discuss, even though your discussion was in your own words. As you are discussing materials from other sources, even though you are discussing these materials in your own words you must still properly cite sources with in-text citations and references in APA format. Be sure to write in your own words as much as possible. Avoid using direct quotes (write in your own words), and properly cite your textbook (for the concepts), as well as any other sources you use. Anything not in your own words (taken word-for-word from other sources) must be in quotation marks (” “) or you are plagiarizing. You should write in your own words as much as possible, summarizing and paraphrasing what you read/hear in this course, to minimize your similarity to other sources. Even writing in your own words, you must properly cite all sources (textbook, videos, etc.) for the information you are discussing or you are plagiarizing. Do not use first person (I, me, we, us, etc.) or subjective/opinion statements in academic or professional writing, including these writing assignments. This is not an opinion paper. If the information you are discussing in a paragraph is all from one source (such as your textbook), cite that source with in-text citations at the beginning and the end of the paragraph. Also cite the source following any direct quotes. Helpful Hints If the content you are discussing in a paragraph is all from one source (such as your textbook), cite the source at the beginning of the paragraph (after the first sentence) and at the end (after the last sentence), as well as after any direct quotes. A good paragraph is between 4 and 8 complete, thorough, grammatically correct sentences.