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GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Instructor: Patricia A. Masters, Ph.D. OVERVIEW REQUIRED BOOKS AND READINGS (available at the University Bookstore, Johnson Center) J. Robert Lilly, Francis T. Cullen, and Richard A. Ball. 2002 (third edition). Criminological Theory: Contexts and Consequences. Provides an overview of both classic and contemporary theories of criminology, this text strongly emphasizes the social policy implication of different theories on crime and criminals. Jack Katz. 1988. Seductions of Crime: Moral and Sensual Attractions in Doing Evil. New York: Basic Books. A sociology classic, Katz’s book attempts to get inside the criminal psyche to understand what it means or feels, signifies, sounds, tastes, or looks like to do any particular crime. Richard T. Wright and Scott Decker. 1994. Burglars on the Job: Streetlife and Residential Break-ins. Boston: Northeastern University Press. Based on interviews with active burglars in St. Louis, Wright and Decker’s book focuses on the practical decisions and motivations for burglarizing homes. Stanton E. Samenow. Inside the Criminal Mind. Revised and updated edition released in 2004. New York: Crown Publishers. The inclusion of this book represents an attempt to examine the psychology of the criminal mind and challenges many early sociological explanations of criminality that focused on the environment not the individual. (I hope that Dr. Samenow will be able to come to the seminar to discuss his book with us.) Gilbert Geis, Robert F. Meier, and Lawrence M. Salinger. 1995. White Collar Crime: Classic and Contemporary Views. This book will be reprinted by Lightning Press. It was originally published by the Free Press. Provides an in-depth look at white collar crimes, including the development of this sub-field of criminology, theories, examples, and societal costs of corporate crime. John Braithwaite. 1989. Crime, Shame, and Reintegration. New York: Cambridge University Press. We will use only a few chapters of this book, which focuses on the use of reintegrative shaming as means of controlling crime. Chapters used for this course will link with our discussion of white collar crime. Extra copies of the book are on reserve at the Johnson Media Center, so it is not required that you purchase the book. Meda Chesney-Lind and Lisa Pasko, eds. 2004. Girls, Women, and Crime: Selected Readings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. This reader is a compilation of recent journals articles on female offenders. It looks at two key questions: “How does gender matter in crime and in the justice system?” and "What characterizes women’s and girls’ pathway to crime?” Among the topics we will cover from this book are: girls in gangs, gender bias in the juvenile justice system, mothers in prison, and challenges to women returning to their communities. David Bayley. 1998. What Works in Policing. New York: Oxford University Press. This is a collection of information on the usefulness of various police practices and strategies. Among the topics we will cover from this book are: community policing, effects of gun seizures on gun violence, policing drug hot spots, and effects of arrest for domestic assault. With the exception of the Lilly, Cullen and Ball, Katz, and Wright and Decker books, we will be reading selections, not the entire book, so although this list looks daunting, the reading will be consistent with what is required at the graduate level. I will do what I can to see that we have at least one copy of each book available on reserve; the time you will have will be limited to one day, but this may be helpful to those who want to save money; in addition, you may choose to look for the books on amazon.com, which frequently has used books for less as well as discounts on new books. GRADING AND CLASS REQUIREMENTS ABOUT PARTICIPATION HONOR CODE DAILY TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS COURSE SCHEDULE Week 1: August 30 Week 2: September 6 (Labor Day) Week 3: September 13 Week 4: September 20 Week 5: September 27 Week 6: October 4 Week 7: October 12 (NOTE THAT OUR CLASS MEETS ON TUESDAY NOT MONDAY OF THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY OBSERVED ON OCTOBER 11.) Week 8: October 18 Week 9: October 25 Week 10: November 1 Week 11, November 8 Week 12: November 15 Week 13: November 22 Week 14 November 29 Week 15: December 6
Question Set 1 Each question should be typed, double-spaced. You must include a references list at the end of the assignment and use proper citation for any quoting or paraphrasing of ideas. Expect to write from 12-15 pages on the first question, and from 5 to 7 pages on the second. This assignment is worth 20 percent of your grade. It is due in class on November 1. 1. In Criminological Theory: Contexts and Consequences, authors Lilly, Cullen, and Ball present theories of criminology beginning with the earliest theories that sought to identify the “criminal man” and concluding with Conservative theories under which biological causes for crime and rational choice are emphasized. In between these earliest theories and the most recent, sociologists attempted to place human agency in the context of sociocultural conditions. The authors argue that “[I]deas about crime –or what we call theories–are a product of society that develop in a particular context and then have their consequences for social policy” (2002, 230). For this question, you are to trace changes in thinking about crime and criminals that are reflected in positivist and classical criminology starting with the ideas presented in Chapter 1 and ending with the thinking that prevails presently. Your extended essay should include both the historical context and policy implications of these theories. 2. Three of the books we read focus on the experience of the criminal and the ways in which criminals think about their crime: (Katz’s Seduction, Wright and Decker’s Burglars, and Samenow’s Criminal Mind) . For this question, you are to write about the ideas that these authors present, the research methods underlying their conclusions, and the connections (if any) between their ideas. Your essay should include a critique of the books, as well as a discussion of whether you find the explanations credible and/or useful in confronting crime. Research Paper and Presentation of Preliminary Proposal and Relevant Articles The capstone of the seminar is the development of a research paper based on any of the topics discussed during the semester. A list of possibilities includes the following:
All of these are only suggestions; you may choose any topic that links to the course content. By the sixth week of the course, students will begin presentting their topics and preliminary research to the class. The order of the presentations will be determined by drawing a number. For this presentation, you should have already identified your topic and found at least three sources that you will use in writing your paper. These sources must be from refereed journals and academic books; journals include: Social Problems, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Crime and Delinquency, the American Journal of Sociology, and many others available through the GMU Library. When you initially present your topic, you should have a written summary of the main points of the article, including its theoretical approach, a discussion of the methods employed by the authors, and your assessment of the ideas presented and their relevance to your own research paper. What questions does the article address? What directions for further research does it suggest? This preliminary proposal should be at least 6-pages long. It can include a list of of other resources though this list is not part of the six pages. It is to be turned in the week of your presentation. This formal topic proposal is worth 15 points of the 40 points allocated to the assignment. Your final paper should be approximately 20 pages long and include sections that delineate the research question you are exploring, relevant literature review, discussion of this literature, and findings related to your question. The assignment itself is due on December 13. |