CJ 406 Criminological Theories Fall 2010
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Finalized 9/26/2010 - minor edits 12/2/2010
The purpose of the assignment is for you to apply a specific theory that we have reviewed in this course either to a specific film chosen by the instructor, or to a recent book, also chosen by the professor. You are to do this in writing and very briefly. The learning goal is to practice applying a theory to either a fictionalized (the movie) or real life (book) account.
a) You can select one of the movies listed below. Or b) You can read Moore, W. (2010). The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates. New York: Spiegel and Grau/Random House.
Double Indemnity (Paramount, 1944). Using one theory, argue either for or against this statement: the transfiguration of Walter Neff is plausible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmi3YF0ybQg&feature=related
Force of Evil (MGM, 1948). Explain why Joe Morse (John Garfield) got involved in big time crime using one theory receiving extensive coverage in the the readings for class this semester
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTRPgwClQtc&NR=1
Gun Crazy (UA, 1950). Laurie Starr (Peggy Cummins) and Bart Tare (John Dall) love guns and robbing. Use one theory receiving extensive coverage in the the readings for class this semester to explain the criminal career of either one. You may have more information over more time for Tare, but Starr ends up being the more extreme (and hence more interesting?) one. You decide. Note the scene leading up to the bank robbery: it is four minutes, uncut, unheard of at the time.
On Dangerous Ground (RKO, 1951). Jim Wilson (Robert Ryan) "was once a decent cop" but no more. Use one theory receiving extensive coverage in the the readings for class this semester to explain his "uncontrollable violence." (BTW, Ryan was an Ivy League graduate and varsity boxer.)
Private Hell 36 (Filmakers, 1954). Two cops (Howard Duff, the blond; Steve Cochran, dark haired) respond differently to a criminal opportunity. Use one theory receiving extensive coverage in the the readings for class this semester to explain why the two responded so differently. Pay close attention to the scene unrolling with/after the opening credits, and the discussion of it early in the film. The closing voice over is a classic. The director, Don Siegel, also directed "Dirty Harry." Ida Lupino who plays what many might consider a stereotyped female role here went on to be one of the first women directors in Hollywood, and often emphasized socal problem themes in her movies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi2vbSBvIlc
The Racket (RKO, 1951). Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan) is a "Prohibition-style enforcer" having trouble adapting to a more "organized" style of crime. Using one of the theories receiving extensive coverage in the readings this semester explain: How he has come so far?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggraRvLiB60&feature=related
Wes Moore has recently been on the late night talk shows
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/313471/june-21-2010/wes-moore
Wes Moore # 1 grew up in Baltimore and the Bronx, became a chronic truant, was placed in Valley Forge Military Academy by his mother, completed high school and junior college there, served in the army, completed college at Hopkins, won a Rhodes scholarship, earned an MA at Oxford, was a White House Fellow, and served in Afghanistan.
Wes Moore # 2 also grew up in Baltimore, also was in a single parent household, and also dropped out of school. Wes # 2 became a drug dealer, earned his GED and gained carpentry skills through Job Corps, held various temporary jobs after that, later returned to drug dealing, and in 2000 was convicted in an armed jewel store heist in which the security guard who was an off duty Baltimore County police officer was shot and killed. After and intensive several day manhunt Wes # 2 and his brother Tony were arrested in Germantown where they had been hiding out with a relative. Wes # 2 is serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole in Jessup (MD) and has become a leader in the Islamic community within Jessup.
Wes #1 tries to figure out why their lives turned out so differently (p. 179) and he has his own theory (op cit).
Using either Hirschi’s control bonding theory, or Laub and Sampson’s concepts from life course criminology or Gottfredson & Hirschi’s general theory of crime, orb biocriminology describe the most theoretically relevant differences between Wes #1 and Wes # 2. Depending on which theory you choose you will be focusing on features of the person, features of the surrounding context, or specific incidents.
You do NOT have to say why the theory you choose does better than either of the other two theories, i.e., do NOT worry about the relative merit question. just focus on applying the one theory you choose.
1. Typed, double spaced, 12 pitch, one inch margins, no less than three pages and no more than five pages, including references. When you refer to a theory covered in a reading, also include relevant page numbers in the inline citation. Please let me know if you have questions about how to do citations. I will absolutely stop reading at five pages.
2. Use your TUID as the running head. NO NAMES ON THE PAPERS.
3. DUE NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT 12/18/2010 UPLOADED THROUGH SAFE ASSIGN ON BLACKBOARD. PLEASE DO NOT SEND AS AN EMAIL ATTACHMENT.
4. There is NO penalty for submitting early papers.
5. LATE PAPERS will lose points and may jeopardize your grade.
HINTS
In addition to summarizing points from the movie, try to include at least one key dialogue or one scene description to make your points.
If discussing Wes Moore book, be sure to provide page numbers for specific incidents. Of course, be sure to provide page numbers for all quotes from the book.
How to use SAFE ASSSIGN: go to content section of Bboard site. You will see paper. Click on view/submit and go from there. Please upload a pdf to be sure your formatting is retained. Once you have uploaded your file, you cannot do a second upload.
Papers will be graded on three dimensions, indicated below. Each dimension will be counted equally.
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Below Average (D) |
Average (C) |
Above Average (B) |
Excellent (A) |
Writing Quality |
Large number of grammatical and/or spelling errors; and/or writing is hard to understand. |
Moderate number of grammatical and/or spelling errors; small problems in overall paper organization. |
A small number of grammatical or spelling errors; overall construction acceptable but could be stronger |
No grammatical or spelling errors; well constructed paragraphs; well connected paragraphs; strong overall structure |
Cogency of Analysis |
No appropriate connections made between the theory and the film |
Only one or two tangential theory/film connections made; and/or the cogency of the connections is suspect, but is at least detailed; and/or the connections fail to address major points in the film |
Connections made between specific theory elements and specific film elements, but the ties are not as clear as they could be, or do not address major points in the film |
Strong, clear, cogent connections made between specific theory elements and specific film elements centering on key film points |
Reference to Supporting Theory |
Paper fails to correctly reference key concepts or hypotheses from the supporting theory |
Paper makes use of a couple of key concepts or hypotheses from the supporting theory, but the concepts or hypotheses are not clearly described or properly referenced; and/or the concepts used are not the most appropriate ones to use from that theoretical model |
Paper makes correct use of a couple of key concepts from the supporting theory, with appropriate referencing; concepts used are relevant. |
Paper makes correct use of at least 3-4 key concepts from the supporting theory, with appropriate referencing; concepts used are the most relevant |