ACR202 Criminology Theory: Assessment Task 1

Briefing Paper:

Assessment Task 1

Research & Writing Exercise

Value: 25% of Final Grade

ULOs assessed: 1 and 2

Please answer each of the following 5 short answer questions drawing on both the textbook and a minimum of 3 further academic sources.

You are required to use the Deakin Harvard referencing style correctly and consistently.

QUESTIONS

1. Classical theorists suggest that responses to crime must be known, swift and certain so that offenders receive their ‘just deserts’. What do you see as the key strengths and limitations of this approach (4 marks)?

2. Individual biological and psychological factors can be useful predictors of offending behaviour. Do you agree with this proposition? Explain why or why not (4 marks).

3. Define ‘determinism’ and explain how it relates to positivist theories of crime (4 marks).

4. Identify and explain two examples where a classical perspective on the causes of crime has shaped criminal justice practice (4 marks).

5. Identify and explain two examples where a biological positivist or psychological positivist perspective on the causes of crime has shaped criminal justice practice (4 marks).

Note 5 marks will be allocated to quality of referencing

This assessment requires you to understand certain foundational concepts that are fundamental for understanding, analysing and critiquing the criminological theories we will study in this unit. You will need to engage with set reading material and conduct some wider research in order to be able to understand the key terms and support your responses. You should feel free to use examples to illustrate your points where necessary. You are welcome to answer the questions in a short answer format (no essay writing required). Each response should be approximately 200 words each but you are free to distribute the words as you see fit, as long as you have a total of 1000 words (+/- 10%) in your uploaded submission. Each question is equally weighted in the rubric.

Keep in mind that your answers will depend on your own values and judgements at this point in your studies. We are looking for how well you can express and support your responses and not for right or wrong answers in this task.

Grading Criteria

Points for this assessment will be allocated as follows:

4 marks per question

5 marks for referencing

The rubric can be viewed by clicking on the AT1 submission box under Assessment>Assignments tab.

Assessment General Instructions

Submission Information

Please submit in WORD or PDF format only. Other formats will be returned ungraded.

Please submit your assessment under the “Assessment > Assignments > Assessment Task 1:

Research & Writing Exercise” folder in the ACR202 cloud site.

Your submission should be submitted using 12 pt font and double (2.0) line spacing.

Extensions and Special Consideration

Instructions are found under the Resources > Assessment folder in the ACR202 cloud site.

Special Consideration information can be found under the Resources > Assessment >

Special Consideration folder in the ACR202 cloud site. Please ensure you are familiar with the process for Special Consideration applications which always* require supporting documentation and MUST be submitted within 3 days of an assessment deadline.

Note that Special Consideration is a centralised system, run by the Faculty. Unit Chair discretion is limited by centralised University policy. This ensures equity for all our students.

Late Penalties

There will be a 5% penalty per day applied to any assessment submitted late, without a preapproved extension. For this assessment 5% equates to 1.25 marks per day.

Any assessment submitted over 5 days late without an extension will receive a 0 ungraded mark.

Referencing and word count

Correct referencing is absolutely essential for this assessment Deakin Harvard in-text and a reference list are expected.

Reference lists don’t count towards the final word count. In-text citations do count. A (+/- 10%) leeway applies for the word count. (E.g. minimum of 900 to a maximum of 1100 words permitted without penalty).

Questions?

Please first ensure you’ve read the FAQ document for AT1. Feel free to post questions on the Discussion Board in the Task 1: Research & Writing Exercise area.

Make sure you label your post carefully and read other posts to avoid repetition.

Please also feel free to answer other students’ questions if you have knowledge to share. We strongly encourage a collegiate and supportive culture in ACR202.

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