Introduction to Criminology

Relection Paper Guidelines

1. Answer the questions. This means you should not go off on a "rant" or get off the point. However, you should answer the questions completely. Using an example to illustrate your point is often a good idea. If you use a quote, try to follow the quote with an explanation using your own words.

2. Assignments must be typed, and should be spell-checked. Use proper grammar. These things will count towards your score.

• Write in complete sentences. Do not use sentence fragments. A complete sentence has a noun and a verb. DO NOT start a sentence with "Meaning...." If you have to use this word, the proper way to start a sentence is "This means that..." Alternatively, you could use, "In other words..."
• Authors of formal (academic or professional) papers avoid using personal pronouns (I, we). Although it is difficult to write in this manner, students are encouraged to make an effort to avoid using "I" or "we" in assignments. The exception to this rule is if I ask you about your opinion on some matter.

3. You must CITE anything that you take from other's work in the text of your answer. No reference page is necessary. If you fail to cite properly, you will be penalized in the assignment.

Please follow the following format. When you paraphrase someone's work, you need to cite with the author(s) and date:
There have been several good experiments evaluating Scared Straight! type programs (Petrosino, Turpin-Petrosino, and Finckenaur, 2000).

When you use a direct quote, the text must be in quotes, and the cite must include the author(s), date, and page number:
"A program may certainly help one child but hurt two in the process" (Petrosino, Turpin-Petrosino, and Finckenaur, 2000: 355).

NOTE: Changing one or two words of an author's work does not give you license to avoid citation. If you are in doubt of whether you should cite, or whether you should use quotes, error on the conservative side…CITE….USE the QUOTES!!