Mini-Papers are single page reflections on a question or exercise. The paper is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their comprehension of the course material and to apply it to the situation presented. The paper is also an opportunity for the student to demonstrate composition skills. Feedback will be provided for both content and composition. The instructor will create one (1) mini-paper topics/questions.
The mini-paper will be scheduled to be available to students at the beginning of the week corresponding with the mini-paper "Due Date" in the Course Schedule. A designated Mini-Paper rubric will be used to grade and provide feedback on this one-page assignments. Although the mini-paper is NOT a research assignment per se, it may be appropriate to require at least one outside source. Instructors may choose any course-relevant topic they wish, including any current event germane to the course.
Assignment: In a week that includes a Mini-Paper, a separate assignment will appear in the Discussion section of the classroom. These special Mini-Paper questions are NOT to be answered in the Discussions. The one-page response is to be submitted as a MS WORD document by the due date specified.
Format:
One full page, headed with the student's name (No cover page)
Narrative must be double spaced, with 1 inch margins, in #12 font type.
References from any supportive resource materials must be cited in the narrative and on a separate Bibliography page using the American Psychological Association (APA) format.
MINI PAPER TOPICS
Write your mini-paper on one of the two topics listed below:
Mini Paper #1 Topic: Use of Confidential Informants (CIs). The use of CIs has been a contentious issue for as long as CIs have been used in police work. Many times CIs have criminal histories themselves, have drug histories, are paid to be cooperators and have lied to get paid, have money problems, have violated trust with LE and burned cases. They may have been granted leniency in their own charges in order to flip on the subjects that he/she is now testifying against. On the other hand, they have provided invaluable evidence that police could not have otherwise gotten without a source operating from within the criminal enterprise. What are the pros and cons for both the prosecution and defense? A prosecutor will say that "You do not find swans swimming in the cess pool." meaning that the CI may be a less than stellar member of society, but the people has associates with are of similar character. A defense attorney will argue that his (likely) criminal background means that he has a history of being untrustworthy and has monetary or personal motives to lie. What do you think? Hint: I don't want a full page of just your opinion of the use of CIs; I want a one-page paper detailing your critical analysis of the challenges and advantages of the use of CIs for both sides. You do not need to cite any sources in your response, but it may help. You will be graded on your critical thought/analysis and your writing. Look at the Grading Rubric...I will be looking for clear, articulate thoughts with appropriate grammar, spelling, APA formatting, etc!
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Mini Paper #2 Topic: The increasing prevalence of cameras in the community (be it security cameras, smart phones, etc) means that more police actions are being caught on video. What are the pros and cons to this trend for the police, victims, and suspects/criminals? You do not need to cite any sources in your response, but it may help. You will be graded on your critical thought/analysis and your writing. Look at the Grading Rubric...I will be looking for clear, articulate thoughts with appropriate grammar, spelling