Term Paper
Your goal when writing this paper should be to demonstrate an understanding (and ability to see the real-world applicability) of a minimum of five theories covered in the assigned course materials.
Option 1:
I. Introduction: brief (~1 paragraph) autobiographical overview/sketch/profile
II. Discussion and analyses of different stages of development
A. early childhood
B. adolescent years
C. late teens
D. early adulthood
III. Conclusion
Option 2:
I. Broad (~2 page) overview of life experiences
II. Separate itemized (~1 page) reviews (and critiques) of a minimum of 5 applicable theories that tie to part I
III. Conclusion
Option 3:
I. Introduction: brief (~1 page) autobiographical overview/sketch/profile
II. Discussion and analyses of significant turning points (e.g., divorce, relocation, loss)
III. Conclusion
Term Paper instruction:
As you will learn in this course, many criminological theories help to explain not only criminality and deviance, but conformity as well. For the term paper you should evaluate the various theories covered in this course and apply them to your life.
Specifically, you must determine which theories are useful for explaining how you have arrived at where you are in your life. Discuss each relevant theory thoroughly and identify the theorist (or theorists) credited with developing it.
Your goal should be to incorporate at least 5 theories into your discussion. Be sure to point out the strengths and weaknesses of each theory as you attempt to incorporate it into an analysis of how you have become the person you are today.
Write-ups should be a minimum of 7 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, and stapled (no cover sheets or folders, please).
Required Text:
Siegel, L. 2015. Criminology: The Core.Thomson/Wadsworth.
Theories you may use or use the book to get theories:
• Theories of Victimization
The dominant theories of victimization include:
Victim-Precipitation Theory
Lifestyle Theory
Deviant Place Theory
Routine Activities Theory
• Categories of Sociological Theories
Social Structure Theories: start from the premise that crime results from a person's location within the structure of society
Social Process Theories: built on the assumption that crime is the end product of various social processes
Conflict Theories: based on the argument that crime is the product of class struggle
• Social Disorganization Theory
• Environmental Criminology
(Criminology of Place)
Environmental Criminology is a relatively new approach building on:
1) activities theory 2) situational crime prevention 3) ecological approaches
• Strain Theory
• Anomie Theory and Institutional Anomie Theory
• Relative Deprivation Theory
• Culture Conflict/Cultural Deviance Theory
• Social Process Theories
These theories are all based on the assumption that everyone has the potential to violate the law.
Learning theories: are an example of Social Process theories which are based on the premise that all behaviors, including crime, are learned through similar processes.
Social Control Theories: based on the argument that individuals have various social controls which help them to resist pressures that lead to crime and delinquency.
• Neutralization Theory
• Differential Association Theory
• Differential Association-Reinforcement Theory
• Containment Theory
• Social Bond Theory
• Control-Balance Theory
• Labeling Theory