Fong 1 SOCIOLOGY 441: Criminology Fall 2010 University of Wisconsin, Madison INSTRUCTOR: Mei-Chia Fong CLASS INFO: MWF 9:55 – 10:45am at 6104 Sewell Social Science OFFICE: 2437 Social Science E-MAIL: [email protected] OFFICE PHONE: (608) 262-2836 OFFICE HOURS: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 am-12:00 pm Course Description and Goals Sociology 441 introduces students to the sociological study of crime and criminal behaviors. The aims of this course are: (1) to expose students to major theoretical perspectives that explain the causes of crime and criminal behaviors; (2) to help students learn to observe critically how crime and criminal behaviors are defined and measured; (3) to teach students how to systematically examine various social responses and programs to prevent and/or treat the problem of crime. Because sociology is the scientific investigation of people in society, students are expected to apply the course materials to real life. In other words, beyond reading and listening to lectures about theories of crime and criminal behaviors, students should learn sociology by applying the theories to their observations of society. This course is divided into four parts. Part 1, “BASICS,” explores the fundamentals of the scientific study of crime and criminal behaviors (including the definition, measures, prevalence, and dimensions of crime). Part 2, “THEORY,” introduces major theoretical perspectives explaining the origins and impacts of crime. Part 3, “TYPOLOGIES OF CRIME AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS,” examines multiple forms of criminal behaviors, the damages associated with those behaviors, and social forces relevant to the application of criminal labels on those behaviors. Part 4, “RESPONSES,” considers and evaluates how individuals, groups, and social systems react to crime and criminal behaviors. Classroom Format and Course Requirements This course meets weekly for three fifty-minute lectures and one fifty-minute discussion section. Attendance in lecture and discussion is mandatory. Students are responsible for any material covered in lecture and in discussion. Occasionally, there will be invited speakers to address the class during the lecture period. Attendance at guest lectures also is mandatory, and the instructor and the TA will incorporate material from guest lectures into examinations and/or assignments. The instructor and the TA do not provide students with lecture and/or section notes under any circumstances. Students who miss a class should arrange to obtain notes from a classmate. Students must: (1) attend and actively participate in all lectures; (2) attend and actively participate in all discussion sections; (3) complete all required readings; (4) complete one in-class quiz, three in-class examinations on the dates those exercises are administered in lecture, and one crime analysis paper due on Wednesday, December 1, 2010; and (5) complete any exercises, whether written or oral (including but without limitation to homework, quizzes, or other assignments), as assigned by the TA in discussion section.Fong 2 Required Readings There are two required books and a reader packet. All readings are required, unless otherwise noted. Students must complete the required readings before coming to lecture and discussion section. The required books are available at the University Bookstore (711 State Street). The required books are: - Akers, R.L. and C.S. Sellers. 2009. Criminal Theories: Introduction, Evaluation, and Application. (5th ed.) Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-533252-0. - Scarpitti, F.R., A.L. Nielsen, and J.M. Miller. 2009. Crime and Criminals: Contemporary and Classic Readings in Criminology. (2nd ed.) Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-537090-4. The reader is available at Social Science Copy Center (6120 SSC). Grading Policy The instructor will determine final letter grades based on the following components and weighted percentage: Quiz: (10%) Mid-term Exam I: (25%) Mid-term Exam II: (25%) Final Exam: (15%) Crime Analysis Paper: (10%) Discussion Section: (15%) Final Grades: Grades are assigned to quizzes and exams using points. The scale to the right will be used to assign final course grades. Grades will only be changed in cases of computational error. There are no opportunities to earn extra credit in this course. Here are some details of the graded components: Quiz (10%): There will be one in-class quiz with scantron questions (multiple choice and/or True/False questions) and short answer questions administered in lecture on Wednesday, September 22. The quiz will cover material from required readings and lectures comprising the “BASICS” part of the course. Mid-term Exams I and II (25% each): The mid-term exams will be administered in-class, during designated lecture periods. Each exam will consist of a scantron part and an essay part, including, with certainty, a short essay and possibly some short answers as well. Exam I will cover material from required readings and lectures of the “THEORY” part of the course. Exam II will cover material from readings and lectures of the “TYPOLOGIES OF CRIMES AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS” part of the course. Final Exam (15%): The final exam will be an in-class exam administered on the University’s scheduled exam date and time (Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010, 12:25 -2:25pm). The location and specific format of the exam will be announced later. This exam is cumulative and will include material introduced from throughout the course but with an emphasis on the Grade % Attained A 93-100 AB 89-92 B 83-88 BC 79-82 C 70-78 D 60-69 F 60-belowFong 3 “RESPONSE” part. The final exam will consist of primarily scantron questions and possibly also some short answer questions. Students must take the final examination on the day and at the time announced by the Office of the Registrar. Crime Analysis Paper (10%): Students are required to write a 3-4 pages analysis paper. This exercise will help students develop in-depth understanding of the material, and it will help students apply course principles into observations of society. The instructor and TA expect students to reflect critically in their papers. Students can write about a crime event and/or a criminal behavior of their choice. If you are not sure whether a topic counts as a qualifying event, you should talk with the instructor or the TA before writing about it. The paper should include three