CRIM30011 Young People, Crime and Justice

Assessment 1: 1500-word essay & 250-word reflection

DUE: 11.59pm Wed 5 April 2023

There are two parts to this assessment; you are required to complete both parts, as follows:
1) Part one is a 1500-word (+/- 10%) standard academic essay response to ONE question from the
choices below.
2) Part two is a 250-word (+/- 10%) reflection. The reflection should appear at the end of your
essay, after the reference list. It should be clearly marked with the heading ‘Reflection’.
« Together, this essay + reflection comprises 40% of your overall mark for the subject.
« Submitting Assessment 1 without the reflection will result in an automatic loss of 6 marks.
« Submit your work via the Assessment link on the LMS (it automatically goes through Turnitin).

Part One: 1500-word research essay

Choose ONE of the following questions:

1. ‘The minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) should be raised from 10 to 14 in Victoria.’
Discuss with reference to the possible effects of criminalising children’s behaviour.

2. ‘Social control mechanisms that target the use of urban and public space disproportionately
impact young people.’ Critically analyse this claim. (Ground your analysis with a specific example
of at least one social control mechanism.)

3. ‘Differences in young men’s and young women’s violence can be wholly explained by theories
about social structural and neighbourhood factors.’ Discuss this statement, anchoring your
discussion in either a contemporary or historical context.

4. ‘Moral panic theories enable us to explain contemporary responses to youth.’ Discuss with
reference to at least one example of a ‘contemporary response to youth’.

5. ‘Young people of today have no respect for authority. Having police in schools is an effective way
of addressing this issue and reducing young people’s involvement in crime.’ Critically evaluate
this claim. In your response, consider any specific implications for the Victorian context.

Marking Criteria

Your essay should include an introduction and conclusion and your central argument should be
clearly stated: fence-sitting is discouraged! We encourage you to express a clear argument, based on
and supported by academic research. Many of the essay questions can be argued either for or
against, or somewhere in between; whatever perspective you adopt, you need to have a clear
argument and rationale, and support this with research. Please refer to the ‘Notes re task words’,
below, to clarify what each question is asking you to do.

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*Notes re task words:

 Discuss – This is essentially a written debate where you are using your skill at reasoning, backed
up by carefully selected evidence to make a case for and against an argument, or point out the
advantages and disadvantages of a given context. You must arrive at a conclusion.
 Critically evaluate – Give your verdict as to what extent a statement is true, or to what extent
you agree with it. Provide evidence taken from a wide range of sources which both support and
contradict an argument. Come to a final conclusion, basing your decision on what you judge to
be the most important factors, and justify how you have made your choice.
 Critically – Used in conjunction with other directive words, such as critically discuss, critically
examine or critically analyse, it does not mean criticise. It requires a balanced answer that points
out mistakes or weaknesses and indicates any favourable aspects of the subject of the question.
The overall conclusions you draw must be supported with evidence from reliable sources.
 Analyse – Break an issue, concept or statement into its constituent parts. Look in depth at each
part using supporting arguments and evidence for and against as well as how these relate to one
another. Answers should be methodical and logically organised.
*Sources: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/essay-terms
http://studywell.library.qut.edu.au/pdf_files/WRITING_TaskWordGlossary.pdf

Important points to note:

" You are required to access information/literature/research beyond the materials provided for
you in the subject guide/lectures/readings. Subject materials are the starting point, not the end.
" Please use the Harvard referencing system and provide a reference list at the end of the essay.
" Please refer to the general essay guidance materials available on the LMS site.

Word count:
" The reference list is NOT included, whereas in-text citations ARE included in the word count.
" You can go over or under by up to 10% without penalty, for both the essay and the reflection.

Your essay will be assessed on the following specific criteria:

o Does the essay respond appropriately and directly to the question, and make a clear
argument?
o Does the response demonstrate an adequate understanding of subject ideas, concepts,
and content?
o Does the response demonstrate understanding of the relevant literature?
o Does the response utilise appropriate sources?
o Does the response demonstrate evidence of independent research and thought?
o Is the structure and style of the response appropriate?
o Is the referencing adequate in style, quality and volume?

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Part Two: 250-word reflection

Part 2 of this task requires you to reflect upon feedback you will receive on your essay plan, use this
feedback to improve your final essay, and then summarise this process, as explained below.

In the first few weeks of the subject you should choose an essay topic and conduct extensive
independent research into the topic by locating and reading credible, high quality sources such as
books, journal articles and reports. You should use this research to develop an essay plan.

In a small group tutorial activity – scheduled for tutorials in WEEK FOUR – you will workshop your
essay plan. This will involve describing and explaining the proposed contents of your essay to the
group. You will receive feedback from a small number of students. You will also offer feedback to a
small number of students. You should keep a written record of the feedback you receive on your
own essay plan. You should reflect on the feedback you receive and use it, where appropriate, to
improve your essay.

The 250-word reflection should briefly summarise the key points of feedback you were given, and
explain how you have considered each item (was it helpful? Did it reveal a misunderstanding?), and
the action you have taken in response to it (e.g. did you change your thinking? Decide to apply
another theory to help you make your argument? Use a different example?).

We expect you to demonstrate that you have thoughtfully considered the feedback, and made
appropriate judgments about developing your own work, in light of the feedback you have received.
Note, this does not mean that you must act on all the feedback you receive – some of it may not
help you to improve or develop your work. Rather, you should show why you have or have not acted
on the feedback you were given.

IMPORTANT: If you do not, or cannot, attend your tutorial in week 4, you MUST contact the
subject coordinator ASAP, as alternative arrangements will need to be made for you.

Marking Criteria
Your 250-word reflection will be assessed according to the following criteria:

 Does the reflection clearly summarise key points of feedback?

 Does the reflection describe how the feedback has been assessed/evaluated by the student?
 Does the reflection describe how the student has responded to the feedback?
 Does the reflection clearly summarise key points of feedback?
 Does the reflection describe how the feedback has been assessed/evaluated by the student?
 Does the reflection describe how the student has responded to the feedback?

Assessment checklist:
Have you…
 Written and proof-read your essay? o
 Checked your reference list? (Harvard system) o

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 Written and included your 250-word reflection? o

 Good luck!

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