SYLLABUS

IDST 2270-Information Inquiry:  Criminal Behavior

Spring, 2005

2:40 – 3:35 Tuesday, Thursday, Weir 120

 

 

Instructors: 

 

Dr. Jude Gallik                                   Ms. Mary MacWithey, M.S.L.S.

Dickey Hall, Rm. 215                        Logan Library, Rm. 122

792-7258                                                                                      792-7313

jgallik@schreiner.edu                       memacwithey@schreiner.edu

 

Office hours:  10-10:50 MWF          Office hours: 4-5:00 p.m. TR

and by appointment or drop-in        and by appointment or drop-in

 

Required Text:  Siegel, L.J. (2005).  Criminology:  the core.  (2nd ed.)  Belmont, CA:  Thomson Wadsworth.

Required Readings On Reserve at the Library: 

Suggested Readings On Reserve at the Library:

 

 

Prerequisites:  Sophomore standing.

 

Course Description:  This team-taught class will use coursework on Criminal Behavior as a foundation for teaching information skills, using a problem solving or inquiry-based approach to the process of working with information.  The course content will include categories of criminal behavior, theories of criminal behavior, criminal justice, and social policy.  Students will choose subtopics in criminal behavior to guide their information inquiry.

 

Course Objectives:

 

  1. Be able to identify the major sources of crime statistics.
  2. Be able to describe the major historic influences on U.S. criminal law.
  3. Be able to define important terms related to criminology.
  4. Be able to describe major theories of crime causation including choice theory, biological and psychological trait theories, social structure theory, social process theories, social conflict theories and developmental theories.
  5. Be able to describe major models and components of the criminal justice system and current issues in criminal justice
  6. Be able to describe the effect of crime on victims.
  7. Be able to discuss the major crime typologies (violent crimes, property crimes, enterprise crime, public order crimes.)
  8. Be able to identify the major information producers and the forms in which information may be made available. 
  9. Be able to describe characteristics of information sources appropriate for academic-level research including print and electronic resources such as web sites and databases. 
  10.  Be able to design a search strategy for a specific topic using electronic resources.
  11. Be able to locate information in a variety of formats including print, microform, and electronic sources.
  12.  Be able to identify and interpret bibliographic citations and citations done in a variety of styles, APA, MLA, etc.

Grading:

 

Chapter Summary Questions                      20%

Homework                                                     45%

Semester Project                                          20%

Final Exam                                                     15%

 

Course Requirements:

 

Chapter Summary Questions:  Students will submit a typed response to questions whose answers can be found in the chapter summaries.  The purpose of this assignment is to provide an overview of the course content. Questions will be posted on course website.  See course calendar for due dates.

 

Information Inquiry Homework:  Homework will include a variety of tasks including readings, inventory of information resources, and search strategy exercises.  In addition, a significant amount of class time will be spent discussing specific issues/topics related to criminal behavior.  Students will be required to conduct independent research on an assigned topic and be prepared to discuss their findings in class. When assigned, students will be expected to be prepared for class by reading relevant chapters in the text or on reserve and/or conducting and citing independent research as assigned. 

 

Inquiry Project:  Each student will choose a topic from the field of criminal behavior, conduct an information inquiry on that topic, create an annotated bibliography, and present the findings.  Students may choose from a number of formats for the presentations:  a lecture presentation with handouts, a videotape, or a website.  Other formats proposed by students will be considered by the instructors.  Presentation formats must be approved in writing in advance by the instructors.  Due dates for the projects are:

 

            Topic of inquiry                                              February 15

            Preliminary resources list                             March 1

            First draft annotated bibliography               March 10

            Final draft annotated bibliography              April 5

            Proposal for presentation format                April 12

 

Final Exam:  The final exam will be cumulative and will cover content in criminal behavior as well as information inquiry skills.

 

CLASS POLICIES  

 

1)  Late work:  All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.  Late work will be accepted until the next class period and will receive ˝ credit.

 

2)  Regular and punctual attendance will be necessary for success in the course since class lectures will include material not included in the text. 

 

3)  Students are expected to demonstrate respect for the instructor and other students by paying attention when others are speaking and by refraining from side conversations.  Students who fail to comply with these courtesies may be asked to leave.

 

4)  Schreiner University policy forbids food, beverage, or use of tobacco in classrooms.  Cell phones must be turned off during class time.

 

5)  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  Instances of cheating or plagiarism (presenting someone else’s work as your own) will result in a grade of F for the assignment.  Repeated infractions may result in a course grade of F or dismissal from the University.

 

Schreiner University is compliant with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 with respect to providing academic adjustments/auxiliary aids to qualified students.  Students requiring such accommodations should contact the Section 504 Coordinator in Room 218, Dickey Hall.  Should a faculty office prove inaccessible, special arrangements to meet outside the office can be made for students with mobility impairments

IDST 2270     Information Inquiry:  Criminal Behavior

Tentative Course Schedule

 

 

Week of         Topic

 

Jan 10            Course Introduction

 

Jan 17            Skills Assessment

 

Jan 24            Concepts of Crime, Law, Criminology (Ch. 1-3)

                        Chapter summary questions for chapters 1-4 due Jan 25

 

Jan 31            Information Inquiry

                        Chapter summary questions for chapters 5-9 due February 1

 

Feb 7              Theories of Crime Causation  (Ch. 4-5)

                        Chapter summary questions for chapters 10-14 due Feb 8

 

Feb 14            Information Inquiry (Inquiry Topic due Feb 15)

 

Feb 21            Theories of Crime Causation (Ch. 6-7)

 

Feb 28            Information Inquiry (Preliminary resources list due Mar 1)

 

Mar 7              Theories of Crime Causation (Ch. 8-9)

                        First Draft Annotated Bibliography due Mar 10

 

Mar 14            Spring Break—No Classes

 

Mar 21            Information Inquiry

 

Mar 28            Crime Typologies (Ch. 10-13)

 

Apr 4               Information Inquiry/Skills Assessment

                        Final Draft Annotated Bibliography due April 5

 

April 11           The Criminal Justice System

                        Proposal for presentation format due April 12

 

April 18           Inquiry Project Presentations

 

April 26           Inquiry Project Presentations

 

Final Exam:  Tuesday, May 3 @ 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.