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SOC 225 X50 – Criminology Summer 2020
M W 6:00PM - 8:55PM Online Classroom Instructor: Jonathan Simmons, PhD
Office Hours: By appointment Email: [email protected]
Note: Please indicate SOC 225 in the subject line of all emails. I will respond to emails between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm on weekdays. I will not open or respond to emails sent from accounts other than the U of A.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course we will attempt to explain crime with an analysis of the social processes leading to criminal behaviour. Respect is integral to the class because we will address controversial
topics about which people have strong views and assumptions. By taking this course you are committing to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for every other member of the class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• Understand the interdisciplinary character of criminology
• Identify key theoretical perspectives as they relate to crime
• Understand how power contributes to marginalization and the implications of these processes for criminal justice system practices
• Critically situate individual experience within broader social contexts and relationships
• Become a critical consumer of [social] media and political discourse about crime and criminals
COURSE STRUCTURE:
This course is asynchronous. There are no precise lecture times for you to attend. I will use eClass and Google Drive to provide you with a variety of learning materials, including narrated PowerPoint presentations, required readings (other than the textbook), videos, and podcasts.
Recorded PowerPoint lectures are reinforced by a graded weekly reflection assignment as well ungraded exercises such as short quizzes.
For general details on course delivery for the Summer 2020 term, visit the University Alberta’s COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus) Information website.
COURSE MATERIALS:
We will use a textbook as well as other required materials posted on our course's website (eClass). You are required to have the most recent edition of the following textbook:
Linden, Rick. 2020. Criminology: A Canadian Perspective. Ninth Edition. Toronto: Nelson.
2 You will not have access to printed teaching materials and course reserves that would normally be held in the libraries or made available for in-person purchase in the bookstore. You will, however, be able to purchase your course materials online at the U of A Bookstore. The bookstore is offering free standard shipping within Canada. You can also access eBooks.
Note: Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
You should have access to a computer and an internet connection that can support watching online videos and narrated PowerPoint presentations. Public WiFi may not be suitable, adequate, or have appropriate security to support remote learning and assessment activities. P
COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT:
A typical week includes reading the textbook and other required materials, viewing narrated PowerPoint presentations and some video content, posting a reflection in the discussion forum, asking and answering questions in the Q&A forum, and completing ungraded exercises on your own time (e.g., quiz questions).
I don’t keep scheduled office hours, because my students’ schedules vary so greatly. I am, however, available for Google Meet conversations by appointment. Email is the best way to contact me.
CLASSROOM POLICIES:
• I am not an IT specialist. If you encounter issues, it is your responsibility to contact Information Services and Technology (IST).
• Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the Instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan.
• Student or Instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
• Pre-recorded lecture material cannot be duplicated or shared in any way.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Weekly Reflection 15% Every Wed. by 11:59 p.m. MT
Exam 1 25% Wed., Jul. 15
Exam 2 30% Wed., Jul. 29
Take-Home Final Exam 30% Sunday, Aug. 16 EXPLANATORY NOTE ON COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You will complete all exams over eClass. Exam 1 and exam 2 will both consist of multiple- choice questions. The take-home final exam will consist of short-answer and essay questions. I will provide you with the final exam questions on the last day of class. No exam is cumulative. I will post sample exam questions on eClass. For some helpful tips on navigating eClass quizzes please see the University of Alberta’s IST eClass Support website.
3 The weekly reflection assignment is my version of a discussion forum. You will post a digital piece of art every Wednesday relating to a topic and then reflect on what your contribution means. This “discussion” will allow you to engage with images or other media and think more creatively about the topics we cover in lectures and readings. For example, you may use an online meme generator such as Meme Generator (https://imgflip.com/memegenerator) to create a meme that relates to a topic. After posting the meme, you will then either reflect on your
contribution or on others that have been posted. Possible postings may include a collage, a photo, or a sketch that relates to a course topic. Your posts represent a unique opportunity for you to exchange views with your group-mates, share experiences and resources, and ensure your understanding of the course material.
GRADING:
Marks for graded course requirements are given in percentages, to which letter grades are also assigned, according to the table below. The percentage mark resulting from all graded
components produces the final letter grade for the course. Marks for grades are not curved or scaled.
Letter % Pts Descriptor
A+ 95-100 4.0
Excellent
A 90-94 4.0
A- 85-89 3.7
B+ 80-84 3.3
Good
B 75-79 3.0
B- 70-74 2.7
C+ 66-69 2.3
Satisfactory
C 62-65 2.0
C- 58-61 1.7
D+ 54-57 1.3 Poor
D 50-53 1.0 Minimal Pass
F 0-49 0.0 Fail
LECTURE SCHEDULE:
Although we will not have face-to-face lectures, I have included a schedule of lectures and readings below. You should ensure that you have completed the assigned readings according to the schedule.
Mon., Jul. 6, 2020 Chapter 1: Crime, Criminals, and Criminology
Wed., Jul. 8, 2020 Chapter 15: Deterrence, Routine Activity, and Rational Choice Theories Mon., Jul. 13, 2020 Chapter 2: The Social Context of Dispute Settlement/Rise of the Law Wed., Jul. 15, 2020 Chapter 3: Criminal Law (Exam 1)
Mon., Jul. 20, 2020 Chapter 4: Counting Crime
Wed., Jul. 22, 2020 Chapter 5: Correlates of Criminal Behaviour Mon., Jul. 27, 2020 Chapter 8: Early Theories of Criminology Wed., Jul. 29, 2020 Chapter 10: Strain Theories (Exam 2) Mon., Aug. 3, 2020 Chapter 13: Interactionist Theories
4 Wed., Aug. 5, 2020 Chapter 14: Social Control Theory
Mon., Aug. 10, 2020 Chapter 16: Organized Crime
Wed., Aug. 12, 2020 Chapter 17: Corporate and White-Collar Crime Sun., Aug. 16, 2020 Take-Home Final Exam Due
ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES, AND MISSED GRADE COMPONENTS:
Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance. Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult the Attendance section of the University Calendar.
Absence from Term Work and Take-Home Final Exam
Students are required to contact me within two working days following the missed exam or term work (or as soon as possible, considering the circumstances) to apply for an excused absence.
Excused absences are not automatic and are at my discretion. Below is a list of acceptable documentation to support an absence:
• For incapacitating medical illness, students can present one of the following:
o “University of Alberta Medical Statement” signed by a doctor (this cannot be required, but must be accepted if provided in lieu of other documents).
o “Request for Excused Absence or Deferral of Term Work” Faculty of Arts form o Statutory Declaration" (to be obtained from the Office of the Registrar).
• For all other cases, such as domestic afflictions or religious convictions, the student should submit documentation appropriate to the situation. This could include the following:
o For a death in the family – a copy of the death certificate o For a religious conflict – a letter from the church or pastor o For a car accident – a copy of the accident report
o For other serious afflictions – consult the Instructor or Department about appropriate documents
Policy for Missed Term Exams: If you miss an exam because of an excused absence, you will have three days to write a make-up exam. I cannot guarantee that the difficulty level of the makeup exam will be the same as the one the rest of the class got received. Missing a midterm in most cases will be a known event that we can plan for. Be in touch as soon as possible.
Policy for Late Assignments: In general, late assignments are not accepted. If an emergency arises or you know in advance about a conflict, contact me to arrange an alternative assignment.
STUDENT RESOURCES:
The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.
Accessibility Resources (1-80 SUB)
The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information or to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.
LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
5 The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
REQUIRED NOTES:
Academic Integrity
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence.
Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”
All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.