YORK UNIVERSITY - COURSE SYLLABUS

AP/SOSC/CRIM 1650 9.00 A Introduction to Criminology

Instructor: Dr. Claudio Colaguori e-mail: claudioc@yorku.ca office: 328 Atkinson phone: 44009

Lecture Location and Time: Vari Hall “A” – Tuesday afternoon from 2:30 to 4:30 pm (plus a two hour tutorial
before or after class) – Our course runs from September 15, 2009 to March 30, 2010 inclusive.

Tutorial Times and Locations:

Tutorial # 1 Monday 4:30pm in BC 323
Tutorial # 2 Tuesday 8:30am in MC 101
Tutorial # 3 Tuesday 4:30pm in SC 205
Tutorial # 5 Tuesday 4:30 in SC 211
Tutorial # 6 Thursday 12:30 in SC 212
Tutorial # 7 Thursday 8:30am in SC 205
Tutorial # 8 Monday 4:30 in BC 322
Tutorial # 9 Monday 8:30am CC 208
Tutorial # 10 Friday 10:30am CC 106
Tutorial # 11 Wednesday 10:30am SC 205

Course Description:
This course will introduce students to topics of global interest in criminology. The course is organized into four
segments each with its own general thematic focus. It will begin with a basic overview of theories of crime and
deviance including the critical perspective, which will provide the basis for the analysis continued throughout
the course. The second segment will begin with a study of crime and media by examining the role of fear in
generating moral panics about crime, including the popularization of ‘common-sense criminology’. We will then
examine the tension between crime control and due-process procedures through the problem of wrongful
convictions, and then examine punishment as an aspect of modern society, including the rise of the prison-
industrial-complex, and the emergence of the ‘disciplinary society’ as presented in the work of Michel Foucault.
The third segment examines youth delinquency, violent masculinity, and violence as a special case of
deviance. We will also examine the theory behind psychopathology and serial murderers before moving onto a
case of violence against women. The final segment of the course will examine the globalization of crime
through cases of human trafficking, sexual enslavement, drug control and deviance, and corporate crime. The
course will conclude by examining the role played by the state in the normalization of violence in society.

Please note that this is a 9 credit ‘foundations course’ which emphasizes ‘critical skills’ and has extended
tutorial hours and an extra workload in comparison to a typical 6 credit course. The critical skills that will be
taught in this course include: a) critical thinking and conceptual skills > how to analyze texts and social issues
through the use of social scientific concepts; b) critical reading skills > how to read academic papers with an
eye to identifying the main concepts and ideas; c) critical research skills > how to plan, prepare and conduct
academic research on a specific topic; d) academic integrity skills > how to properly use the ideas of others to
support your own written/research work in a manner that upholds academic integrity and honesty.

Required course materials:

1) One reading pack consisting of a collection of articles, text chapters and essays printed by Canadian
Scholars’ Press, will be available in the York Bookstore.

2) Six films will be shown in class as well.

Grading and Evaluation:

Tests: Four in-class tests worth 15% each. Each test consists of both multiple choice and long written-answer
type questions. All questions are based on material from lectures, course readings and films. All tests
are held during class time slots - There is no final exam in this course.

Research Report Proposal and Final Report: The research report proposal is due in class no later than
December 1st, 2009 and is worth 5% of your grade. The Final Research Report is due in class no later
than March 9, 2010 and is worth 15% of your final grade. All late assignments will lose marks at a rate of
10% per week

Tutorials: a 20% tutorial grade is based on full attendance, active participation and the submission of 6 written
 reading summaries (3 per term).
The details of the 6 reading summaries are as follows:
*Students are to submit directly to their tutorial leader, (not by e-mail or in her or his mailbox or under an office
door and certainly not to any departmental office), a brief two to three page summary of the readings assigned
for any week chosen by you the student for six separate classes – only three times per term – this is a very
manageable writing workload. It is up to you to choose the readings you want to summarize and submit.
Written summaries do have due dates and are to be submitted in a timely manner as follows: If you choose to
summarize the readings for the class on ‘Crime and Media’ (November 3, 2009), then you are to submit your
reading summary to your tutorial leader during the lecture or the tutorial in that same week when that topic you
have chosen is being covered in the lecture – check the syllabus to confirm dates. For example: a summary for
‘Crime and Media’ is to be submitted the week of November 3, 2009 because that is the week when we are
covering that particular topic. Summaries will NOT be accepted if the readings you have summarized pertain to
a class which has already passed – in fairness to others who do keep up with course due dates we cannot
make exceptions. The point is to ensure that students are doing the readings on time and are able to identify
the main concepts and ideas in the readings. Also, if you have not handed in your three summaries in term one
that does not mean you can hand in extra summaries in term two. The reading summaries are graded in three
ways as good, satisfactory or unacceptable – they will not be graded with extensive comments by your tutorial
leader. The six reading summaries will be considered in the overall calculation of your tutorial grade.

Missed Tests: Students who miss tests are not automatically entitled to receive a chance at a make-up test.
Vacations do not count as valid reasons to be absent from a test. Students with a documented reason for
missing a course test, such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting
documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation from the Course Instructor. Further
extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty Registrar. Note
that make-up tests may not be in the exact same format as the in-class test that was missed.

Please note that keeping up with readings and regular attendance at lectures and tutorials is necessary if a
student wishes to not fall behind. Good organization and time management skills are required to keep up with
course readings and other formal course requirements. Please read and follow the syllabus carefully as your
guide to the course.
September 15, 2009 Introduction to the course
Why study criminology? Where criminology comes from. Countering taken-for-granted views
about crime and society. Power Interests; crime myths; Explanation of the course outline and
topics of study: Structure and themes of course, grading and tutorials.

September 22, 2009 Early Theories of Crime and Deviance

Kit #1: Linda Deutschmann, “Pre-scientific Approaches”
Kit #2: Linda Deutschmann, “Classical theories of Deviance”

September 29, 2009 Biological and Sociological Theories

Kit # 3: Biological/Physiological theories, from Rick Linden, Criminology: A Canadian Perspective
Kit # 4: F. Schmalleger: “Psychological Foundations of Criminal Behaviour”

October 6, 2009 Sociological Theories

Kit # 5: L. Deutschmann: “Functionalist and Strain theories”
Kit # 6: excerpt from F. Schmalleger: “Labeling Theory”

October 13, 2009 READING WEEK – no class held

October 20, 2009 The Critical Perspective

Kit # 7: L. Deutschmann, “Conflict, Critical and Postmodern theories”

October 27, 2009

Test # 1 – worth 15% of course - multiple choice and written answers - held in our lecture hall

November 3, 2009 Crime and Media

Kit # 8: James M. Carlson, “Television and Socialization” and “Prime Time Criminal Justice”
Kit # 9: Ian Taylor, Introduction to Crime in Context

November 10, 2009 Crime Control versus Due Process

Kit # 10: Colin Goff, “Values and the Criminal Justice System” (excerpt)
Kit # 11: Anderson, Introduction to Manufacturing Guilt: Wrongful Convictions in Canada
Video 7716: Inside the Interrogation Room (20 min)

November 17, 2009 Wrongful Convictions and the Adversarial System of Justice
Kit # 12 Anderson, “The Case of William Mullins Johnson”

Video: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/a_death_in_the_family/video.html

November 24, 2009 Mass Incarceration, Moral Panic and Systemic Corruption
Video 5194: The Legacy: Murder and Media, Politics and Prisons
Kit # 13: Moral Panic – a definition
Kit # 14: C. Colaguori, “The Prison Industrial Complex and Social Division in Market Societies

December 1, 2009 Punishment, The Prison Industrial Complex & the Disciplinary Society
Kit # 15: Michel Foucault, excerpts from Discipline and Punish
Kit # 16: David Garland, excerpt from “The Work of Michel Foucault”
*Final Due-date for research report proposal - 5%
December 8, 2009
Test # 2 – worth 15% of course - multiple choice and written answers - held in our lecture hall

January 5, 2010 Youth Delinquency

Kit # 17: “Defining Delinquency”, from Delinquency In Society: Youth Crime in the 21st Century
Kit # 18: “Violent Youth Crime”, from Delinquency In Society: Youth Crime in the 21st Century

January 12, 2010 Violent Masculinity and Popular Discourse

Kit # 19: Notes to Tough Guise
Video DVD 7796: Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis of Masculinity
 Grading Scheme:

A+. 9. Exceptional - Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques and exceptional skill or great originality in the use of
those concepts, techniques in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.

A. 8. Excellent - Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques with a high degree of skill and/or some elements of
originality in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.

B+. 7. Very Good - Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques with a fairly high degree of skill in the use of those
concepts, techniques in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.

B. 6. Good - Good level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with considerable skill in using them to satisfy
the requirements of an assignment or course.

C+. 5. Competent - Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with considerable skill in using them
to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.

C. 4. Fairly Competent Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with some skill in using them to
satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.

D+. 3. Passing - Slightly better than minimal knowledge of required concepts and/or techniques together with some ability to
use them in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.

D. 2. Barely Passing - Minimum knowledge of concepts and/or techniques needed to satisfy the requirements of an
assignment or course.

E. 1. Marginally Failing

F. 0. Failing

AP/CRIM 1650 9.00A Research Report Assignment 2009- 2010

This is a two-part research and writing assignment. For 1st term you must choose a topic, then you
conduct preliminary research on your topic and do an outline/proposal of what your final report will
consist of. In the second term you submit the research essay based on your completed outline and the
instructions below. The assignment is designed to allow you to demonstrate your ability to do research
and report on a particular topic through the use of secondary sources. Your final task is in the 2 nd term
is to prepare an 8-10 page (double-spaced 12pt font) formal report on one of the ten topics listed below:

1. Criminological Theory 6. Wrongful Convictions

2. Human Trafficking 7. Drugs and Deviance
3. Corporate Crime 8. Violence and Crime
4. Youth Delinquency 9. Serial Murder
5. Crime and Media 10. Punishment and Society
 PART I - Proposal/Outline (5%) Due in class December 1, 2009 or earlier
Part one consists of a brief two page summary proposal. The proposal will
indicate the following:
a) A tentative title – usually in two parts, for example: “Drugs and Deviance: The
History of Corporate Lobbying in the War on Drugs”
b) A tentative introduction paragraph explaining the title and what the report will
be about – what concepts and issues will it try and deal with.
c) A list of course readings and films that you think pertain to your topic and why
d) A tentative bibliography listing some of the secondary sources you may be
using for section three of your report.

PART II – Research Report (15%) Due in class March 9, 2010 or earlier

The final report will consist of three sections as follows:
I. Provide a one to two page sociological explanation/analysis of your topic by drawing on
readings, ideas and concepts from our course. In this section you will rely only on course
materials, readings, films, lecture ideas, concepts, theories, that pertain to your topic. Which course
concepts/readings and theories best relate to (or are relevant to) your topic and why? Be sure to
define each concept you use and be specific about how it relates to/lends insight to your topic. If
there are specific readings or chapters from our course on the topic you should summarize them in
this section.

II. Explain how this topic interests you personally and/or explain why your topic is of general
social interest and concern. (This section can be more brief than the others).

III. In the third section you are asked to go beyond the course readings on your topic and conduct
library research and summarize the ideas of academic ‘social science’ authors who have written on
your topic. Review and summarize the main theories from the books and/or academic journal
articles that you have chosen. Your secondary sources must be from scholars in the social
sciences (internet sources are not valid scholarly sources unless it is the web version of an
academic journal). You will rely on at least three secondary source materials or more if you feel it is
necessary. Spend the time to find appropriate sources that pertain directly to your topic and find
these materials first before committing to your topic.

Your report should include a cover page with a title, your name, the course title and code, date
submitted and to whom. Your assignment should use a proper social science referencing style such as
the ‘Chicago Style’, for example (Author 1989: 219) at the end of each sentence before the period.
Include a bibliography at the end of the report that lists all your sources. DON’T USE FOOTNOTES.

Make sure you carefully proofread your essay for organization, grammar and coherence of ideas before
handing it in. You are to keep a second copy of your paper in case it gets misplaced. You cannot e-mail
your assignment to your TA or drop it off anywhere. Your report will be graded on the basis of the
following criteria:
- how well you follow the guidelines listed here and how well it flows from your
proposal/outline
- how well the report is written in terms of concision, clarity, organization and flow
of ideas, grammar and style.
- how well you select, present, define and apply course concepts/ideas that are of
significance to your topic.
- how well you research, represent/summarize your secondary source authors, and
on how well you select your choices for secondary sources.

This assignment is being handed out early in the course to give students ample time to complete it and
also to discourage assignments being handed in late as this creates complications for marking
assignments and returning them back on time. Late assignments will lose marks at a rate of 5% per
week and will not be accepted after the final class.

Assignment Submission: Good academic performance depends on students doing their work not only
well, but on time. Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified
for the assignment. Written assignments are to be handed in directly to your tutorial leader and NOT
dropped off in the social science department, e-mailed, or slipped under an office door.

Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized 5% per week

*Please Note! All students are required to complete an academic dishonesty tutorial as part of your
requirement for this course. This tutorial can be completed on your own time as follows:
http://www.yorku.ca/tutorial/academic_integrity/

*DO NOT PLAGIARIZE, COPY OR SUBMIT SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK AS YOUR OWN!! THERE ARE
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR PLAGIARISM & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.

York students are required to maintain high standards of academic integrity and are subject to the
Senate Policy on Academic Honesty (http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?
document=69).
There is also an academic integrity website with complete information about academic honesty.
Students are expected to review the materials on the Academic Integrity website
(http://www.yorku.ca/tutorial/academic_integrity/polpoints.html).