Academic Writing DUE 23RD FEB!

(2,500 words) that will stretch your own “criminological imagination” and allow you to put theories and practical elements of the course in good use. The main feature on the project is your ability to demonstrate independent thinking and initiative, important elements for academic growth. For your project the research population should be other University of Northampton students studying criminology, either single or joint honours. This is what we call an ‘opportunity sample’ which has been chosen for this project to simplify the process. As you progress through your studies you will be able to utilise your research skills in more complex sampling methods. There are a number of proposed projects to choose from depending on interest. For your project you need to select a topic, arrange your time carefully, select your 10 participants, write your 10 questions for your questionnaire, collect your data and library sources and allow yourself enough time to write it up. Each of the projects will have the same layout containing the following sections: Introduction (where you explain what your research is about). You need to include appropriate academic sources here. If not, you will be marked down. (100-200 words) Methods, in this section you need to discuss the research tool that you will be using, namely a questionnaire, explain its advantages for using it for your project. In this section you need to consider some of the ethical dimensions of your project: is it for example, appropriate to ask people questions about issues of a private nature? (300-500 words) Results, this section should contain the data you acquired in the process you described earlier in your methods. The results need to be presented in an appropriate form depending on what they are. These could be displayed in a table or chart form. (300 words excluding charts/tables) Discussion, in this section you need to combine your data with the wider literature. In what way does your data relate to what other academics have said or researched on the subject? You need to make sure that you do not include newspaper articles or other media information as this is usually produced by journalists and not academics. (800-1,000 words) Conclusion, this section will allow you to reflect on the overall experience. What have you learnt through undertaking the assignment; how has the project aided your learning process and what would you have done differently if you had the chance to do it again? (500 words) Reference List including only those sources you have used within your project report. You need to ensure you follow Harvard conventions of referencing both in your report and in the reference list. Appendix, you need to attach a blank copy of your questionnaire. This research tool should contain no more than 10 closed questions. (Excluded from the word count). Project subjects: 1. The use of tattoos and the level of perceived deviance. 2. Playing truant at school and juvenile delinquency. 3. Attractiveness and punishment avoidance. 4. Homosexuality as a factor in prejudice. 5. Racial stereotypes in perceived criminality. 6. Gender and urban space. 7. The decriminalisation of drugs. 8. Alcohol and violence. 9. Religiosity and tolerance. 10. Zero hour contracts and acquisitive crime DUE 23rd FEB 11:59PM