Theory Paper Assignment Instructions
Each student will be assigned a criminological theory to review. In this paper you will provide key
information about the theory.
In the theory review students will include: (1) a summary of the theory, including:
a. definitions of key concepts,
b. describe underlying assumptions and processes
c. identify notable scholars and foundational publications
d. You should cite any relevant sources for this section
(2) Discussion of recent research
a. identify at least 5 recent (within the last 10 years) research articles that relate to the
theory
b. briefly summarize each article, including research question(s), methods, and findings
c. describe how this recent research has contributed to the theory. Did it provide a new
test? Expand the theory? Refine it? Etc.
Guidelines:
– I do not grade based on length. I do not want students trying reach a specific page length, filling
their paper with fluff or being overly redundant. Instead, I want you focused clear, concise, and
informative writing. Your paper should be no longer than 12 pages (double-spaced, 12-point
font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins) excluding title page and references.
– Your paper should be written in APA style.
– You should use appropriate headings and subhea
dings to identify sections of your paper.
– All papers must include references to peer reviewed sources. At a minimum, you should have
10 peer-reviewed sources (at least 5 published within the last 10 years).
Grading Guidelines:
Component Criteria Points
Possible
Summary of Theory – Information is accurate
– Summary is concise
– Includes all relevant information
– Includes appropriate citations, including identifying
foundational publications and scholars
10
Recent Research – Identifies at least 5 appropriate peer-reviewed articles
– Summary of each article is accurate and concise
– Accurately describes contribution of research to the
theory.
10
Total points 20TEACHER COMMENTSThe minimum number of scholarly citations youÂ’ll need is 10, with at least five being peer-reviewed articles published recently. That means you will want to have some sources for background information and describing the theory, and other sources for more recent developments. Please note that this is the minimum number of sources needed for a passing grade on the paper. If you want to excel at this paper, you should aim for more than 10. A general rule at the graduate level is to have about 2 sources per page of text. So for a 10 page paper, you should aim for about 20 sources.