Done

Like all my other class mates I suggest to start early on the research project. It is extremely time consuming. I suggest selecting a topic as soon as possible, that way you can start your research early. When doing the article critiques select an article that relates to your topic. This step helped me out by giving me some background on my topic. I did my research paper on gang prevention. I looked the effectiveness of school based programs such as GREAT, which aim to limit gang membership. I also looked at how police supervision has lowered gang activity.

What I really found helpful was the Social Control Theory by Travis Hirschi. The book is available at the school library. Understanding why adolescents join gangs is a key to stopping gang membership among them. The social control theory goes in depth with reasons why one can seek a gang.

 Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Small Steps

The biggest advice for doing this paper is starting early. Begin by reading a few books and articles. Determine what direction you want to take on your topic if you haven't already. Look in the index for key words related to your topic and read those sections. Looking for articles might be easier if you use some of the key words you looked up in the index. As you read place tabs on pages with information and take notes. Cite as you go will save you so much time. Start as soon as you have some information. Don't tell yourself you'll start once you have more information because you'll just procrastinate. Write it by sections so it doesn't seem as overwhelming. Make an appointment for the UWC more than a  week before your deadline. Visit Professor Hicks to get the best feedback.


If I would have to do this assignment again, I would change some things. I would make an appointment  at the UWC ahead of time.Sometimes it's really busy, so waiting can waste your time (especially if you have a busy schedule). I would stick more to my deadlines and specify sections I should have written by that date. I would take better notes because I wasted time checking my sources. 

I researched juvenile delinquency and the influence of family. I wanted to know how much parents influence a child's to engage in delinquency. I looked at factors of the parent-child relationship, like discipline, discord, family structure, affection, and support. I had many sources. But, I consider the following sources the most useful:

Farrington, D. P. & Welsh, B. C. (2007). Saving children from a life of crime: Early risk factors and effective interventions.


Flowers, R. B. (2009). The adolescent criminal: an examination of today’s juvenile offender.
Shoemaker, D. J.
Theories of delinquency: An examination of explanations of delinquent behavior.
Juvenile delinquency.
The previous are books found in the CSULA library.


Sokol-Katz, J., Dunham R. & Zimmerman, R. (1997). Family structure versus parental attachment in controlling adolescent deviant behavior: A social control model. Retrieved from http://mimas.calstatela.edu/login?url=?did=11591348&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientId=17855&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Woops

Wow......

I cannot believe I made it to the end. First off I have to say that this class is the hardest class I have take so far. In this class I wrote a lot, I have never written so much for a class. I do have to say that in the end it was worth all the trouble. I learned so much in this class and was pushed so hard in writing the twelve pages for our main research paper which is our lit review. I never thought I would ever learn how to write an APA paper but since I took this class I think I could write one again. My advice for all those who want to take this class to start your lit review paper as soon as you learn about it. I regret not starting as soon as possible, I've always been a procrastinator and I started researching for my paper until the fourth week. I do think that you should take this class because I think this is the best class to take for a CRIM 301 class. I have no regrets now that I've finished and I am happy to have taken this class, I learned so much; and I will never forget the lit review I'm sure it will haunt my nightmares for a very long time.

I'm so glad It's over!!!!

Finally I’ll be able to enjoy a weekend. First of all, I was to say that this is the hardest class I have ever taken. If you are the type of person that like missing class, fails to due some assignments, and does not pay attention during class, then run while you can because this is not the class for you. If I had a chance to go back in time there are a few things I would have done differently with this class. One of them is allowing me enough time to complete my assignments in a timely manner. Especially, with the literature review that this class requires us to complete. A literature review is a very time consuming assignment and that is why I HIGHLY recommend to start on it the second week of class. I regret not starting on it during the 5th/6th week. Since I waited until the last week, I was pressure and stressed out to finish my lit review in a timely manner. My only advice for this class is to not start on time… but to start before. That way you will be able to at least enjoy a bit more this class. My topic for my lit review was Juvenile Recidivism and the Factors that contribute them to re-offend.  While looking for articles and book, I came across a very helpful article. If your topic has to do with factors of recidivism I recommend Shane Jimerson’s study, The Santa Barbara Assets and Risks Assessment to Predict Recidivism Among Male and Female Juveniles: An Investigation of Inter-rater Reliability and Predictive Validity. In regards to book I recommend you skim through this book by Bartollas, C. titled, Juvenile Justice In America 3rd edition. With that said, I am glad I took this class, but I’m also glad that our professor made the class fun. I learned so much and I do not regret taking this class -Martha

Is it over yet!?

To all the future students that might take this class when you look at the syllabus you might be thinking "no way" this is too much work. I will say this, the workload is high but it can be done, enough time is given for each assignment. Start EARLY I stress that a lot for every assignment you do start early. Everything you do has it's purpose as the quarter progresses. I guarantee to the future students that stick to the class you will feel rewarded and can pat yourself on the back.

Now for the research paper it's the biggest assignment you will do in the class. I will tell you all now, don't think you can leave it till the last week of class and get it done because it takes time and research. Take advantage of the available sources like the librarians help, the writing center and the instructors help because she will answer all your questions. My topic was on Child Abuse and Juvenile Delinquency. Rather than give you sources because it's rather easy to search through proquest anyways, I will instead suggest you take a counseling or child development class that deals with child abuse because it will be very helpful since you can use all that information for your paper.

Once again, start early, procrastination is your enemy, and have fun!

START EARLY!

Writing a lit review was something, I thought I couldn’t Handel! Hey but I did it! I can be done and it is not a bad as it sounds. Prof Hicks goes “bird by bird” in explaining it. My advice would be the same as my fellow classmate, start early. It takes time and a lot of research and reading.  But start early and you won’t feel so stressed. I wish I would have picked my topic earlier and started right way.

My topic I was on juvenile delinquency and this coloration to education.  The information I found was great but not too much. A useful source would be a journal article http://mimas.calstatela.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=i3h&AN=63558922&site=ehost-live

PLAN AHEAD it will prevent you from loosing it...

I encourage you to find a topic that you are most interested in relating to criminal justice, this will allow you to be motivated in your writing process. Also plan ahead that way you will have enough time to research your topic and make corrections on your paper. Since this is a 10-12 page literature review it is important to do this step by step it will be worth it. Don't try to do it all at once because it is impossible. Also visit the writing center, library, and email the professor as much as you can, They are there to HELP YOU. Finally, I suggest you follow the guidelines in order to successfully do well in the course. There is a lot of writing involved, but don't be scared it can be done. I wish I would have chosen my topic earlier on in the course, that way I could have done more research. By getting a head start and knowing what you will be writing about will make it less stressful.

The topic for my literature review was What theories explain the causes for Juvenile Delinquency, and what preventive  programs are there in order to rehabilitate. The source that I found most helpful was the book tittled Juvenile Delinquency and Justice Sociological Perspectives. By Ronald J. Berger and Paul D. Gregory found on the campus library.