Preliminary Midterm & Final Exam Details

INSTRUCTIONS

A. Read the instructions & all rules carefully.

a. You may also want to review the “Preliminary Midterm & Final Exam Details” and

“Midterm Details” resources. They are available on the course Moodle Page.

B. Read each question carefully. Take your time to consider what the question is asking.

a. Pay attention to the multiple parts. Full marks require all question parts be addressed.

b. Pay attention to the respective worth of each part and adjust your efforts accordingly.

c. Ensure you have responded to one option per unit (5 responses total, 1 per unit)

C. Prepare all responses in one (1) file. A title page is not required, but the document must

clearly include your full name and student number at the top of page 1.

a. Responses should be approximately 300-350 words per question. Portions of

responses exceeding this word limit will not be marked and will not inform your grade.

b. For full marks, responses must clearly demonstrate an excellent comprehension of

course material and the ability to think critically about the issues under consideration.

c. Responses must be in your own words. Heavy duplication of course/external sources

will not secure full marks.

D. Save the file in .doc or .docx format.

a. Other formats will NOT be accepted. Guidance for saving in the accepted formats is

provided in the Midterm Details resource

E. Upload to the appropriate dropbox in Moodle by March 4, 11:59pm (MST) even if

incomplete. The system will close to submissions following the deadline.

a. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.

b. Emailed submissions will NOT be accepted.

c. Give yourself enough wiggle room for potential submission issues. Waiting until the

last minute and then experiencing technical problems is not a permitted excuse.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY RULES

A. The exam IS open book. You are permitted to consult course materials.

a. You are discouraged from relying on external sources. If you choose to use external

sources, proper APA citations and references must be provided. (See “Avoiding

plagiarism” resource on Moodle).

B. Responses MUST be in your own words. You are not permitted to copy course or external

sources and will be penalized for doing so.

a. Any duplication must be acknowledged via proper quotation and APA citation

procedures (See “Avoiding plagiarism” resource on Moodle).

C. Students MUST work independently. You are not permitted to collaborate with, or seek

assistance from, any other student, person, or unauthorized resource in any form at any point.

MIDTERM QUESTIONS

Each question is worth a total of 5 points (5 units x 5 pts each = 25 points total).

You must respond to one option for each unit. Some units only have one possible option, whereas

others have two. For units with more than one option, choose only ONE option for response.

• If you do not respond to an option for a unit, you will not receive a grade for that unit.

• You cannot answer multiple options for one unit. If you respond to both options for the same

unit, only the first one will be graded.

Responses must clearly indicate the question and option to which it is responding (ex. by being titled

“Unit 1, option 2” or using the question text as the title).

• If unclear, responses will be assumed to take the order provided (chronological, with option 1)

and graded accordingly.

Unit 1. Choose either option 1 or option 2.

1. Distinguish the concepts Crime and Deviance in the context of Criminology. The

response should:

a. Define each concept (1 pt total)

b. Identify an example for each that demonstrates their distinction (1 pt total)

i. Note: You cannot duplicate an example used in the text/lectures.

c. Discuss the significance of their distinction for the study of Criminology (3 pts total)

OR

2. Contrast the Classical Criminology and the Positivist Criminology perspectives. The

response should:

a. Explain how each defines crime (i.e. what do they think crime ‘is’?) (1 pts total)

b. Explain how each defines “offenders” (i.e. who do they think is committing crime and

why?) (1.5 pts total)

c. Explain how each suggests we can reduce crime (i.e. what do they propose as crime

reduction strategies?) (2.5 pts total)

i. Tip: consider how the content of other units may help you develop your response.

Unit 2: Respond to the following option.

1. Contrast Police-reported crime data and Self-report crime data. The response should:

a. Identify and define each source, including how and from whom it sources its data (2

pts total)

b. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses for each source (3 pts total).

i. Tip: You may discuss their strengths and weaknesses relative to each other.

Unit 3: Choose either option 1 or option 2.

1. Discuss Victim Precipitation Theory. The response should:

a. Explain the theory (1 pt total)

b. Identify and describe the two major forms of precipitation (2 pts total)

c. Discuss the strengths and weakness of the theory (2 pts total)

OR

2. Compare and contrast Lifestyle Theories and Routine Activities Theories. The response

should:

a. Explain each theory (2 pts total)

b. Discuss similarities and differences between the two theories (3 pts total)

Unit 4: Choose either option 1 or option 2.

1. Compare and contrast General deterrence and Specific deterrence from the

perspective of (Rational) Choice Theory. The response should:

a. Describe the target of each concept (i.e. who specifically is it directed at) (1 pt total)

b. Describe the objective of each concept (i.e. what exactly is its goal?) (1.5 pts total)

c. Discuss the relative effectiveness of each concept for reducing crime (2.5 pts total)

OR

2. Discuss a Situational Crime Prevention Method/Technique from the perspective of

(Rational) Choice Theory. Your response should

a. Identify and describe one method/technique of situational crime prevention (1 pt total)

b. Identify and describe one unintentional consequence that may result from that

method/technique (may be positive or negative) (1 pt total)

c. Discuss the strengths and limitations of that method/technique for reducing crime (3

pts total)

Unit 5: Respond to the following option.

1. Explain the basic premises of trait theory. Your response should:

a. Describe contemporary trait theory, including how it differs from positivism (2 pts total)

b. Identify and describe its two major branches (2 pts total)

c. Identify and describe one weakness or controversy of trait theories (1 pt total)