Category: Race and crime

Students will be responsible for completing a course reaction essay by the end of the semester.  For this exercise, the student should think critically about the content presented in the course as a whole.  At a minimum, include the most interesting thing you learned in the course, whether and how this course challenged preconceived ideas about race, crime, and justice, and how this course links with other coursework and/or career goals.
Requirements for course reaction essay:
2-4 pages in length.
Double-spaced, 12-point font.
First-person is acceptable for this assignment.
Must be produced in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx format) – no other format will be accepted.
Must be submitted on Canvas via the assignment link.
No cover page is required.
Use formatting in Microsoft Word for double-spacing; do not manually double-space your paper.
Paragraph, narrative format; no lists.
When you reference specific material from the course, you must provide in-text citations and a reference list.
Citations and references must conform to either APA or ASA standards
No quotations
Proofread carefully: grammar, spelling, mechanics, and citations will be part of your grade.

Please read the directions for each entry carefully before responding. Some may require watching videos or reading articles, while others may require you to locate items independently. 
Your response will be posted so the entire class can view it. However, you cannot view any responses until you post your response. This avoids getting answers from another student’s post. 
Students should benefit from their classmates’ entries. You will be able to respond to each other’s entries. You will not be graded directly on the responses. However, you should note that if your response is not adequate, any additional information you give responding to other entries and questions posted to your response can add points to your grade. 
Journal responses should be at least 250 words (1/2 page) to be considered for full credit. These can be written in the first person (e.g., I, me, my). 
Journal responses are not opinion pieces – your responses should reflect your knowledge and/or research about the topic and what is known in the criminal justice field.
Provide references and citations for materials used to respond to the prompt.  This is highly encouraged and will likely increase your score.
Journal Prompt:
Studies of the juvenile justice system reveal that racial minorities are subject to “cumulative disadvantage” or “compound risk.” Explain what this means and why it is a cause for concern.