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CJ 322 Gangs in America Date; Time

*I reserve the right to change the syllabus

John M. Unterreiner, Instructor

Spring 2019

Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work & Sociology

Office: Brandt, Room 332

Phone: 573-651-2820

E-mail: junterreiner@semo.edu

Office Hours:

Monday: 9:15am-10:45am

Wednesday: 9:15am-10:45am

Course Description

This course identifies the history of gangs in America, the composition of gangs, and the macro and micro level theories of gang involvement. (3 credit hours)

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Students will identify characteristics of gangs, the members of gang, and the composition of particular gangs in America.

2. Students will address how macro and micro level theories apply to current gang composition.

3. Students will learn to identify prevention techniques for gang involvement, and intervention methods.

Required Readings and Other Resources

Textbook

Gangs in America’s Communities (3rd ed.). Howell & Griffiths.

(I reserve the right to add any other readings I feel that are necessary for your education)

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Evaluation and Grading

Evaluations of your performance in this class will be based on quizzes, examinations, a paper, and written work.

Each of these evaluation tools is designed not only to assist me in administering a grade for your performance but

also to assist you in determining how well you are learning the material. What you get is what you earned.

No student will be considered for a bump in their grade if they did not 1) complete all assignments and 2) did not

complete all available extra credit opportunities. NO EXCEPTIONS!

*Each assignment will be due the Sunday night of the week it was assigned at 23:55.

In-class Assignments

There may be classes where I ask students to form groups, present ideas, discuss chapters, etc. These will be random

and unplanned. These will carry a grade from 5-10 points.

Quizzes

The quizzes will be used to evaluate your ability to synthesize the readings. There will be 10 quizzes, each quiz will

cover one chapter. Each quiz will be worth 5 points for a total of 50 points. These quizzes will be online.

Forums

There will be weekly forums. There will be 10 forums, each forum will cover a topic from each chapter. These

forums will be worth 7 points for a total of 70 points.

Forums require in-text citations. The book, and any outside source must be cited according to APA or you

will receive a zero.

Written Work

There will be written work. There will be 10 written assignments covering a variety of topics. These assignments

will be worth 12 points for a total of 120 points.

Written Assignments require in-text citations. They also require at least two sources. There is a document

titled “Written Assignment Guidelines” in the CJ 322 course information section on Moodle explaining

written assignments more. If you use the book, or any outside reference, it must be cited according to APA or

you will receive a zero.

Examinations

The examinations will be used to evaluate your competence in understanding the material covered in the book and in

the online assignments. The final examination will be comprehensive. There will be a total of four exams, including

the final. Three of the exams will be worth 50 points each, with the final accounting for 75 points.

These exams will be in person and may consist of a combination of multiple choice, true/false, matching, short

answer, and essay. This instructor will provide further details as the exams approach.

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Paper

This paper will require peer-reviewed research. The topic will be left up to each individual student, upon instructor

approval. The topic must cover a particular topic we have discussed over the course. Ideally, each student will

choose a topic they are passionate about and have a desire to research. The idea behind such a broad topic is to allow

each student an opportunity to explore an area they have a specific interest in. More details about the final paper are

on our Moodle page. The paper will be worth 50 points.

The final paper requires in-text citations. It also requires at least three sources. There is a document titled

“CJ 322 Paper” in the CJ 322 course information section on Moodle explaining written assignments more. If

you use the book, or any outside reference, it must be cited according to APA or you will receive a zero.

There is also a document titled, “How to Format APA Paper” in the same section on Moodle. The final paper

needs to consist of a title page, an abstract, the actual body of your paper, and a reference page. The guide is

provided to help you.

Percentage

A 90-100%

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 59 and below

Attendance and Participation

Participation will not be graded but is highly encouraged for your own learning.

Participation will be considered for bumps in grades above the grade the student earned. For example, if the student

earned 89 percent but was an active participant online and in forums, making quality comments, there is a chance

that I will raise the grade to an A even though the student earned a B (no guarantees, though).

No student will be considered for a bump in their grade if they did not 1) complete all assignments and 2) did not

complete all available extra credit opportunities. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Make-ups and Late Assignments

NO makeup quizzes, exams, or assignments will be allowed.

DO NOT EMAIL ME ASSIGNMENTS. THEY WILL BE DUE ON MOODLE AT A SPECIFIC DATE AND

TIME. IF THEY ARE NOT IN MOOLDE BY THAT DATE AND TIME, I WILL NOT GRADE THEM. IF YOU

EMAIL ME ASKING, I WILL NOT RESPOND.

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Academic Dishonesty: Cheating & Plagiarism

I will not accept this behavior with any equivocations! Please refer to the student code of conduct

(http://www.semo.edu/pdf/stuconduct-code-conduct.pdf) (effective Fall 2017) for possible sanctions and procedures

regarding academic dishonesty which includes, but is not limited to, cheating and plagiarism. Academic dishonesty

is:

• “Engaging or knowingly assisting in academic dishonesty; including plagiarism, cheating, and those acts

which would deceive, cheat, or defraud so as to promote or exchange one’s scholastic record.” (Student

Code of Conduct, Section 10, p. 6)

• “Knowingly furnishing false information, including false testimony at judicial hearings, to the University or

to any member of the University community in conjunction with University related activities.” (Student

Code of Conduct, Section 11, p. 6)

• “Alteration or misuse of University identification cards, record, documents or computer data.” (Student

Code of Conduct, Section 12, p. 7)

In particular to this class, cheating “includes using or relying on the work of someone else in an inappropriate

manner.” (Student Code of Conduct, p. 2). Plagiarism is “the act of passing someone else’s work off as one’s own.

In addition, plagiarism is defined as using the essential style and manner of expression as if it were one’s own.”

(Student Code of Conduct, p. 2). You will notice, in particular, that the student only needs to “engage” which will

presume no intention or knowledge is required. It is, if you will, a “strict liability” offense (something you can learn

in CJ 320 Criminal Law). Failure of the assignment and referral to the appropriate review boards are potential

sanctions.

Plagiarism is applicable to quizzes and papers in particular. ANYTHING that is turned in for a grade is open to the

rules of plagiarism. Quoting the book without proper citation in the paper IS PLAGIARISM (even if your source is

your own notes that you copied language from the materials). If you use sources outside of the course, then you

MUST cite them according to APA styling regardless if you use direct quotes or not.

Please be responsible!

Honor Code

It is to be understood that each student is responsible for upholding the integrity of this class and for this university.

You have the responsibility of approaching the student and/or the professor for any wrongdoing. A claim made by a

particular student will be investigated to a reasonable degree to uphold the integrity of the class (not as a “fishing

expedition”). A student who fails to report reasonable notice of academic dishonesty for which s/he has actual

knowledge violates this class’s honor code and will be treated similarly and, therefore, will be sanctioned

accordingly.

Academic Services

If you have serious test anxiety, a documented learning disability, or some other medical and/or emotional disability

that might hinder your performance in this class, you can (and should) contact the Office of Disability Services at

651-5927. You can receive assistance and/or counseling to improve your performance and adjustment in class or

otherwise with Counseling and Disability Services (986-6191). You can ALWAYS talk to me if you have any

problems and/or concerns.

Civility

Every student at Southeast is obligated at all times to assume responsibility for his/her actions, to respect constituted

authority, to be truthful, and to respect the rights of others, as to respect private and public property. In their academic

activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity and abide by the University’s

Policy on Academic Honesty. Alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct are adjudicated in accordance with

the established procedures of the judicial system.

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Accessibility Statement

This course adheres to Southeast Missouri State University’s Accessibility Plan found in the Undergraduate

Bulletin. Online, please go to the following link: http://www.semo.edu/pdf/2017Bulletin.pdf?ver=1.0

Final Note. . .

Be courteous to your fellow students and myself. If you have special circumstances, please see me. Thank you.

Questions of Concerns

Questions, Comments or requests regarding this course or program should be taken to your instructor. Unanswered

questions or unresolved issues involving this class may be taken to the Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice

and Sociology: Dr. Jeremy Ball (e-mail: jball@semo.edu, Phone: 573-651-2686).

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Date Topic Reading/Assignment Chapter 1: History of Gangs in the United

States

Read: Chapter 1

Quiz: Chapter 1

Forum: Chapter 1

Written Assignment: Chapter 1

Chapter 2: Myths and Realities of Youth

Gangs

Read: Chapter 2

Quiz: Chapter 2

Forum: Chapter 2

Written Assignment: Chapter 2

Chapter 3: Defining gangs and Gang

Members

Exam 1

Read: Chapter 3

Quiz: Chapter 3

Forum: Chapter 3

Written Assignment: Chapter 3

Exam 1

Chapter 4: General Macro-Level Theories

and Modern-Day Applications

Read: Chapter 4

Quiz: Chapter 4

Forum: Chapter 4

Written Assignment: Chapter 4

Chapter 5: Micro-Level Theories:

Developmental Life-Course Pathways and

other Micro-Level Explanations for Gang

Involvement

Exam 2

Read: Chapter 5

Quiz: Chapter 5

Forum: Chapter 5

Written Assignment: Chapter 5

Exam 2

Chapter 6: Girls and Gangs Read: Chapter 6

Quiz: Chapter 6

Forum: Chapter 6

Written Assignment: Chapter 6

Chapter 7: National Gang Problem Trends:

1996 to 2012

Read: Chapter 7

Quiz: Chapter 7

Forum: Chapter 7

Written Assignment: Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Urban Gangs and Violence

Exam 3

Read: Chapter 8

Quiz: Chapter 8

Forum: Chapter 8

Written Assignment: Chapter 8

Exam 3

Chapter 9: What Works: Prevention Read: Chapter 9

Quiz: Chapter 9

Forum: Chapter 9

Written Assignment: Chapter 9

Chapter 10: What Works: Intervention and

Suppression

Read: Chapter 10

Quiz: Chapter 10

Forum: Chapter 10

Written Assignment: Chapter 10

Final Paper Due

Review for Final Exam

Final Paper Due

Final Exam

Final Exam