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Alex S. Vitale
Sociology 90

Senior Seminar in Crime and Justice Spring 2009
 
I have heard from several students that they cannot make it today (3/2)and fewer than 40% of my morning students showed up, so I'm going to cancel class for today. Please email me your hypothesis ASAP, so that I can try to give them back to you on Wednesday. Please do the readings for both Mon and Wed. and we will discuss them both on Wed.


 


 

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NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly with myself and students from my S09 Seminar

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Spring 07 Seminar visits the 70th Pct .Community Council

Soc. 90: Seminar

Professor Alex Vitale 

M, W 2:15 – 3:30 PM, Room 3604 James

Office: 3101 James

avitale@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Office hours: M, W 3:30-4:30; Tu, Th, 11-1

Course web page: http://www.alex-vitale.info

Course Goal

·        To complete a substantial independent sociological research project about why crime has declined in a specific neighborhood.

Objectives

·        To utilize sociological literature to develop a research question.

·        To answer a sociological research question using survey, historical, interview, and secondary data.

·        To be able to communicate ideas effectively in writing.

·        Participate in a group process of exploring ideas about crime causation, crime control, and the use of sociological theories and methods.

Methods of Assessment

·        A completed research paper of 15 pages; worth 45% of the grade.

·        Participation in class discussions regarding your project including the development of research questions, utilization of research methods, and collection of data; worth 15% of the grade.

·        Completion of periodic homework assignments regarding your project including literature reviews, reports on data collection, and research question development; worth 40% of your grade.

Course Texts

·        Blumstein, Alfred and Joel Wallman eds. 2006. The Crime Drop in America. New York: Cambridge.

·        Karmen, Andrew. 2006. New York Murder Mystery. New York: NYU Press.

·         Zimring, Franklin. 2007. The Great American Crime Decline. New York: Oxford.

Texts are available from Shakespeare & Co. bookstore or online. You may use the older editions of these books, but I prefer you get the new ones.

 

Course Outline

 

M  1/26            Course Introduction

W  1/28            Ch. 1 Karmen – Bring 2 hypothesis to class

M  2/2              Ch. 1 Blumstein and Ch. 1 Zimring

W  2/4              Ch. 2 Blumstein

M  2/9              Ch. 2 Zimring

W  2/11            Ch. 2. Karmen

W  2/18            Ch. 3  Zimring Ch. 3

M 2/23             Ch. 4 Karmen and Ch. 4 Blumstein

W 2/25             Ch. 9 Blumstein and Ch. 7 Karmen

M 3/2               Ch. 8 Blumstein and Ch. 6 Karmen

W 3/4               Ch. 4 Zimring

M 3/9               Ch. 6 Blumstein and Ch. 5. Karmen

W 3/11             Ch. 3 Blumstein.

M 3/16             Ch. 7 Blumstein and Ch. 3 Karmen Preliminary Hypotheses due

W 3/18             Field Trip to the 73rd pct. 1630 St Marks Avenue, the Reverend R.D. Brown Houses Senior Citizens Center.

M 3/23             Epilogue Blumstein.

W 3/25             Ch.5 Zimring Draft literature Review Due

M 3/30             Ch.6 Zimring.

W 4/1               Ch. 8 Karmen

M 4/6               Zimring Ch. 7. Draft Introduction Due

M 4/20             Introductions reviewed, results section prep

W 4/22             Draft Results Section Due

M 4/27             Drafts returned and discussed, analysis prep

W 4/29             Draft Analysis Section Due, conclusion prep

M 5/4               Drafts returned and discussed, conclusion prep

W 5/6               Drafts Due

M 5/11             Review of drafts

W 5/13             Review of drafts

Th 5/21            Papers Due by 5 PM in Soc Dept office or my office

avitale (at) brooklyn.cuny.edu