Goals: Experience and initial competency in formulating a research or investigative question;
The ability to synthesize large and diverse quantities of information about a global topic and a world region;
The ability to evaluate the validity and reliability of information;
Critical thinking and analytical skills;
Proficiency in effective written communication;
Competence in using facts, ideas and arguments to formulate and deliver persuasive arguments.
Substantive Requirements for Project:
The paper must empirically establish the nature and extent of the crime problem. Address the questions: To what extent is this crime a problem in your selected countries? (How much crime is there?) How do you know? What are the strengths and limitations of your information sources? What are the challenges to trying to understand the extent of your particular problem?
Students must actively compare and contrast the crime problem in two or more countries, rather than summarizing each country separately.
The paper must provide a sound argument explaining the cross-national crime similarities/differences that you found. The explanation can be grounded in criminological theory or theories from other disciplines. You must also critically evaluate how well the explanation works for these particular countries and crime types.
This is a research paper that must rely on information from at least 10 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed articles, books, or government documents) and at least 2 authoritative web sites.

Technical Requirements for Written Paper:
Page length: 2500-3000, typed, 12-point font, one-inch margins, double-spaced
Papers must be well written. You must use complete sentences, good grammar, and correct spelling and punctuation. You should start with a clear thesis and develop it throughout the paper. Paragraphs should be coherent and properly constructed. Poor writing will count against your grade.
You must properly cite information that youve taken from other sources. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.