1. Introduction: summarizes what you will write and puts it into context
- "What You're Studying": start with a statement about your topic and the problem that you've identified should be addressed
- "So What?": demonstrate why this problem is important and why your reader should care
- "Game Plan": outline the main points of your paper and how you will address them
2. Body: The body of your Paper should have two parts:
Part 1 (the problem): use scholarly, peer-reviewed, research studies to demonstrate that the problem from the introduction is real
- Provide background on your problem and put it into context
- Describe why your problem is important and why it is necessary to address it
- Incorporate criminal justice theories and concepts to describe the scope and importance of the problem
Part 2 (the reform): use scholarly, peer-reviewed, research studies to demonstrate how your reform would solve the problem
- Describe your proposed reform that would solve the problem you've identified
- Describe detailed analysis about your your proposed reform would solve the problem
- Incorporate criminal justice theories and concepts into your description and analysis of your proposed reform
3. Conclusion: summarizes what you wrote and what you learned
- Briefly summarize your problem and your arguments for why its real
- Briefly summarize your reform and your arguments for why it would help
- End with a strong, final statement that ties the whole paper together and makes it clear the paper has come to an end
- No new ideas should be introduced in the conclusion, it should only review and analyze the main points from the body of the paper (with the exception of suggestions for further research)
4. References List: a list of the sources you cited
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