Module SOCI1391: UNDERSTANDING CRIME

Department: Applied Social Sciences (Sociology; Social Wk/Policy; Com&Yth Wk)

SOCI1391: UNDERSTANDING CRIME

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• Conceptualising Society (SOCI1331) which may be taken as a prerequisite if appropriate.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To stimulate students' interest in, and enthusiasm for, the sociological study of crime and deviance.
• To encourage students to think sociologically about issues of crime, deviance and associated concepts.
• To introduce students to the vast range of subjects that can be covered within criminology and the ways that sociologists and criminologists approach the study of crime of deviance through a detailed examination of four classic, empirically-based studies relating to crime and deviance.
• To introduce students to major theoretical perspectives in criminology, up to and including New Deviancy Theory.
• To encourage students to think sociologically about issues of crime, deviance and associated concepts.

Content

• Four classic monographs: Folk Devils and Moral Panics; Tearoom Trade; Criminal Women; Psychological Survival (NB: the specific texts may change year by year, depending on students numbers and staffing)
• Major theoretical perspectives: The Classical School and early positivism; Durkheim, positivism and anomie; Simmel, crime and the urban; the Chicago School, social disorganisation and differential association; Marx, Engels and political economy, Bonger; Mertonian structural functionalism; subcultures and delinquency; Symbolic interactionism and the study of deviance; Becker and labelling theory.

Learning Outcomes

• Good knowledge of the four chosen monographs, and an informed understanding of the research methodologies, theoretical frameworks and overall conclusions associated with them.
• Familiarity, at an introductory level, with the conceptual language of sociology, especially when applied to the study of crime and deviance.
• An appreciation of the ways in which the work of classical theorists in sociology may be drawn on to further an understanding and explanation of crime and deviance.
• Knowledge and understanding of the broad contours of criminological theorising and its historical context.

• An ability to evaluate and interpret information and evidence to a good, basic standard.
• Appropriate competency in terms of formulating sociological arguments and communicating ideas in writing.
• Evidence of thinking sociologically about crime and deviance.

• A good basic ability to plan workloads and manage their time.
• Basic IT skills relating to the production of summative essays.
• An ability to reference written work in an appropriate manner.
• Competency in engaging in library searches.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures: weekly lectures will introduce students to basic concepts and map out the basic contours of this module. The lecture series is divided into two parts: one part focuses on the four classic research monographs whilst the other part focuses on criminological theory.
• Seminars: fortnightly seminars allow tutors to explore in more detail themes and issues arising from lectures and associated reading. Half of the seminars will focus on the four classic texts and the methodological issues that arise and half of the seminars will focus on criminological theories.
• A group formative assignment provides an opportunity to examine topics covered in Term 1 and give the students vital experience in learning how to analyze critically read and write about crime and deviance using the conceptual language of sociology.
• The summative assignment will take the form of an in-class timed exercise of short answer questions and definitions. In advance of the timed exercise, students will be given a set of similar questions to the ones that will be asked in the in-class timed exercise. This will provide them with an indication of the material that will be covered. Students will be able to bring in whatever resources and materials that they feel might be useful. This assignment will enable them to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in relation to specific topics, and to construct a systematic discussion within time limited constraints.
• A summative examination tests the range, depth and sophistication of a student’s knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, together with the ability to argue coherently and to communicate effectively when writing within time constraints.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

2000 word group work book review .

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University