CRI10002: Fundamentals of Criminology Research Essay

Assignment 3: Research Essay

Assignment overview

Research essay requires you to select one particular type of criminal offence and choose whichever criminology theory you have studied that can best explain it. You will research the chosen theory and offence using different academic sources, and analyse this research to explain the cause(s) of your chosen criminal offence. The annotated bibliography and essay plan you completed for Assignment 2 should help ensure you are well-prepared to write your essay.

Assignment Details

This assignment builds upon the preparation work you completed as part of Assignment 2: Research essay plan and annotated bibliography. The research essay marks your debut as a junior criminologist. You will select one particular type of criminal offence and choose two criminology theories you have studied that can best explain it. The research essay requires you to research the chosen theories and offences using different academic sources and to analyse this research to explain the cause(s) of your chosen criminal offence.

Step 1: Select the type of offence Select one

• of the following types of offence to focus on for your research essay. You can continue with the same offence that you worked on for Assignment 
• sexual assault theft arson fraud intimate partner violence
• hacking
• drug dealing
• money laundering.

Step 2: Research further and look back at your plan

Refer back to your Assignment 2: Research essay plan and annotated bibliography. Undertake further research about the ideas and theories concerning why the crime occurs (causation) concerning a particular criminology theory covered during the teaching period, e.g. strain theory and biological determinism.

Step 3: Select your theories

The essay requires you to analyse your chosen offence concerning two criminology theories studied throughout the teaching period. The research essay requires you to compare two selected theories critically and discuss why one of these theories offers the best explanation for why the offence occurs. Select the crime causation theories that you think best explains why and how this offence occurs. You should include one (1) theory from column one and one (1) theory from column two.

Column 1

• Classicism
• Biological positivism
• The Chicago School
• Anomie and strain

Column 2

• Social control
• Labelling
• Feminist criminology
• Critical criminology

Make sure you have some good notes and planning on how the theories can best be used to explain why and how the offence occurs.

Step 4: Write the body and introduction of your essay

In your essay, you must explain the links between your chosen offence and the crime causation theories you have selected. Outline the reasons why you think this is the best explanatory model and provide examples—hypothetical or documented to support your argument. Back up your argument with research. Use clear topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Assignment 2: Final Assignment 

overview

In this assignment, you will answer questions that assess your understanding of legal issues covered throughout this unit. You will have two weeks to research and complete your submission.

Details

Carefully read through the following instructions before you begin this assignment.

Task

Answer the questions below, which assess the content covered in this unit. You will have two weeks to complete and submit this assignment. We suggest that you do not leave submission to the last moment, in case you experience technical difficulties.

Questions 

1. Section 12 of the Public Safety Act 2023 (Vic) (this Act is fictional) states: ‘It is an offence to bring an animal into a public space unless the animal is restrained in a manner that ensures public safety.’

Section 3 (Definitions) provides: ‘Public space’ is defined as any area accessible to the general public, including parks, beaches, and streets.

‘Restrained’ is defined as 'controlled by a leash, cage, or other manner that prevents the animal from causing harm'. In the second reading speech, the Minister stated: ‘This legislation is designed to promote the safety and comfort of the public by ensuring that animals in public spaces are adequately controlled to prevent harm or nuisance.’ The following two scenarios arise under this Act:

• Michael was walking his Pit Bull Terrier dog off-leash in a park. The dog loudly barked at a passerby. Although the dog stayed near Michael and did not rush the passerby, the passerby complained that they felt unsafe. 
• Laura brought her cat to a crowded beach inside a carrier. While in the carrier, the cat hissed loudly and scratched at the bars, nearly scratching two children who were trying to play with the cat.

With reference to the rules and maxims of statutory interpretation:

• What is the strongest argument you can make on behalf of Michael and Laura if they are charged and the matter is heard in the Magistrate’s Court 
• What is the strongest argument you can make on behalf of the prosecutor?
• Referring to the concepts of binding and persuasive precedents, what would be the effect of this decision on future courts, in relation to cases with similar facts, in the Victorian court hierarchy and other court hierarchies?

2. Does media coverage influence law reform? If so, is this desirable?

• Juries are not legally qualified and should not be involved in the justice system. Do you agree?
• Should department stores be permitted to use facial recognition cameras to identify customers with the objective of making the store safer? In your answer, discuss how the current law deals with this situation

3. Should the Commonwealth Parliament enact a human rights bill? In answering the question, make sure to discuss: the current human rights that are protected by federal law; the types of rights that the law could aim to protect; the advantages of a human rights charter and the disadvantages of a human rights charter.

Summary of Assessment Requirements

The Assignment 3: Research Essay required students to critically analyse a specific type of criminal offence by applying two criminological theories studied throughout the course. The primary objective was to demonstrate an understanding of how different theoretical frameworks explain the causation and context of criminal behaviour. Students were expected to:

• Select one offence type (e.g., theft, arson, drug dealing, fraud, intimate partner violence, etc.)
• Choose two criminological theories — one from each of the provided columns (e.g., Strain Theory and Social Control Theory).
• Conduct in-depth research using credible academic sources.
• Compare and contrast the two theories in explaining the chosen offence.
• Develop a structured essay with clear arguments, topic sentences, supporting evidence, and references.
• Identify which theory provides the most comprehensive explanation of the offence.

The assessment built upon Assignment 2 (Research Essay Plan and Annotated Bibliography), where students had already created a preliminary research plan and gathered academic references to support their argument.

The Final Assessment (Legal Studies Component) evaluated the student’s understanding of legal principles through problem-solving and analytical questions. It focused on statutory interpretation, precedent, law reform, media influence, and human rights legislation, testing the ability to apply theoretical legal principles to factual scenarios.

Step-by-Step Approach by the Academic Mentor

The Academic Mentor guided the student systematically through each stage of the assessment to ensure conceptual clarity, theoretical application, and academic coherence.

Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Scope

The mentor began by helping the student carefully interpret the assessment brief. Emphasis was placed on identifying the main deliverables — the need to connect criminological theory to practical examples of criminal behaviour and to evaluate their explanatory strength comparatively.

Step 2: Selection of Topic and Theories

The mentor guided the student in choosing a relevant criminal offence and two criminology theories with strong contrasting frameworks. For instance, the student selected drug dealing as the offence and applied Strain Theory (from Column 1) and Social Control Theory (from Column 2). The mentor explained how these theories offer different lenses one focusing on societal pressures and the other on personal restraint and social bonds.

Step 3: Structuring Research and Analysis

The mentor instructed the student to revisit the annotated bibliography and research plan from Assignment 2 to identify strong academic sources. Together, they refined search strategies, focusing on peer-reviewed criminology journals and case studies that supported theoretical comparisons.

Step 4: Essay Structure Development

The mentor helped the student outline the essay into clear sections:

• Introduction: Defining the offence and theories selected, outlining research objectives.
• Body Paragraphs: Linking each theory to the offence, supported by scholarly research and real-world examples.
• Comparative Analysis: Critically contrasting both theories and explaining which provides a more robust understanding.
• Conclusion: Summarising insights and reaffirming the chosen theory’s explanatory strength.

Special attention was given to transitions, argument clarity, and academic tone.

Step 5: Legal Studies Component

For the law-based assignment, the mentor explained how to apply statutory interpretation rules (literal, golden, and purposive rules) to the provided case scenarios involving Michael and Laura. The student was guided in constructing arguments for both the defence and prosecution, followed by an analysis of precedent effects and law reform discussions.

Step 6: Draft Review and Refinement

The mentor reviewed the student’s draft for coherence, legal reasoning, and theoretical consistency. Feedback focused on strengthening argument flow, integrating citations accurately, and balancing descriptive and analytical writing.

Step 7: Final Submission Readiness

Before submission, the mentor ensured that referencing followed APA guidelines, word count adhered to the limit, and the final essay presented a logical, well-researched, and critical analysis reflecting the student’s academic progression.

Outcome and Learning Objectives Achieved

Through this structured mentoring approach, the student successfully:

• Demonstrated the ability to apply criminological theories to real-world offences.
• Developed strong critical analysis and comparison skills.
• Gained practical understanding of statutory interpretation and precedent application.
• Strengthened research and academic writing competencies.
• Showed awareness of ethical, legal, and social implications within criminological and legal frameworks.

Get Inspired by This Sample But Don’t Submit It as Your Own!

Looking for guidance on how to structure and present your assignment effectively? You can download this sample solution to understand the right approach, formatting, and research depth required for top grades. However, remember this sample is meant for reference and learning purposes only. Submitting it directly may result in plagiarism penalties or academic misconduct.

If you want a custom-written, plagiarism-free solution tailored to your specific topic and university guidelines, our expert academic writers are here to help. Every assignment we deliver is written from scratch, thoroughly researched, and quality-checked to ensure originality and accuracy.

Why Choose a Fresh, Custom Solution?

• 100% original and plagiarism-free content
• Written by subject-matter experts
• Proper referencing and formatting
• On-time delivery and free revisions
• Guaranteed confidentiality