Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2500257 Criminology | FB | 1 | 1 |
Students are expected to have a good level of English (B1 required, but B2 is preferred) in all skill areas (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in order to get the most out of the course content. Students who do not have the recommended English level should be prepared to take measures to improve their English (external classes, language exchanges, study groups, etc).
Within the general framework of the related degree, students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have attained and understood basic criminological theories and can critically reflect on them in English. In addition, students should be able to transmit this knowledge to a specialized public and propose solutions to problems arising from crime and criminals while taking into account the rights and interests of the parties involved by referring to the values of social pacification, social integration and the prevention of new conflicts.
The specific learning objectives of the course are the following:
In order to improve students’ listening, writing, speaking and reading skills, the course will be organized as follows:
1.READING
During the course’s seminars, students will be expected to read, analyse and made written and oral exercises on six mandatory readings. The classes are not passive and students are expected to actively contribute to and participate in class discussions as well as being able to relate readings’ content to the knowledge acquired throughout the course.
2. WRITING
To improve their ability to write a text in English by using an academic style, students are expected to complete at home some written assignments and, at the end of the course, a final written exam on a topic explained in the classroom is foreseen.
3. LISTENING
Many listening activities (watching videos and documentaries in English and listening to records on topics related to the course’s content) and practice tests will be carried out throughout the course and during the seminars in order to improve students’ listening skills.
4. SPEAKING
Finally, to improve their speaking skills, students are expected to give oral presentation on the mandatory readings analysed in the seminars and, at the end of the course, they will present their teamwork.
It is pointed out that classes are not passive and students are expected to actively contribute to and participate in class discussions, as well as to complete the tasks and exercises assigned by the teacher.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Supervised | |||
Seminars | 39 | 1.56 | 3, 2, 1, 5, 4 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Readings and textual analysis, homework assignments (essays and academic articles), listening activities, preparation of oral presentations | 106 | 4.24 | 3, 2, 1, 5, 6, 4 |
Attendance and Evaluation requirements:
1. Attendance
Attendance in class is extremely important. 100% attendance is obligatory. Justified absences are not negatively computed as long as a) they are for serious reasons and unavoidable (e.g., illness, death in the immediate family, etc.), and b) they are documented. Attending other instructional activities related to the degree would be considered a justified absence as long as it is approved previously by the professor and attendance at the activity is documented.
If absent (justified or not), students are responsible for the work done in class and any homework assigned.
Students who do not attend 80% of classes will not be evaluated.
2. Evaluation
Evaluation will be based on active/proactive participation in class and completion of written and oral assignments both within the classroom and at home. Students will receive continuous feedbacks throughout the course in order to improve their level of English. The results on the various evaluated tasks will give clear indications to students as to the areas they need to improve.
- Listening test accounts for 20 % of the final grade;
- Test on the readings dealt with in the seminars: it accounts for 20% of the final grade;
- speaking (oral group presentations) accounts for 30% of the final grade;
- Writing tasks 1 and 2 account for 30 % of the final grade.
In all evaluated aspects, students will be evaluated on their knowledge of criminological concepts presented throughout the course and their ability to express and discuss these concepts accuratelyand efficiently in English. The final mark will be based on the above-mentioned criteria.
3. Requirements to pass the course
Students must have an average of 5,0/10 on the evaluated tasks a in order to pass the course.
4. Consequences of cheating and plagiarism
A student that cheats or attempts to cheat in the exam will get a 0, loosing the right to a second chance. Plagiarism will conduct to a fail of the exam and, in case of recidivism, the student will receive a fail mark.
5. Others
Written assignements failing to be delivered within the deadline won't be accepted.
Justified absences due to reasons of force majeure or illness must be documented through an official certificate in order to be deemed as valid justifications.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Listening: Exam test 1 Listening practice in the classroom | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 6, 4 |
Reading and comprehension: Exam test on the readings dealt with during our seminars | 20% | 0 | 0 | 3, 2, 1, 6, 4 |
Speaking: Oral group presentations (on the readings dealt with in the seminars 10% + oral presentation on the final project 20%) | 30% | 2.5 | 0.1 | 3, 2, 1, 5, 6, 4 |
Writing: Writing task 1 (at home) 10% + Writing task 2 (written exam) 20% | 30% | 2.5 | 0.1 | 1, 6, 4 |
RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS AND DICTIONARIES
Textbook:
Newburn, T. (2007). Criminology. Cullompton: Willan
Dictionaries:
Davis, M. (2002). Concise Dictionary of Crime and Justice. California: Sage Publications
McLaughlin, E. & Muncie, J. (2006). The Sage dictionary of Criminlogy. London: Sage.
MANDATORY READINGS (they correspond to the readings studied in Introduction to Criminology.