Assignment 2 is Due 11/02 Write a three page summary of the FBI’s most recent report on Active Shooter (Mass Shooting) incidents: https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/active-shooter-incidents-in-the-us-2022-042623.pdf/view
Written Assignments
The goal of this paper is for the student to learn/practice writing a review and summary of the assigned material. In doing so, the student will learn about the subject matter and as importantly, to work on writing skills.
Written communication is an essential job skill in every occupation. While this class is focused on the social sciences, it is our job to prepare you for the world of work. Good writing skills are valuable and feeling comfortable approaching a writing project will assist you more than you can imagine.
For what we are doing here – the standard for good writing is based on clarity – starting with well constructed, factual sentences. Paragraphs organized around closely related thoughts, concepts, and arguments. The paper should be a full three pages of content and end with a reference/citation.
Three paragraphs per page forces a discipline and symmetry that work well in writing. While it may seem simple, it is a structure that works and has stood the test of time. Many things in life are built on principles of three for this very reason – clergy tend to organize sermons, homilies or inspirational messages based on the rule of threes; blues music and rock and roll, although very elaborate at times – is built on a simple musical chord structure of threes (the I, IV and V chords).
Use only the source that is assigned. The sources are designed to expose students to a range of literature and sources used in this academic discipline or career field. The articles you will be reviewing for this class may be interesting but are sometimes mundane – perhaps even boring at times.
Some are loaded with numbers and data, others are more designed to provide a conceptual framework or establish a baseline of definitions. The intent is for the student to learn how to extract useful information from a variety of sources and understand the strengths and weaknesses of those sources.
There are two basic approaches to writing – the first is a Structural Approach, the second is a Stylistic Approach. In reality, both elements are important in good writing but here I am referring to issues related to “Where do I start?”, “This feels overwhelming!”, “This is too big of a project!”.
My approach starts with a heavy emphasis on Structure. Think of baking a cake or assembling an IKEA project…well, maybe not the IKEA project.
The assignments for the class are all 3 page papers. They should be double spaced, 1 inch margins, every paragraph after the first, indented 5 spaces. Three paragraphs per page – all nearly uniform in length. The font should be Times New Roman, 12 PT, margins are left justified with no extra space between. There should be no long quotations, no bullet points.
A good paper in the social sciences relies on a strong narrative. Clear, relatively short sentences and paragraphs that organize and frame the ideas you want to communicate. These papers should deal in facts, no Statements that are overly broad or general, no opinions, etc..
OK, you have 9 paragraphs to write. The first paragraph is the intro, the last is the summary – that means the difficult part is on 7 paragraphs. Knowing what to put in each paragraph will help guide you, just like the previously mentioned cake recipe.
You need to know what does go in the first paragraph. In the context of this class, your introduction should state who wrote/published the report, when and where it was published, the scope of the article and what your paper will focus on. A three page paper means you can focus on about 3-4 things.
Something like: ‘This paper is a summary of the FBI’s 2021 Report on Cyber-Crime. While the document is a comprehensive report that describes all aspects of cyber-crime, this paper will focus on how end users are targeted by cyber-criminals. Specifically, it will focus on the content contained within Chapter 4 of the document which describes 4 types od cyber-attacks: Malware, Social Engineering, Botnets and Identity Theft.”
Second paragraph should address the methods used. That refers to the way that the information was obtained, when/where it was obtained, the strengths and shortcomings of that information.
By the end of the second paragraph the reader will know: Who, Where, When, Why and How of the information you are writing about. They are totally oriented to your paper and ready to absorb the content.
There after you’ll be able to cover only three or four major topics/points/arguments. It’s your job to make those choices but tell the audience what you will focus on.
That is what you write about in paragraphs 3 through 8. If you cover 3 major ideas/concepts/findings – that means each gets two paragraphs. Sometimes paragraph 8 can be used for reflections/impressions/opinions but the paper is not an opinion paper – your views must be brief and restrained.
The last paragraph is a summary and conclusion.