Criminology and the American Justice System

Planned Course for Social Studies Electives
Course:  Criminology and the American Justice System

National Standards: PA Academic Standards:

NCSS 4: Individual Development and Identity History:

NCSS 5: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions   8.1 Historical Analysis/Skills Development

NCSS 6: Power, Authority and Governance                8.3 United States History

NCSS 10: Civic Ideals and Practices   8.4 World History

Economics: 6.5 Income, Profit and Wealth

PA Core - Reading / Writing for History and Civics and Government:

Social Studies   5.1 Principles / Documents of Government

8.5 Reading Informational Text   5.2 Rights/Responsibilities of Citizenship

8.6 Writing   5.3 How Government Works

Course Description:

The goal of the middle and high school social science program is to develop citizens who will be able to participate in a culturally diverse, democratic, global society. The social studies program provides an integrated study of history, civics, economics, geography, and related social science disciplines.  The program emphasizes active learning strategies, research and inquiry skills, as well as critical thinking, reading, and writing that will transfer beyond the classroom. The development of skills and content knowledge from sixth to twelfth grade will allow students to apply what they have learned in a more practical and meaningful way.

As its focal point, this course covers the study of crime and deviant behavior in society.  Students will study conformity, deviance, types of crime, violent crime, organized crime, white collar crime, legal terminology, elements/workings of the criminal justice system and crime scene investigation. Connections will be made between the material being studied in class and the students’ everyday lives. Students will be able to analyze primary source information presented, identify cause and effect relationships, and provide explanations for current criminal justice issues facing the United States.   

Specific and measurable objectives to be obtained by students:

The specific objectives for this course are delineated in the Upper Moreland Township School District Social Studies Scope and Sequence based on the standards set forth in the  National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies; A Framework for Teaching, Learning and Assessment 2010 published by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and Social Studies for the Next Generation; Purposes, Practices and Implications of the College, Career, and Civic Life (NCSS C3 Framework). Specific objectives are also listed in the corresponding Pennsylvania State Standards for History, Geography, Economics, and Government and the Pennsylvania Core Reading & Writing Standards for History and Social Studies.

Materials:

Text & Digital Resources:

Gaines, Larry K., Miller, Roger L. (2018). Criminal Justice in Action The Core. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Other:

Primary and Secondary source documents

Supplementary reading and media materials

Artifacts


Instructional Activities:

A standards-based social studies program requires the use of a variety of activities to stimulate creative and critical thinking.  Below is a list of best practice activities.

  • Big 6 Research Process

  • Inquiry-based Learning

  • Technology-centered lessons and activities

  • Student-centered discussions

  • Project-based learning

  • Student reflection / response writing

  • Study-skill strategies

  • Citing factual evidence from non-fiction text

  • Before, During, and After (BDA) reading and writing strategies

  • Appropriate use of 21st Century resources and technology

  • Constructing and interpreting claims and counterclaims using factual evidence and research

  • Cooperative and collaborative opportunities for learning

  • Effective questioning techniques that challenge students to expand their thinking

  • Opportunities to exercise choice and responsibility by choosing topics of inquiry

Estimated Instructional time to be devoted to achieving objectives

Approximately 86 minutes per day, on an alternating block schedule

Forms of Assessment:

A variety of assessments will be used to measure student progress including:

  • Classroom  discussion / participation

  • Entrance and exit slips

  • Homework

  • Independent Research

  • Individual and group projects with performance based rubrics

  • Journals

  • Tests and quizzes

  • Common unit based assessments given by all teachers

  • Oral presentations with accompanying rubrics

  • Quick write activities

  • Evidence based responses to nonfiction text

An explanation of how student grades will be determined:

A student’s grade will be determined through a minimum of 7 assessments per marking period.  A minimum of 3 different types of assessments will be used to determine the student’s grade.