Criminology: Movie Review Assignment
One of the goals of this assignment is to assess student competence for each of these objectives:
I. Written and Oral Communication:
Demonstrate effective skills in written communication through their evaluation of theories, policies and
programs, and
II. Critical Analysis and Reasoning:
Apply criminological theories to the film with synthesized examples from the movie to illustrate their
reasoning for selection
III. Information Literacy:
Identify and evaluate appropriate resources for research as well as incorporate the information
effectively using APA-formatted in-text citations and references
IV. Local and Global Diversity
Assess the characteristics, and ecological factors depicted in film to determine if they are typical of real
life crime and the criminals who perpetrate such crimes and understand the challenges that individuals
who share these contributing factors and demographic variables face.
V. Personal and Professional Ethics
Examine systemic responses that accurately and effectively resolve the issues related to the selected
theories
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that students are competent in applying neo-classical,
biological, psychological and sociological theories to criminal behaviors. Furthermore, students can
demonstrate their ability to analyze criminal behaviors in the real world and strategize a potential prevention of
such behaviors. It is an assignment where students can demonstrate skills at writing coherently and
communicating ideas.
Audience: The audience of this paper is the professor. Assume that he/she is un-informed, an outsider to
criminology and a person who has not viewed any of the films. He/she is also not psychic (!), students need to
make sure their answers are self-explanatory and do not require additional clarification.
Suggested Time Line: Students should plan accordingly to allow themselves enough time to complete the
assignment. Each film’s viewing time is approximately two hours; however students should also factor in time
for reviewing segments of the film, researching, and drafting and finalizing of the paper. Students wanting
extra assistance with writing should schedule an appointment at one of the CCBC Writing Centers; students
needing assistance with APA in-text citation and reference formatting should contact the Professor and/or
CCBC reference librarian.
Assignment: Students are expected to view one (1) of the following films (the films are on reserve at the
Catonsville and Essex CCBC libraries):
• Nightcrawler
• Perfect Sisters
• American Psycho
• Catch Me If You Can
• American Gangster
• Star Wars
Students are expected to write a paper in which they (A) consider which crime theories best explain the
deviance and criminal activities as depicted in the selected film; (B) determine how the Criminal Justice System
and the community could have intervened to prevent the crime(s) depicted in the selected film; and (C) assess
the realistic nature of the depiction of the crime(s) in the film. NOTE: This assignment is graded on a C-paper
rubric. Students should thoroughly review the rubric prior to proceeding with this assignment.
(A) Students should identify applicable theories from the course materials. Students should use careful logic and
analysis in identifying and applying supporting evidence from the movie to their selected theories. Students
should give actual examples (including names of the characters, descriptions of scenes, specific dialogue, etc.)
from the story line and synthesize them to illustrate their reasoning in choosing a theory.
(B) Students should consider and research (select, discriminate, and evaluate for credibility) effective criminal
justice system interventions/policies that could have prevented or reduced future criminal acts depicted in the
film. Students should consider macro-level interventions/systemic response that could have impacted, with
efficacy/evidence-based approaches, the individual(s) in the film. Each identified theory should have a relevant
systemic response. As a part of the process of drafting this section, students should ask themselves the
following questions (a non-exhaustive list) prior to writing this section of the paper; students should not simply
answer these questions:
1. What individual, familial, and ecological factors contributed to the individual’s perpetrating in
the film?
2. What, if implemented, could have effectively decreased these factors and the chance of the
individual perpetrating the crime?
3. What, if implemented, could have effectively prevented similar individuals in similar situations
from perpetrating the crime?
4. What would be the ramifications, of implementation, for community safety and individual
rehabilitation?
(C) Students should assess (select, discriminate, and evaluate for credibility) current research and statistics, to
determine if the criminal behaviors, characteristics, and ecological factors depicted in film are typical of real life
crime and the criminals who perpetrate it. As a part of the process of drafting this section, students should ask
themselves the following questions (a non-exhaustive list) prior to writing this section of the paper; students
should not simply answer these questions:
1. Are the contributing (biological, individual, familial, environmental, cultural, etc.) factors to the
crime realistic?
2. Are the demographic variables (race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, etc.) related
to the perpetrator accurate?
3. Are the details related to the perpetrated crime accurate?
4. What challenges do individuals who share these contributing factors and demographic variables
face?
NOTE: If the selected movie is based on a real life crime, students should not assess if Hollywood got the facts
correct.
Format: Type-written (.rtf or .doc) assignments should be single-spaced, have 12 point font, and have one-inch
margins. Length is based on content; there is not a page minimum. The paper will be graded on the quality of
the content (it must include a thorough examination of criminological theories and their application to the
selected movie, an analysis about how the criminality in the movie could have been avoided on a micro and
macro level, and an analysis of how accurately the crime is depicted in the film.) APA in-text citations and
references are required.
Submission: Students are required to use Safe Assignment. Access to Safe Assignment can be found in
Blackboard. Students are expected to use this technological tool as a resource. Students will have the ability to
view their Safe Assignment Originality Report, and are expected to make revisions so their final submission
receives an acceptable score. The professor will grade students’ Final Submissions.
Grading: See rubric for details about how your assignment will be graded
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