CJ 406 Module Four Assignment and Guidelines Rubric
Overview
In this assignment, you will summarize a criminal case in which the broadcast media had an impact, and explain how the media may have influenced the public’s perception of the case.
Prompt
In this module, you learned about ways in which perceived bias in media coverage of criminal cases and police activity may play a role in society’s perception of police. One of those ways is the role the media play in a criminal case. If the media are biased, it may impact how society interprets and reacts to a criminal case and the criminal justice professionals involved. The media’s involvement in a case can also affect criminal justice practices. For this assignment, you will choose a criminal case to focus on. This case will be the basis for both this assignment and Project Three, which is due in Module Seven. You will craft a summary of the case and explain how the media may have influenced the public’s perception of the case.
First, choose one of the following criminal cases:
- William R. Horton
- Pamela Smart
- Dominic Cinelli
As you begin to research the case, the Project Three Case Resources PDF document may be of assistance.
Then, address the following rubric criteria:
- In 75 to 100 words, craft a brief summary of a criminal case in which the media had an impact.
- Describe the pertinent facts and legal points of the case.
- Describe who was involved and where the case took place.
- In 100 to 150 words, explain how the media may have influenced the public’s perception.
- Describe any actions by the public that may have been a result of the media’s influence.
- Explain the role the media may have played in the public’s perception of the criminal justice professionals involved in the case and/or practices related to the case.
What to Submit
This assignment should be submitted using the Module Four Assignment Template Word Document. Any references must be cited in APA style. See the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.
Module Four Assignment Rubric
| Criteria | Exceeds Expectations (100%) | Meets Expectations (85%) | Partially Meets Expectations (55%) | Does Not Meet Expectations (0%) | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Communication | Exceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding | Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience | Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding | Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication | 15 |
| Brief Summary of Case | Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner | Crafts a brief summary of a criminal case in which the media had an impact | Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include additional details or clarification, crafting a brief summary of a criminal case in which the media had an impact | Does not attempt criterion | 30 |
| The Media and the Public’s Perception of the Case | Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner | Explains how the media may have influenced the public’s perception of the case | Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include additional details or clarification explaining how the media may have influenced the public’s perception of the case | Does not attempt criterion | 50 |
| Citations and Attributions | Uses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with few or no minor errors | Uses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with consistent minor errors | Uses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with major errors | Does not use citations for ideas requiring attribution | 5 |
| Total: | 100% | ||||