Overview:

In this unit, you will complete the course culminating activity, which is an Independent Legal Research Essay. By following the instructions in each activity, you will learn and practice valuable research, writing, and editing skills.

The requirements for the successful completion of the course include the submission of an "independent study". This guide will inform you of the specifics of the requirements and suggest approaches that will contribute to its realization.

The Independent Research Study will be:

• A typewritten, properly documented Argumentative essay. Footnotes and bibliography will add extra pages.
• An argumentative essay, which seeks to convince the reader to agree with your particular point of view on an event or issue. You need to take a stand on an issue, provide supporting evidence, and appeal logically, emotionally, and ethically to the reader. Choose your language carefully to sway the reader to your point of view.

The Research Essay

1. The main purpose of the research component is to provide an opportunity for systematic inquiry into an issue or problem related to law. A list of suggested topics is included.
2. Your Independent Study, like any piece of formal writing, should employ only proper English and conform to standard essay style. Avoid using colloquial language or writing in the first person. Simply put, your essay will include:

• INTRODUCTION: which presents the topic, scope, and thesis/position of the paper;
• BODY: consisting of paragraphs which present and document evidence, and arguments to support the paper's thesis/position; and
• CONCLUSION: which restates the thesis, and reviews the major supporting arguments.

Topic: Criminals are made, not born (using theories of crime and actual cases as evidence)