CLASS DISCUSSION RUBRIC

SOCL 325

• You will sign up in pairs to be the class discussion leaders on one of the readings from the Cullen and Agnew book Criminological Theory: Past to Present. 
• The date on which you will have to be discussion leader will be listed on the sign up sheet. 
• You will be responsible for sending out a list of 7 questions about the article that we may discuss in class. 
• You will need to send this email to the class list serve at least 2 days in advance.
• However, half of your grade will come from sending me your questions exactly one week prior to your presentation.  By doing so, I can help you out and redirect you towards any missed opportunities to address key issues.
• I will help facilitate class discussion.
• But you and your partner will lead class discussion for 10-15 minutes.

POTENTIAL IDEAS FOR QUESTIONS:

• Does your article frame their research in terms of a specific theory?  If so, ask the class to look for the answer to this question.  If not, ask the class to describe the theory they thought was central to the research.
• Ask questions about the methodology: What was it?  Was the paper just theoretical, or was data collected?  Address methodological problems or ask how this research could be applied to the current world.
• Frame a current social issue in light of your article: Come up with discussion topics applying your article’s theory to your current topic (EX: Violent and Property Crimes, Victimless Crimes, Sexual Crimes, White Collar Crimes, Cyber Crimes, Terrorism, etc).
• Ask the class or various students to sum up the article in three sentences.
• These are just some of the questions you can ask.  You will ask the class to answer these questions.
• Be creative, you can even ask for class participation in some sort of activity.