Week 4 – Assignment       
       
News Media Analysis
Daily in Weeks 1 through 3, you reviewed the first three pages of the local newspaper and editorial section, reviewed news from an online source, or reviewed the first 10 minutes of the local news on television for stories on crime. You determined the approximate percentage of stories from those sources that dealt with crime, the nature of the crime chronicled, and the location of the story in the source (e.g., front page, leading story, etc.). (Note: This course builds on itself, so this assignment may be applicable to your Final Paper.)
 
For this weeks assignment:

Summarize your observations of the local news media stories over a three-week period.
Explain how the media influences the criminal justice policy process.
Analyze the news stories to determine how news stories are affecting crime control policies of the local criminal justice system (i.e., police, courts, or corrections) serving your community.
Evaluate the role of media influence on criminal justice policy in your local community or state based on your analysis.

Your paper must:

Be three to five double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
Include a separate title page with the following:

Title of paper
Students name
Course name and number
Instructors name
Date submitted

Use at least five scholarly sources in addition to the course text and in addition to the newspaper articles being evaluated.
Document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Summarizes Observations of the Local News Media Stories Occurring Over a Three-Week Period
Total: 1.00  
Distinguished – Thoroughly summarizes observations of the local news media stories occurring over a three-week period.
Proficient – Summarizes observations of the local news media stories occurring over a three-week period. Minor details are missing.
Basic – Minimally summarizes observations of the local news media stories occurring over a three-week period. Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations – Attempts to summarize observations of the local news media stories occurring over a three-week period; however, significant details are missing.
Non-Performance – The summary of the observations of the local news media stories occurring over a three-week period was either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Explains Whether or Not the Media Influences the Criminal Justice Policy Process
Total: 2.00  
Distinguished – Thoroughly explains whether or not the media influences the criminal justice policy process.
Proficient – Explains whether or not the media influences the criminal justice policy process. Minor details are missing.
Basic – Minimally explains whether or not the media influences the criminal justice policy process. Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations – Attempts to explain whether or not the media influences the criminal justice policy process; however, significant details are missing.
Non-Performance – The explanation of whether or not the media influences the criminal justice policy process is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Analyzes the News Stories to Determine Affect on Crime Control Policies of the Local Criminal Justice System Serving the Community
Total: 2.00  
Distinguished – Thoroughly analyzes the news stories to determine affect on crime control policies of the local criminal justice system serving the community.
Proficient – Analyzes the news stories to determine affect on crime control policies of the local criminal justice system serving the community. Minor details are missing.
Basic – Minimally analyzes the news stories to determine affect on crime control policies of the local criminal justice system serving the community. Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations – Attempts to analyze the news stories to determine affect on crime control policies of the local criminal justice system serving the community; however, significant details are missing.
Non-Performance – The analysis of the news stories to determine affect on crime control policies of the local criminal justice system serving the community is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Evaluates the Role of Media Influence on Criminal Justice Policy in the Local Community or State Based on Personal Analysis
Total: 3.00  
Distinguished – Thoroughly evaluates the role of media influence on criminal justice policy in the local community or state based on personal analysis.
Proficient – Evaluates the role of media influence on criminal justice policy in the local community or state based on personal analysis. Minor details are missing.
Basic – Minimally evaluates the role of media influence on criminal justice policy in the local community or state based on personal analysis. Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations – Attempts to evaluate the role of media influence on criminal justice policy in the local community or state based on personal analysis; however, significant details are missing.
Non-Performance – The evaluation of the role of media influence on criminal justice policy in the local community or state based on personal analysis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 0.50  
Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.
Proficient – Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.
Basic – Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.
Below Expectations – Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 0.50  
Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
Proficient – Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 
Basic – Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 
Below Expectations – Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Page Requirement
Total: 0.50  
Distinguished – The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 
Proficient – The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 
Basic – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Below Expectations – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Total: 0.50  
Distinguished – Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Proficient – Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Basic – Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.
Below Expectations – Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.