Occasionally, the United States Supreme Court makes decisions that are considered groundbreaking (abortion, gay marriage, death penalty, civil rights). In turn, these court decisions can

CJ 520 Journal Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: In this course, the journal will be used for reflection in Module Four.

Occasionally, the United States Supreme Court makes decisions that are considered groundbreaking (abortion, gay marriage, death penalty, civil rights). In turn, these court decisions can affect public policies. These changes are often the result of the changes in public opinion that stem from them. Often, the response of policy actors, such as the media and local governmental agencies, to the court decision plays a role in these policy changes.

For this journal, you will research and locate at least one United States Supreme Court case that you believe influenced state or federal decisions or actions about your selected public policy issue that in turn will influence your departmental policy. The Module Four resource U.S. Case Law Opinions offers a sampling of recent and historic Supreme Court cases to choose from. You may also choose one from your own research.

Refer also to the Criminal Justice Library Tips for assistance in finding and citing outside sources. Be sure to apply what you have learned in this journal task to your final project.

Prompt: In a minimum of 400 words, address the following in your journal assignment:

 Provide the name of the case and the court’s holding in the case.

 Explain how you believe the court’s decision played a role in policy changes.

 Support your journal assignment using specific details regarding the decision of the case.

 Describe how you will apply what you have learned to your final project.

Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Submit assignment as a minimum 400-word Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Case/Holdings Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific details from the case to support argument

Provides the name of the case and the court’s holding in the case

Provides the name of the case and the court’s holding in the case, but with gaps in detail, specificity, or accuracy

Does not provide the name of the case or the court’s holding in the case

22

Policy Changes Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific details from the case to support argument

Explains how the court’s decision played a role in policy changes

Explains how the decision played a role in policy changes, but with gaps in detail, specificity, or accuracy

Does not explain how the court’s decision played a role in policy changes

22

Case Decision Details Meets “Proficient” criteria and journal assignment exhibits a nuanced understanding of the case decision and its wider consequences

Includes specific details regarding the decision of the case to support the journal assignment

Includes details regarding the decision of the case to support the journal assignment, but there are gaps in specificity or accuracy

Does not include specific details regarding the decision of the case to support the journal assignment

22

Application to Final Project

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description exhibits a clear and relevant application

Describes application of what you learned from the journal task to the final project

Describes application of what you learned from the journal task to the final project, but description lacks detail or application described is not directly relevant to final project

Does not describe application of what you learned from the journal task to the final project

22

Articulation of Response

Assignment is free of errors in organization and grammar

Assignment is mostly free of errors of organization and grammar; errors are marginal and rarely interrupt the flow

Assignment contains errors of organization and grammar, but errors are limited enough so that assignment can be understood

Assignment contains errors of organization and grammar making the assignment difficult to understand

12

Total 100%

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