The Poster
(Oh no! He used Wikipedia. How could he?)
is on any self-selected gang.

The poster is to be written following APA guidelines. A good reference for this is The Owl at
Purdue. Other information on how to do a poster and what it is can be found in Course
Materials.All written assignments must be typed, double spaced throughout
with standard margins (1.5″ on left, 1″ at the top, bottom and right) and include pagination.
Assignments will be graded using a holistic method. Writing proficiency is required for a
passing grade in this course. Written assignments must follow an APA style format.
Whenever in doubt as to writing mechanics, take a look at the journals Justice
Quarterly or American Journal of Criminal Justice and follow that style. Use a recent issue,
one published within the past year.
Another great reference is Johnson, Jr. et.al., The Criminal Justice Student Writer’s
Manual (6th ed.).
In writing for this class, remember the words of Winston Churchill, “Say what you
have to say as clearly as you can and in as few words as possible” (Hayward, l997: 106).
This was Churchill’s commandment and should be yours as well.
You should also keep these words from Robert Ringer in mind as you write for this class:
“Simplicity is crucial. I learned this gem from William Strunk’s timeless little classic The
Elements of Style. This book has been around for decades, and everything in it holds true
today, especially the little jewel that follows:
‘Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph
no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary
lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his
sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every
word tell.’
Simplicity is a crucial aspect of quality writing. I often remind would-be writers that the
power of the understatement is enormous. I’m always amazed by how many extraneous
words and sentences people leave in their finished literary offerings – from books to e-mails.
Extraneous words and sentences can actually detract from a writer’s main point.”