1.) You will need to find data on a current criminal law (federal, specific state statute, municipal ordinance, OR a legal principle, such as unanimous jury
verdict for guilt or presumption of innocence or affirmative offenses – just to name a few) to explore the necessity and usefulness of that law (or principle). If
you choose a law, you will need to identify also any real or potential ‘unforeseen consequence’ of that law. For the principle, you will need to track the history
and analyze how the principle is presently being applied (you will do so through case law or through a review of the academic literature; i.e., peer-reviewed
articles or law review journal articles).
2.) Create a 48×36 (or 36×48) electronic poster (templates provided).
IF YOU CHOSE A LAW
-First decide on a research question; i.e., What is the purpose of Missouri’s DUI law? [or] Is DUI law needed?
-Have an introduction section with a thesis statement clearly identified
-Create subheadings for your poster for main themes
-Identify the legal elements as set forth statutorily
….Distinguish between the actus reus and mens rea
-Provide background or justification for the law by one or more of the following:
….Official statistics
….Historical or current events
….Projected future happenings
-Analyze the foreseen (or perhaps unforeseen) consequences
-Assess the law’s usefulness in terms of its benefits to society, such as
….Controlling crime
….Promoting social order or a safer society
….Providing citizen satisfaction
– APA formatted in-text citations MUST BE included in your ePoster. Otherwise, it’s plagiarism (regardless of whether you included a reference list; see
examples). I have uploaded an APA Style Guide that you should print (and refer to while you create your ePoster to ensure you are correct with your in-text
citations and with your reference citations).
-Include an APA formatted reference list, and make sure all images are credited as well (may be done underneath image or in reference list section)
-At least five valid and reliable references needed, two of which must be scholarly sources