Wrongful convictions: how can the state undo the harm.

Research Paper
Each student will complete a research paper, with a minimum of 2,000 words on a topic of
his or her choice that relates in some way to the American legal system and the materials
covered in the course. The paper is worth 20 percent of each students final grade for the
course.
Paper topics must be approved by the professor and could include analyses of specific cases
or issues in the U.S. legal system, biographies of important jurists, explorations of legal
theories, etc.
The formatting requirements for the paper are as follows:
1) Use 12-point Times New Roman font.
2) Set a one-inch top, bottom, left and right margins.
3) Include a separate title page.
4) Please adhere to the guidelines of the Chicago Manual of Style.
The grading criteria for the paper are as follows:
Content
1) Extent to which at least one concept or theory addressed in the seminar is incorporated
into the paper.
2) Extent to which that concept or theory is applied effectively to past or present events and
the authors analytical points are supported by clear and detailed practical examples.
3) Organizational clarity of the paper.
4) Range and quality of evidentiary sources consulted.
Presentation
1) Quality of the prose.
2) Extent to which style guidelines are followed accurately and consistently.

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