Each student will submit an 8-12 page research-based paper based on primary and secondary sources dealing with one specific group/syndicate of Organized Crime (the Group may NOT be of Italian/Irish or Jewish lineage during the 1920s/1930s).

Instructions

Each student will submit an 8-12 page research-based paper based on primary and secondary sources dealing with one specific group/syndicate of Organized Crime (the Group may NOT be of Italian/Irish or Jewish lineage during the 1920s/1930s). Must be an American group/syndicate. This paper will count for 20% of your grade.

The paper MUST address the following:

• How was the group/syndicate “organized?”

• What criminal endeavors are associated with the group?

• How did the police attempt to confront the group?

• How did the group associate with the local community or society at large?

The point of this paper is for you to research and consider either different ethnic groups that were on the periphery of Organized Crime or an era that we did not fully discuss. This course sets up the “blue print” for what the more infamous syndicates perfected but many smaller gangs do not make the “final cut.” Keep in mind that Organized Crime is a web. It is neither a chain nor some large syndicate which controls everything. Within certain regions and locations there are many groups that “kick up” to the Five Families or are marginalized due to size, profit and/or media coverage. Tell their stories!

Here is what I will be looking for in your paper. (Consider this your general rubric).

• Your understanding of what makes up Organized Crime. Picking the best syndicate is the number one goal. How many aspects of our formal definition are used to define your choice? Justify WHY this syndicate is a reasonable choice.

• Make sure you hit the FOUR “categories”: organized, endeavors….

• Your ability to synthesize our lecture material and reading to reinforce your analysis on the gang/syndicate of your choice.

• While this is a “think” paper you must demonstrate the ability to mine sources for evidence which reinforce your own ideas. You are an informed participant, but now use the sources to back up your sound ideas.

• Don’t use the first sources. Find the best sources. Sources make your paper more competitive. The best papers will find unique primary sources and/or use a number of secondary sources. While general sources are not wrong, per se, if twenty of you are using the same source, then your paper does not shine as brightly.

• Citations must be in Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian formatting. That means full footnotes NOT APA/MLA citation. Please see the example on Blackboard.

• Mechanics, grammar and writing prose. Do not rush your writing and EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!

We will continue to discuss these formalities, the intent of the paper and other aspects in class. If you have questions ask in class as others may benefit from these ideas and answers. Each student will submit an 8-12 page research-based paper based on primary and secondary sources dealing with one specific group/syndicate of Organized Crime (the Group may NOT be of Italian/Irish or Jewish lineage during the 1920s/1930s). This paper will count for 20% of your grade.

Here is what I will be looking for in your paper. (Consider this your general rubric).

• Your understanding of what makes up Organized Crime. Picking the best syndicate is the number one goal. How many aspects of our formal definition are used to define your choice? Justify WHY this syndicate is a reasonable choice.

• Make sure you hit the FOUR “categories”: organized, endeavors….

• Your ability to synthesize our lecture material and reading to reinforce your analysis on the gang/syndicate of your choice.

• While this is a “think” paper you must demonstrate the ability to mine sources for evidence which reinforce your own ideas. You are an informed participant, but now use the sources to back up your sound ideas.

• Don’t use the first sources. Find the best sources. Sources make your paper more competitive. The best papers will find unique primary sources and/or use a number of secondary sources. While general sources are not wrong, per se, if twenty of you are using the same source, then your paper does not shine as brightly.

• Citations must be in Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian formatting. That means full footnotes NOT APA/MLA citation. Please see the example on Blackboard.

• Mechanics, grammar and writing prose. Do not rush your writing and EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!

We will continue to discuss these formalities, the intent of the paper and other aspects in class. If you have questions, ask in class as others may benefit from these ideas and answers.