School of Sociology and Criminology  
 
 
CRI-10011 Murder  
Co-ordinator: Dr Evi Girling    Room: CBB1.001, Tel:33851  
Teaching Team: Dr Evi  Girling, Ms Jeanette  McCormick Ms Deborah  Tagg Dr Anette Ballinger Prof Bill  Dixon Dr Tony  Kearon Miss Jo-Anne  Watts Miss Claire  Lewendon Mrs Angela  Joines Mr Andrew  Henley, Mrs Catherine  Crutchley  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Criminology Dual Honours (Level 1)
Criminology Major (Level 1)
Criminology Minor (Level 1)
Criminology Single Honours (Level 1)
Sociology Single Honours (Level 1)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description

This module is based on an extended case study of murder. Its aim is to look at 'murder most foul' - as Shakespeare's Hamlet described it - from a range of perspectives in law, the humanities and the social sciences. We will consider why some forms of violent killing are treated as murder while others are not; how murder is currently defined in English law (and why); how criminologists and other social scientists have attempted to explain murder and understand those who commit it; how a murder case (and a 'murderer') is constructed and processed by the criminal justice system; and, finally, how murder is reported in the media and represented in creative work from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' to contemporary television drama. By putting all these perspectives together, we will attempt to gain a more complete understanding of murder, and violent crime more generally, and why they occupy such a prominent place in the politics and culture of the early 21st century. The module involves a range of activities including lecture and tutorial classes and a conference where groups of students will be able to present their work on an aspect of the case study. The assessment for the modules consists of a mixture of group and individual tasks and provides students with the opportunity to develop important team-working, problem-solving and presentation skills.

Aims

The module aims to introduce students to some of the ways in which criminology draws on related disciplines in the social sciences, humanities and law in defining, explaining and responding to one of the most serious forms of criminal behaviour, murder. In doing so it aims to foster interdisciplinary engagement with social problems and to enable students to develop a range of study and employability skills by working together with peers studying a wide range of different subjects in humanities and the social and natural sciences.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify and assess the contributions of criminology and related disciplines in the social sciences, law and humanities to understanding murder as a form of human behaviour will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Recognize and account for the ways in which murder is defined, represented, explained and responded to in law, by society, the state and its institutions, by social scientists, and in the media and artistic work will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Work collaboratively and across disciplinary boundaries as a member of a team using materials from a range of sources in the social sciences, law and the humanities will be achieved by assessments: 1
Reflect and learn from the experience of working as a member of a team in an interdisciplinary context will be achieved by assessments: 2
Communicate effectively both in writing and orally, using appropriate visual aids will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3






Study hours

11 x 1 hour lecture classes
6 x 1 hour tutorials
1 x 3 hour student conference
130 hours private study including preparation for lecture and tutorial classes and work on assessments


Description of Module Assessment

01: Group Presentation weighted 25%
10-15 minute presentation
Working in groups of three or four consisting as far as possible of peers from different disciplinary backgrounds, students will make a presentation to a student conference on a topic approved by the module leader.

02: Commentary weighted 25%
1,000 word written commentary
Students will write a reflective commentary on the process and outcomes of their work as members of a group on the presentation listed at 1 above.

03: Individual Report weighted 50%
2,000 word written report
Students will prepare report on an aspect of the case study on which the module is based.


Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.