This textbook chapter has been marked according to the marking criteria. Marks are available via login to the unit's Moodle site. Written feedback is provided below, plus there is a general feedback page. Please also check the chapter's page history to see what editing changes I have made whilst reading through the chapter. Responses to this feedback can be made by starting a new section below or continuing to improve the chapter if you wish. If you would like further clarification about the marking or feedback, contact the unit convener. If you wish to dispute the marks, see the suggested marking dispute process.
Overall, this is an excellent chapter on a challenging topic. The chapter does an excellent job of only including relevant and interesting material and clearly focusing on theory and related research. It is particularly well-written, structured and developed with excellent learning features and additional accompaniments, particularly illustrative quotes from serial killers, with many relevant links to related to wikipedia articles. Congratulations. Do check the history to see my minor changes, most of which are some wiki formatting tidy-up, some APA style corrections, and some minor rewording.
An impressive effort is made to collate and overview theoretical understandings of the motives behind violent crime. No particular theory is given inappropriate precedence - a balanced view is evident.
The categorisations of aggression and violence were helpful, although different schemes were offered became a little confusing e.g., "premeditated or impulsive" was introduced later.
The introduction was excellent - grabbed attention and focused on what the chapter would cover.
Excellent use of sideboxes and images
Engaging use of serial killer quotes
The writing style was excellent - very readable, virtually no spelling or grammar errors, and appropriate for a friendly, introductory textbook chapter. The non-emotive tone was also excellent, neither reiifying or demeaning people who commit violent crimes.
APA style:
The first quote didn't have a cited reference
Do not cite year for subsequent citations within a paragraph (i.e., on second or subsquent mention of a citation in a paragraph, don't provide the year).
Direct quotes should include page numbers e.g., “enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal contexts.”
Include date for secondary citation e.g. " Farrington (Gudjonsson & Sigurdsson, 2004)"
Remember to use et al. after first citation of a source with three or more authors.
Lovely concluding paragraph to "Serotonin and violence" - many other sections also had excellent concluding paragraphs.
I thought this direct quote was too long and would have been better in your own words: "Serial killers humiliate and degrade their victims, are manipulative, above average in intelligence, take trophies, do not often..."
Excellent bio profiles and links to Wikipedia articles about serial killers.
Latest comment: 14 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion
The accompanying multimedia presentation has been marked according to the marking criteria. Marks are available via the unit's UCLearn site. Written feedback is provided below, plus see the general feedback page. Responses to this feedback can be made by starting a new section below. If you would like further clarification about the marking or feedback, contact the unit convener.
Overall, this is a solid P-level presentation. The main area for improvement would probably be to simplify the whole presentation down to elaborating on a smaller number of key points more slowly.
Slow down pace of talking - there's no rush! (maybe leave some content out and focus on less - what are the chapter's key points). Also leave a bit more time between sentences and between slides.
Slides and sound were clear.
Excellent content on neurological differences
The second half lost its way a little bit in terms of providing useful, engaging summary of key points.
Which personality traits related to violent behaviour?
List of theories didn't help much to understand the theories - maybe highlight the most accepted theory - or give some examples?
