The Influence of Public Policy on Gun Violence: A Comparative Study of the US and Australia POL3CAP Essay

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS, MEDIA AND PHILOSOPHY

POL3 CAP SHORT ESSAY (35%)

Length: 1400 words

Due date: 11 April, 2025 at 11:59 pm

Submission: Please submit your essay via the Turnitin link on LMS.

Instructions: Please write a 1400 word essay that addresses ONE of the following questions.

Questions

1) To what extent can public policy shape the level of gun violence in a country? Discuss with reference to the US and Australia.

Please make sure to read and cite at least four sources from the essential reading and/or further reading.

2) Is government regulation of media ownership still necessary in the digital age?

Please make sure to read and cite at least four sources from the essential reading and/or further reading.

3) To what extent is the Medici cycle a feature of public policy in Australia?

Please make sure to read and cite at least four sources listed in the essential reading and/or further reading.

Marking Criteria

• Relevance the essay addresses the question, staying on topic throughout with relevant material directed at what the question is asking.


• Awareness the essay shows an understanding of a reasonable range of the key theories, perspectives, and issues relevant to the topic.


• Reasoning/Evidence the essay uses appropriate reasoning and/or evidence to support the argument.


• Analysis the essay examines the topic systematically and in depth, showing the capacity to engage in critical thinking.


• Structure the essay is well structured throughout with clear paragraphs in a logical order, along with a clear introduction and conclusion. The word length is appropriate.


• Written expression the essay is clearly written throughout with few errors in spelling, grammar or syntax.


• Research the essay draws on a good range of appropriate material and cites the required number of academic sources.


• Referencing the essay is appropriately referenced throughout and the author acknowledges where they have drawn on the work of other scholars through the appropriate use of citations and, where needed, quotations. (See below for further information on referencing).

Referencing

It is crucial that you properly reference the essay. The basic idea behind referencing is that you should acknowledge where you have drawn on the words and/or the ideas of other scholars. Whilst most of you are probably familiar with a bibliography/reference list a list of the sources you have consulted in your research for an essay it is important to remember that academic referencing at university level goes beyond this. In addition to providing a bibliography/reference list, you are required to use footnotes or in-text references and where, appropriate, quotation marks, to indicate during the course of your essay where you have drawn on the work of others. You must also make sure that the references you provide are accurate (for example, that the source you are referencing actually makes the point that you claim it does), and that the sources you use are reputable. If you do not reference properly, you are open to allegations of plagiarism and/or academic misconduct, which, if proven, can result in very severe penalties. To avoid this, please make sure that you complete the librarys academic referencing module, consult the academic referencing tool http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/referencing-tool/ and speak to the subject coordinator or your tutor if you have any questions.

You should use either the Oxford footnote system or the Chicago (author-date) system for your referencing.