Restorative versus retributive justice (e.g. sentencing circles, healing lodges, community service, etc. versus courts and prison sentences in trying non-violent crimes such as theft and fraud)

Introduction This is where you tell the reader what you are going to write about. Identify the topic you want to write about and tell the reader how you are going to explore that topic. Are you making an argument for or against a particular policy? Are you going to look at different sides of a debate over a particular social problem? Are you going to look at the history of an institution, policy, program, or problem? There are many ways you can go about writing an essay, but the introduction is quite important because you are telling the reader what you are going to write about. Body The body of your essay is the ‘guts’, or all the essential elements you are using to explain, investigate, make critical assessment, or define whatever problem or issue you are writing about. This is where you introduce evidence to show that a problem or issue exists and/or how the evidence supports a particular theory, argument, or viewpoint. You may look at how things evolve over time, or how conflicts arise over a particular issue, or how facts and/or data support or refute any claims that are made about any issue or problem. For example, you may introduce statistical data that show that workfare programs are not successful at helping social assistance recipients move into the labour market. The body of your essay may also be made up of different parts. Suppose you are looking at different dimensions of a social problem, such as poverty. So you may want to use headings to identify each of the dimensions, such as unemployment, education, substance abuse, mental health, nutrition, etc. Or if you are writing a historical paper you might want to divide your analysis of an issue or problem by time period and/or major events at different points in history. Conclusion In the conclusion you restate your position or approach to whatever you are writing about and provide a brief summary of findings. Here you determine whether or not your research findings provide an adequate explanation of what is happening, or if they support your argument.How many sources and what kind? A minimum of ten sources will indicate that you have done some research on whatever you want to write about. Books, chapters of books containing collections of essays, journal articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles, Internet web pages, films, videos, sound recordings, and TV or radio programs are possible sources of information.