Mass Murder Project. Each student is required to complete an individual writing project on a
particular type of mass murder (i.e., using Fox and Levin’s or Holmes and Holmes’ typology)
and an associated setting or location (e.g., schools or university campuses, businesses, concert or
theater venues, shopping centers, nightclubs and restaurants to name a few). There are two parts
to this project. First, you will be expected to identify at least three similar incidents that
involve the same type of mass murder and which occurred in similar settings (e.g., revenge-
oriented mass shootings in public schools, disgruntled employee mass killings in the workplace,
terrorist-oriented bombings in public places or involving public gatherings, family slayings).
Your selection of the three mass murder incidents is worth 10 points.
While the type of the mass murders must be similar across these two dimensions, you will be
expected to identify other common patterns or aspects of the mass murderers’ motivations/risks,
the murder settings and circumstances (e.g., opportunities) that contribute to the uniqueness of
the killings, and any facilitators (e.g., drugs and alcohol, violent gaming) that may have
mitigated or aggravated the killings. You will also differentiate between cases when necessary or
where appropriate.
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Second, the policy analysis paper requirements are comprised of four components or sections
and are described as follows:
1. Background and significance of the murder cases: Discuss what type of mass killings is
the focus of the project and why this particular type was chosen (i.e., what is the
significance and importance of this particular type?). Provide a brief description of the
cases (i.e., tell the story), illustrating how they fit within your particular mass murder
type. Briefly point out the similarities and differences across the mass murder incidents.
2. Determinants of the mass murders: Provide a brief description of the common and
divergent factors (e.g., motivation, opportunity, and facilitators) that contributed to the
mass murders. Note that the common factor or factors should lead your discussion toward
your policy initiative and what you propose to do to prevent or reduce such types of mass
murder in the future.
3. Design and implementation of policy initiative: Provide a detailed description of your
policy initiative, detailing what it is comprised of. Your initiative may involve developing
a new program or services, coordinating services between two or more entities,
modifying or developing new architectural features designed to reduce or prevent your
type of mass killings to name a few. Your initiative should target one of the common
factors identified above in #2. While your initiative may address other factors cited in
#2, please be sure to concentrate the bulk of your attention on the linkage between your
key factor chosen and the initiative developed to address it. In developing or designing
your initiative, it is helpful to review any prior initiatives (i.e., what has been done before
or is presently being done?), discussing why they failed or were ineffective and why your
policy approach is better or has greater promise. Discuss how the initiative will be
implemented, detailing the steps or procedures to be performed.
4. Problems and prospects the initiative: Discuss the pros and cons associated with your
initiative. Explain why your initiative should work or might be effective, especially in
comparison to previous efforts if they exist. Also, identify and discuss any problems that
might persist with the design and implementation of the initiative.
You are expected to use both popular and academic sources as part of your analysis. You must
conduct a search of the resources available on those particular cases, including books, journal
articles, websites, FBI investigations, videos, etc. In particular, your academic sources must
comprise at least three scholarly journal articles or books. Your paper must be 5 to 6 pages
(excluding title page and references), typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins around, and 12 pt.
Times Roman font. The paper must be uploaded no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 21st to the
“Assignments” (formerly called the Dropbox) link associated with the Assessments drop-down
menu in iCollege. This assignment is worth 100 points
