Conduct research
using internet or published resources, you will conduct research about the history of policing in the united states. your instructor will provide more guidance about what kinds of resources are allowed for use in this project.

as you conduct your research, begin by compiling a list of important events, individuals, and reformations that changed the course of policing history. make sure to note several key pieces of information for each entry, such as: who was involved (full name), what took place, why the event took place, why the event was significant, and the year the event occurred. you should choose at least 20 significant events and/or individuals. begin with the early history of policing in the united states in the seventeenth century and continue through the present day.

create a timeline.
once you have collected this information, organize it according to chronological order, beginning with the earliest date and proceeding to the most current. your timeline can be initially created by hand but the final copy you submit to your instructor should be typed. for each event, write a brief summary (1-2 sentences) of the significance of the event in the history of police work. you can also include images in your timeline, either inserted into your digital document, or physically cut and pasted onto the timeline.

write an essay
in addition to your timeline, you will complete a 350 word essay that explains what you learned in the process of making a timeline. what did you learn from your timeline? why is it important to understand the history of policing in the united states? when you made your timeline, how did you determine what event or individual was significant enough to be included? how might this have shaped your timeline and do you think you might have left out anyone or anything important?

type your essay in a standard 12 point font, double spaced, with standard margins. submit it along with your typed timeline.