LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013 Core Assessment Paper: No fewer than 5 full pages, double-space. Must be multidisciplinary and must cover all five core learning outcomes as defined in the syllabus. • Compare, contrast and analyze at least one outside book (novel or non- fiction) about a serial killer with one or more of the novels used in our class. • Contrast, compare and analyze at least two outside movies that deal with serial killers or the topic of serial killers. You may use documentaries or fiction works, or a combination. Include contrasts and comparisons to movies and/or books we have used in class. • Analyze (compare and contrast) news coverage and a related non-fiction or fiction book or movie about a well-known serial killer in recent or earlier history. Compare your case study to the works covered in our class. Your paper MUST have at least five references in the bibliography. The Schmid book must be at least one of your reference materials, and must be incorporated into your analysis. The books or movies already covered in the course may NOT be the MAIN focus of your paper, but are to be used as comparisons and contrasts to the books , movies or other materials you choose as your main focal point. Do not submit a book review or a movie review (I already know what the books and movies say – tell me something new!!). Do not submit a paper primarily consisting of 'summaries' of the book, movie or news stories. Information that describes the book, movie or news stories about which you write should be brief, and only long enough to give the reader the basic information needed to understand the context of the paper and the platform for your analysis. TIPS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY WRITING: Do not just LIST the disciplines – the reader can figure out that you're referring to history if you talk about the era in which the book/movie is set and the way that related to other elements. Weave the interdisciplinary elements together in your analysis. SOME IDEAS: LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013 Discuss the era in history as represented in the movie or novel, including how the culture and era is reflected in the characters, events, etc. Do historic events, religious beliefs or cultural values surface in the story? How well do the characters convey emotion? Do the characters have depth? If you write about true stories, discuss the culture and historical era of the killings, how it was covered (or not covered) in news stories (if this is known) and what evidence is seen of religious or other beliefs (morals of the community, etc.). Discuss and COMPARE the artistry of the writing and/or cinematography. All papers must use books or literature as some form of reference; cinema is optional but cannot be the entire focus or content. You may cite reference ...

1. LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch
Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013
Core Assessment Paper:
No fewer than 5 full pages, double-space. Must be
multidisciplinary and must cover
all five core learning outcomes as defined in the syllabus.
• Compare, contrast and analyze at least one outside book
(novel or non-
fiction) about a serial killer with one or more of the novels used
in our class.
• Contrast, compare and analyze at least two outside movies that
deal with
serial killers or the topic of serial killers. You may use
documentaries or
fiction works, or a combination. Include contrasts and
comparisons to
movies and/or books we have used in class.
• Analyze (compare and contrast) news coverage and a related
non-fiction or
fiction book or movie about a well-known serial killer in recent
or earlier
history. Compare your case study to the works covered in our
class.
Your paper MUST have at least five references in the
bibliography. The Schmid
book must be at least one of your reference materials, and must

2. be incorporated
into your analysis.
The books or movies already covered in the course may NOT be
the MAIN focus of
your paper, but are to be used as comparisons and contrasts to
the books , movies or
other materials you choose as your main focal point.
Do not submit a book review or a movie review (I already know
what the books and
movies say – tell me something new!!).
Do not submit a paper primarily consisting of 'summaries' of the
book, movie or
news stories. Information that describes the book, movie or
news stories about
which you write should be brief, and only long enough to give
the reader the basic
information needed to understand the context of the paper and
the platform for
your analysis.
TIPS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY WRITING:
Do not just LIST the disciplines – the reader can figure out that
you're referring to
history if you talk about the era in which the book/movie is set
and the way that
related to other elements. Weave the interdisciplinary elements
together in your
analysis.
SOME IDEAS:

3. LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch
Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013
Discuss the era in history as represented in the movie or novel,
including how
the culture and era is reflected in the characters, events, etc.
Do historic events,
religious beliefs or cultural values surface in the story? How
well do the characters
convey emotion? Do the characters have depth?
If you write about true stories, discuss the culture and historical
era of the killings,
how it was covered (or not covered) in news stories (if this is
known) and what
evidence is seen of religious or other beliefs (morals of the
community, etc.).
Discuss and COMPARE the artistry of the writing and/or
cinematography. All
papers must use books or literature as some form of reference;
cinema is optional
but cannot be the entire focus or content.
You may cite references from the books or movies we have used
in the course
(especially Natural Born Celebrities), but you must also use
other reference sources.
It is good (especially if writing about fiction books or movies)
to analyze and
compare the quality of writing, characterizations, plot and other
elements of the
piece.
Tie the works into society through your analysis of the impact

4. the work had on
the readers or viewers (for fiction works), or the cultural and
societal elements
reflected in non-fiction words.
If possible, tie your paper in with your academic major.
NOTE: Wikipedia may NOT be used for quoted reference
sources. You may
use Wikipedia to get ideas for reference materials or books
(through their
bibliographies), but Park University does not accept Wikipedia
as a reference
source.
IDEAS FOR OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS:
Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths
Among Us, by Robert Hare.
Contains the Hare Checklist.
Mask of Sanity, by Herve Cleckley (very long, available only
online or in libraries –
defines psychopathy).
DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) (version IV or
later edition). Gives
diagnostic criteria for personality disorders. Best obtained
online. Cite specific
edition, specific disorder and trait if you use this source. Good
resource for Anti-
social Personality Disorder (formerly psychopathy or
sociopathy).
The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout. Excellent and very
readable book about

5. the existence of sociopaths in normal culture.
LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch
Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013
Romantic Deception, by Sally Caldwell. Non-fiction book
about how con-artists use
romantic relations to deceive people.
Unforgettably Evil, FearNet Channel on Cable. Documentary
interviews with
Hollywood producers & actors about evil characters in cinema.
Not available on
DVD, but if you see it listed in the schedule, it’s good to watch.
Resource only, not
for subject of term paper unless substantiated through additional
resources.
MOVIES, BOOKS AND SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF
SERIAL KILLERS:
NOTE – Obvriously, this is a very partial list – there are
literally hundreds of
examples that could be used for your papers.
The Deliberate Stranger, book or video. This is a very factual,
documentary-style
movie/book about Ted Bundy.
The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson. True story of
H.H. Holmes, famed serial
killer in 1880s. Set in Chicago World’s Fair era. Available on
Kindle, too.

6. Depraved, by Harold Schechter. Also about H. H. Holmes, but
not as focused on
World’s Fair.
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. Classic crime and murder
novel, based on true
story. Not exactly serial killers but helped launch the trend in
novels about this
subject.
Any books or movies about Ted Bundy.
Bonnie & Clyde (books or movies)
Ann Rule (Author – any of her books are good if they’re about
serial killers)
The Boston Strangler (books or movies)
Zodiac Killer (books or movies)
Hillside Strangler (famous serial killer – news stories,
documentaries?)
Ed Gein – killer sometimes compared with Buffalo Bill.
Jeffrey Dahmer – possibly a news-analysis topic.
John Wayne Gacy – famous serial killer of young boys & young
men.
LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch
Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013

7. Dark Knight, (recent movie about Joker in Batman series).
Typifies evil killer.
No Country for Old Men, recent movie. Shows evil killer in
crime setting.
Fairy Tales about evil characters who kill (Hansel & Gretel,
Pied Piper, etc.).
Jack the Ripper (books or movies)
Jaws – a movie about a non-human serial killer.
The Bad Seed, play and 1950s movie about a young girl who is
a serial killer
Books, news stories, movies and other depictions of true-life
serial killers (not mass
murderers). There are quite a few out there; do research and
find one or more that
interest you.
Novels or movies about fiction characters who are serial killers.
NOTE:
Mass murder instances are interesting, but are not the subject of
this course. You
can include some references or sources (books or news stories)
to mass murder
incidents (such as In Cold Blood), but be certain that the main
focus of your paper is
on serial killers.