by Suzanne Dodge
Introduction
| Task | Resources | Process
| Evaluation | Conclusion
by Suzanne Dodge
Introduction
| Task | Resources | Process
| Evaluation | Conclusion
More than 13,000 people have been legally executed in the United States since colonial times, most of them in the early 20th Century. By the 1930's, as many as 150 people were executed each year. As the century progressed, the practice began to wane due to legal challenges and public outrage.
In 1972, the Supreme Court banned capital punishment. They stated that the existing state laws were applied in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner and, thus, violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, and the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection of the laws and due process.
In 1976, the Court overturned its 1972 decision. Several states promptly reenacted capital punishment laws. Today, thirty-seven states now have laws authorizing the death penalty. A dozen states have abolished capital punishment, two in the last century (Michigan in 1837, Minnesota in 1853). Alaska and Hawaii have never had the death penalty. The United States is the only country in the western world to allow the death penalty.
As we approach the new millennium, capital punishment remains a highly controversial issue. Michigan lawmakers, after unsuccessfully trying to legalize capital punishment over the years, are again looking to introduce a bill that would reenact capital punishment.
Where do you stand on this issue?
Should Michigan reenact the death penalty?
Should the Supreme Court again ban capital punishment
in this country?
Is it necessary to legalize capital punishment in order
to bring justice to America?
Is the death penalty just?
The Task
Your task, after a careful and in depth study of the arguments,
will be to determine your own position on this issue. When you have
done this, you will be required to produce a final product. You may
choose one of the two formats below.
The Process
You will be assigned to groups of
four.
The WebQuest is divided into three phases:
Phase I: The WebQuest will
begin with everyone in each group getting some
background, defining the important vocabulary, and researching
the history of
capital punishment in the United States. Each group
should keep a well organized
loose leaf notebook for notes and hard copy articles
printed from the internet.
You may divide this the research equally among group
members.
Phase II: When you
have completed the initial research, and you have some
perspective on what justice means to your group and how
it has been
administered in the past, you will divide into two groups
of two. Each group will
then use the internet resources provided to investigate
the two sides of this long
debated controversy.
Phase III: Writing
a persuasive essay or a letter.
Phase 1 - Background, History,
Definition, Some Initial Thoughts
We'll begin this Quest by viewing the movie, Dead
Man Walking, and a 20-20
documentary about a man sentenced to death. During the movies you
should
being taking a few notes and be thinking about the issues presented.
We will begin
this quest with a discussion about the issues raised as well as tapping
into your
personal insights regarding the death penalty.
Following the movies, your group will begin it's Quest to uncover the background
and
history of this continuously debated issue. Use the internet resources
linked to this
page and those provided in the classroom and Media Center.
Phase I - Background - Instructions:
1.Print out, or get a copy of the worksheet from your teacher,
for each member of
your group.
Click here to download the worksheet file. This file was created with WORD. Click on the link and the file will be saved on your hard drive. You will need to navigate to find the file, it will be called cappunishword.hqx. When you double click on the file it will 'unstuff" and will become a WORD file. It will be called Capital Punishment.doc.2. In a fair and just manner divide the questions among your group members, and begin your
Phase I Resources
Department
of Justice
Justice
Center
D.P. Information
Center
Death Penalty
Links
Civil Rights
Phase
II - Research the Positions.
Instructions:
1. Divide into two groups of two. Make a decision as to which side of
the controversy each pair will explore. You may draw straws to decide which side
you will take.
2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print the files, underline the
passages that you feel are most important and most clearly support your position.
3. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by
dragging the mouse across the passage and copying/pasting into a word
processing program or onto the worksheet provided.
4. Make sure to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file should you need to refer
back to it.
5. Since you will be working in pairs, the links for each group should be divided equally, i.e. In
group A, student 1 will search half the links, student 2 will search half.
6. When you have completed the searches, pairs should collaborate, and compile the
arguments supporting their position.
7. You may also collaborate with other students in the class who have researched the
same position.
8. Finally, meet back with your group. Look back at your definitions of justice.
compile your arguments For and Against death penalty.
9. Remember that your arguments should have rational and logical support. Avoid
thinking with your emotions. Make sure you understand both sides of the argument.
10. Is your group able to reach a consensus?Group A - Abolish Capital Punishment Now
Resources
Resources
Phase
III - Where do You Stand?
Instructions:
1. Review the unit on "Persuasion" beginning on page 208 in our
text, The Writer's Craft.
or check this link
Writing Argumentative Essays.
2. Review the style sheet provided for writing a formal letter.
3. Look back at the Task
section of this Quest and decide which format you will use to
complete this assignment.
4. Review the Rubric in the
Evaluationsection
so that you understand the grading criteria
for your project.
5. Begin drafting your paper.
6. Work with a group member to revise and edit your paper.
7. Type your final copy.
Your grade will be determined by the quality of the product
you produce as well as your participation in during this project.
A rubric will be used to complete your evaluation. Please review
the rubric carefully so that you will have good understanding of what
is expected.
Conclusion
Hopefully this WebQuest will inspire you to look at all sides of a controversy before you decide where you stand on an issue. You have a right to your own opinion. You have an obligation to form those opinions through education. What are some other issues you'd like to know more about?
Last updated May 20, 1999
Based on a template from The
Webquest Page.