Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to engage in both research and discussion about the controversial topic of the death penalty, or capital punishment. It will help you examine various perspectives as you determine your own opinion on the following questions: Is the death penalty constitutional? Does the death penalty ensure justice for the most heinous crimes such as first-degree murder? Are there alternatives to the death penalty that should be considered?
Lesson Outcomes
Examine fundamental political processes, institutions, actors and ideas (CLO 1)
Critically evaluate major arguments in the discipline. (CLO 2)
Effectively debate major arguments in both oral and written forms. (CLO 3)
Perceive how factors such as race, gender, ethnicity, class, and region influence political narratives. (CLO 4)
Analyze major political events and historical political figures. (CLO 5)
Printable Directions for this Assignment (PDF)- Alternative Formats
Steps for Completing the TaskS teps for Completing the Task
Background Information
Legal executions have taken place since colonial times in the United States. While these have not been public spectacles for well over 200 years, execution remains a very controversial topic. Constitutionally, “cruel and unusual punishment” is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment, but that phrase is subjective, meaning that people view what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment differently. Additionally, throughout U.S. history individual states have moved to abolish the death penalty for state offenses as the punishment for most crimes is a reserved power via the Tenth Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in multiple times as well, even going as far as implementing a national moratorium (official prohibition) on the death penalty from 1972 to 1977 due to inconsistency in application.
Those who advocate the use of the death penalty and those who oppose it have clashed throughout U.S. history. However, key U.S. Supreme Court cases have placed more specific parameters on execution over the past 50 years. The fundamental conflict over the Eighth Amendment’s intentions remains today as protestors use public spaces to voice their opinions on controversial (and often widely-televised) state and federal cases.
Steps to Complete the Task
Step 1: Research
Read about the Eighth Amendment in the textbook (Chapter 4, pages 139 – 140).
Read the following article from the Issues and Controversies database.
Capital Punishment: Should Capital Punishment Be Allowed in the United States?
(click the link to go to the article.)
You might be prompted for your TCC login to access the article.
Note Taking Tip: Take notes as you read. Since you know you are reading about two sides of an issue, one way to take notes is to have a page for the “for” side and a page for the “against” side. As you read, you can make note of unique perspectives, facts, and/or events that each side uses for evidence to support their viewpoint.
Step 2: Analyze and Evaluate
Consider both sides of the argument. What evidence was effective for supporting the perspective against the use of death penalty? What evidence was effective for supporting the use of the death penalty?
Based on the information you studied, how would you respond to the following questions?
Is the death penalty Constitutional?
Does the death penalty ensure justice for the most heinous crimes such as first-degree murder?
What, if any, alternatives to the death penalty should be considered?
Step 3: Analyze and Explain
3. Write a 150-250 word paragraph explain your reasoning for your perspective on the constitutionality of the death penalty, its use as a form of justice for the most heinous crimes, and potential alternatives to the death penalty.
Use evidence from the reading to explain the reasoning on your perspective.
Acknowledge valid arguments from both sides
Write your paragraph on a Word document. Save the document to your computer as a back-up copy.
Refresher: How to Write an Argument Paragraph
Writing paragraphs for political science papers is just like writing paragraphs for an English essay. Political science professors expect well-developed, evidence-based information in their paragraphs and papers, too.
Complete this short online refresher on how to write an argument paragraph.
Step 4: The Discussion
Post your paragraph in the Unit 1: Capital Punishment discussion forum.
Copy your paragraph from your Word document and paste in the discussion forum.
Respond to a minimum of two classmates
Respond to someone who shares the same perspective as you do.
Respond to someone who has a different perspective than you do.
Your responses should be 50 to 100 words each.
Provide a thoughtful response – analyze and evaluate their points and provide additional support or counter arguments from the readings.
Criteria for Success Criteria for Success
To be successful, your discussion posts should
Provide evidence that you understand both sides of the issue
Make a clear statement of the side you believe has a better argument
Be written in your “own voice.” The posts should sound “like you” not like the Internet
Use academic English with minimal errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Stay within the word count range for the original response and response to peers
Include thoughtful responses to two of your peers
You cannot just say “I agree” or “I disagree” – you must provide some evidence of your own.
Don’t just repeat the evidence written by the classmate you are responding to.
If your posts meet these criteria, then you will earn points for this discussion as follows:
Original response 15 pts
Response to peers 5 pts each
Total Points Possible 25 points
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