English Department 2008/09

IES Gabriela Mistral Batxillerat 2

A just society requires the death penalty for the taking of a life.

INTERESTING SITES TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON DEATH PENALTY

http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/teacher/c/about/arguments/contents.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/christianethics/capitalpunishment_1.sh
tml

http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20090126160416604

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/public-opinion-about-death-penalty

http://www.amnesty.org/en/death-penalty

http://www.deathpenalty.org/

http://blog.aclu.org/2009/01/23/death-penalty-maintains-racial-inequality/

http://pewforum.org/death-penalty/

http://www.balancedpolitics.org/death_penalty.htm

Group role ideas have been taken from:

http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/teacher/
English Department 2008/09
IES Gabriela Mistral Batxillerat 2

STEP 3:

Start to do some research in the Internet to find arguments to support your proposition.
You have to prepare either a poster or a Power Point presentation to defend your views.

GROUP ROLES:

Group 1 Role: Law Enforcement Community

You are members of the police. You main concern is to prevent crime. If criminals are left on
the streets, your jobs will be more difficult, your task is to research the following proposition:

The Death Penalty prevents future murders.

Group 2 Role: Families of Victims

You represent the families of the victims. One of your loved ones was killed. You need to
bring some resolution to this terrible tragedy. Do you believe that the accused must be killed to
make up for your loss or for justice to be served (a life for a life) or is it sufficient to lock the
person up for life? Your task is to research the proposition:

A just society requires the death penalty for the taking of a life.

Group 3 Role: Families of the Accused

You represent the families of the people accused of the crimes. You do not know whether
they are guilty or innocent. All you know is that a member of your family is accused of a terrible
crime and faces the loss of his/her life because of it. Your task is to research the following
proposition:

The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty.

Group 4 Role: Multicultural Task Force (MTF)

You represent a civil rights organization that advocates equal justice for all people, without
regard to race. You are against discrimination and arbitrariness in the justice system. Your task
is to research the following proposition:

The death penalty is applied unfairly and should not be used.

Group 5 Role: Youths for Justice (YFJ)

You are a group that advocates basic human rights for all people, especially juveniles. You
are concerned with how young people are affected by the justice system. Are juveniles treated
fairly when the death penalty is administered? Your task is to research the following
proposition:
English Department 2008/09
IES Gabriela Mistral Batxillerat 2

DEATH PENALTY: ROLE PLAY

This term you will be asked to follow a group role. You will be a member of a specific
group who is either in favour of or against death penalty. You will have to expose your
arguments regarding a given case. Provide details about the people/community you represent
and try to be as convincing as possible when you present your ideological position. You will
have to defend your views in front of a court.

This is the case in relation to which you will be considering the death penalty:
The murder took place in a small town in California. An old man and his wife were killed in
their house late at night by a couple of young offenders who broke in. The robbers –not yet 20-
killed the couple in cold blood, took the valuables in the house and then left. One of the young
criminals was black and the other one was Hispanic.

STEP 1:

Choose the members of your group (4 people)

STEP 2:

Choose one of the following roles and tell your teacher as soon as possible. Each group has to
present arguments to defend the given proposition:

• Group 1 Role: Law Enforcement Community

“The Death Penalty prevents future murders”

• Group 2 Role: Families of Victims

“A just society requires the death penalty for the taking of a life”

• Group 3 Role: Families of the Accused

“The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty”

• Group 4 Role: Multicultural Task Force (MTF)

“The death penalty is applied unfairly and should not be used”

• Group 5 Role: Youths for Justice (YFJ)

“A just society requires the death penalty for the taking of a life”