TITLE:
Why
Are There Innocent People On Death Row?
By Mr. O’Brien –
English Department - Pelham Preparatory Academy
INTRODUCTION: Over 100 innocent Americans have been
convicted of crimes and sentenced to death before the truth of their innocence
came to light. How could this happen in
our country?
TASK:
You
are a defense lawyer and have a new client – a death row inmate who claims to
be innocent. You must work with your
defense team to get him released. There
are four steps to completing your case:
PRODUCT:
Work in your group
to create a PowerPoint presentation detailing the breakdown of the criminal
justice system as it relates to your client and suggesting how our criminal
justice system could be changed to avoid putting innocent people to death in
the future.
PROCESS:
a.
Define the social problem: worksheet # 1
b.
Gather evidence of the problem: worksheet # 2
c.
Identify causes of the problem: worksheet # 3
d.
Evaluate a policy: worksheet
# 4
e.
Develop your own solution: worksheet # 5
f.
Select the best solution: worksheet # 6
3.
You will be given an exam after your presentation to determine what you
have learned through this activity.
RESOURCES:
Play: “The Exonerated” by Blank and Jensen
http://www.courttv.com/choices/exonerated/lesson1.html?sect=2#step1
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment06/10.html#1
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment06/10.html#8
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment06/08.html#1
http://www.courttv.com/choices/exonerated/lesson2.html?sect=2#cap_punishment
EVALUATION:
As each group must
work together to complete each task of this activity, all group members will
receive the same grade for their effort (or lack of effort).
Excellent – 4
·
Show a
thorough understanding of the project
·
Provide
excellent research information
·
Demonstrate
strong ability of using the Internet – PPA or other research tools
·
Members
display excellent oral presentation skills
·
Create
a clear, well-displayed and comprehensive PowerPoint presentation
·
Show a
fair understanding of the project
·
Provide
rich research information
·
Demonstrate
ability of using the Internet – PPA or other research tools
·
Members
display fair oral presentation skills
·
Create
a fairly clear, fairly well-displayed and thorough PowerPoint presentation
·
Show
some understanding of the project
·
Provide
some research information
·
Demonstrate
some ability of using the Internet – PPA or other research tools
·
Members
display developing oral presentation skills
·
PowerPoint
presentation is somewhat unclear or somewhat incomplete
·
Demonstrate
very little ability to use effectively the Internet – PPA or other research
tool
·
Members
display weak oral presentation skills
·
PowerPoint
presentation is unclear or incomplete
English
Language Arts
Standard 1:
Language for Information and Understanding
Students
will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As
listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover
relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from
oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they
will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the
English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
Standard 3:
Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Students
will listen, speak, read, and write for critical analysis and evaluation. As
listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information,
and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. As
speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the
accepted conventions of the English language to present, from a variety of
perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information
and issues.
Standard 4:
Language for Social Interaction
Students
will listen, speak, read, and write for social interaction. Students will use
oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English
language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As
readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to
enrich their understanding of people and their views.
Mathematics,
Science, and Technology
Standard 1:
Analysis, Inquiry, and Design
Students
will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and
develop solutions.
Standard
2: Information Systems
Students
will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate
technologies.
Standard 7:
Interdisciplinary Problem Solving
Students
will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and
technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.
CONCLUSION:
Throughout this
process you have learned about the fallibility of the American criminal justice
system. You have read a true story about
six Americans who were convicted and served time in jail on Death Row for
crimes for which they were later exonerated.
You have examined, researched, debated, evaluated, and delivered a
presentation on the case of your client.
Using the Public Policy Analyst process you have come to a greater
understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American system of
criminal justice. You have accomplished
a great deal and I am proud of you.
There is only
one thing left to do: On Monday, you
will be given an exam on the play “The Exonerated” and the cases of all 6
individuals profiled in it.