Directions: Answer each question in complete sentences. Be sure to provide sufficient detail. Each day late is -20%.
Transmit your answers onto a Google Doc. Submit via Schoology when finished.
Pre-Webquest Question: What are your thoughts on capital punishment? Is it needed? Is it cruel? Explain your position.
Part A: The Facts of Capital Punishment (use this source for questions 1-3)
1. How many people have been executed since 1976? (use this source)? In addition, how many states have capital punishment?
2. On page three, what region of the country is most likely to execute someone? What region is the least likely? What state is most responsible for executing inmates since 1976?
3. On page three, what is the trend in the number of executions between 1998 and 2014? Why might this be? Explain.
Part B: Methods
4. What is the most commonly used method for capital punishment? What are two other authorized methods of capital punishment? (use this source)
5. How has the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of lethal injection? What was their reasoning? (use this source)
Part C: Costs
6. What are some of the major reasons for the high costs to execute a death row inmate? (use this source)
7. What is the average cost to execute an inmate? How does this compare to the cost of imprisoning someone for life? What contributes to the high cost for capital punishment? (use this source)
Part D: Deterrence
8. Explore this source. Scroll down and find the murder rates by state. States highlighted in yellow have abolished the death penalty. Is there much of a difference between death penalty and non-death penalty states? Explain in detail your response.
9. Explore this source. What is the percentage difference between death penalty and non-death penalty states? Why might this suggest about the death penalty and its deterrence on crime?
Part E: Potential Innocence
10. How many exonerations have there been since 1973? Should this be a reason to get rid of the death penalty? (use this source)
11. What are the main reasons for wrongful convictions? How might this lead to a wrongful conviction? (use this source)
Part F: Legal Representation
12. What percent of death row inmates were represented by court-appointed attorneys (also known as public defenders) who were disciplined for misconduct? (use this source)
13. What might your answer to question #12 suggest about the nature of our criminal justice system?
Part G: Polls on Capital Punishment
14. Do the majority of Americans support or oppose the death penalty? At what percent? Does this surprise you? (use this source)
Post-Webquest Question: Did your views on capital punishment stay the same? Change? Explain. Submit onto Schoology when finished.
Transmit your answers onto a Google Doc. Submit via Schoology when finished.
Pre-Webquest Question: What are your thoughts on capital punishment? Is it needed? Is it cruel? Explain your position.
Part A: The Facts of Capital Punishment (use this source for questions 1-3)
1. How many people have been executed since 1976? (use this source)? In addition, how many states have capital punishment?
2. On page three, what region of the country is most likely to execute someone? What region is the least likely? What state is most responsible for executing inmates since 1976?
3. On page three, what is the trend in the number of executions between 1998 and 2014? Why might this be? Explain.
Part B: Methods
4. What is the most commonly used method for capital punishment? What are two other authorized methods of capital punishment? (use this source)
5. How has the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of lethal injection? What was their reasoning? (use this source)
Part C: Costs
6. What are some of the major reasons for the high costs to execute a death row inmate? (use this source)
7. What is the average cost to execute an inmate? How does this compare to the cost of imprisoning someone for life? What contributes to the high cost for capital punishment? (use this source)
Part D: Deterrence
8. Explore this source. Scroll down and find the murder rates by state. States highlighted in yellow have abolished the death penalty. Is there much of a difference between death penalty and non-death penalty states? Explain in detail your response.
9. Explore this source. What is the percentage difference between death penalty and non-death penalty states? Why might this suggest about the death penalty and its deterrence on crime?
Part E: Potential Innocence
10. How many exonerations have there been since 1973? Should this be a reason to get rid of the death penalty? (use this source)
11. What are the main reasons for wrongful convictions? How might this lead to a wrongful conviction? (use this source)
Part F: Legal Representation
12. What percent of death row inmates were represented by court-appointed attorneys (also known as public defenders) who were disciplined for misconduct? (use this source)
13. What might your answer to question #12 suggest about the nature of our criminal justice system?
Part G: Polls on Capital Punishment
14. Do the majority of Americans support or oppose the death penalty? At what percent? Does this surprise you? (use this source)
Post-Webquest Question: Did your views on capital punishment stay the same? Change? Explain. Submit onto Schoology when finished.