DEATH PENALTY PROJECT 

        You will be divided into groups according to the book you have chosen.  You will read the book in groups similar to lit circles.  In addition, groups will do Internet research. 

        After completing your research and discussion of your book, your group will prepare to debate the proposition: The United States should ban the death penalty.

          The group that reads Dead Man Walking will argue for the proposition; the group that reads In Cold Blood  will argue against the proposition.  All evidence for your debate will be gathered from the internet.  Each group will get three class periods on the Internet.  Each member of your group will be responsible for one argument with support either for or against the proposition. 

        We will hold the debate in class on __________. 

          You will be graded as a group on the evidence you present and individually on your contribution to the group project. 

        In addition, each of you will hand in an individual essay for or against the death penalty based only on the evidence you gathered for your group’s debate and evidence in your book. 

        Your grade will be determined as follows:

Project grade                                        100 points

                Group grade                           50 points

                Individual grade                     50 points

Essay grade                                            100 points

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Death Penalty Debate

Proposition:  The United States Should Ban the Death Penalty.  

Format of Debate:

              Affirmative Team 1               3 minutes               

                Negative Team 1                   3 minutes               

                Affirmative Team 2               3 minutes               

                Negative Team 2                   3 minutes               

                Affirmative Team 3               3 minutes               

                Negative Team 3                   3 minutes               

                Affirmative Team 4                3 minutes               

                Negative Team 4                    3 minutes               

                Affirmative Team 5                3 minutes               

                Negative Team 5                    3 minutes

              Affirmative Rebuttal               3 minutes               

                Negative Rebuttal                   3 minutes

              Affirmative Closing Remarks   3 minutes

              Negative Closing Remarks        3 minutes

  Definition of Terms:  

Affirmative – those arguing for the proposition or against the death penalty.  

Negative – those arguing against the proposition or for the death penalty.

  Rebuttal – arguing against the other side’s arguments.

  Closing Remarks – like a lawyer’s closing arguments or summation.  Restate your points and answer the rebuttal.

  The total time of the debate is 42 minutes.  Our class is 50 minutes.  You will need to be ready to go when class starts.

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