Human Rights and the Death Penalty: A Conclusion

The United Nations wants to add a new right to every country of the world:

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The capital punishment will be abolished for male and female citizens that practice the religion of "Money."

From your country's perspective do you agree or disagree with adding this to your Bill of Rights? 

• Your work should be at least one paragraph and can be a maximum of three.
• In your response, you should cite which rights your country already has and whether this right coincides with your cultural values. 
• You can refer to other cases that you have learned about during the unit. 
• Add any links that you think are helpful in understanding your position.
• What might you change about this new right? Why?

Creating a Bill of Rights: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Know: What are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Understand: The role of culture in defining human rights

Be able to do: Create a bill of rights for a new country
                       Apply cultural values to a new country

Step 1: Brainstorm ten rights that you would include in a new country on handout 1.

Step 2: Read through the Declaration of Human Rights

Which rights coincide with your values? Which do not?

Step 3: Get your "cultural values" list and select three rights from the UNDHR

Step 4: Discuss with your group which ten rights you would select if you were to form a country.

Step 5: Report to class what are the problems of agreeing on ten rights.

Step 6: Meet with your group again and develop a Bill of Rights based on the UNDHR, a flag, and a song/hymn. You should record these national items on a PowerPoint presentation.

Step 7: Prepare to present to the class on Tuesday and be ready to debate whether we'll agree to abolish the death penalty based on your new Bill of Rights.

The Exonerated: Should we abolish the death penalty?

After viewing clips from the film, The Exonerated, consider the question: Should we get rid of the death penalty?

Make at least two comments, one in which you state your opinion on the questions. Another comments responding to a class mate's comments.

Use details from your background knowledge and the film to make your case.

Understanding the Connection Between Human Development and the Death Penalty

Know: The differences in human development between the Middle East and Europe

Understand: The connection between human development and the death penalty

Be able to do: Compare the human development data from Europe to the Middle East

Explain why the Middle East tends to use the death penalty more frequently

Homework: Read Mr. Cotto's sample essay on the death penalty and grade it using the rubric.

Step 1: Schema World Map of Regions that use the death penalty.

Why do some regions use the death penalty and others not? Make connections to your homework article by Jessica Williams.

Step 2: Compare the human development data of two countries on Handout 3. One in Europe and one in the Middle East.

Step 3: Discuss how they are different or similar. Discuss why might the Middle East use the death penalty more frequently than in Europe?

Step 4: In-Class Persuasive Paragraph on Handout 5

Why do countries in the Middle East use the death penalty more frequently?

Step 5: Turn in your work to the work due box

Step 6: Interdisciplinary Essay Discussion

Read any comments or suggestions on your two major essays from the course so far.

What can you improve?

What are you doing well?

What is your goal for tomorrow's essay?

The Death Penalty around the World: Comparing Countries

Know: Which countries use the death penalty the most
Understand: The connection between government, economy, and the death penalty
Be able to do: Develop three hypotheses about why three countries have/do not use the death penalty

Homework: Review the Power Point presentations from your peers. Do you agree or disagree with their conclusions? Make a comment on this blog.

Step 1: Schema activator on the use of the death penalty in 2007.

Step 2: Discuss whether students notice any trends about the countries that use the death penalty as a form of punishment.

Step 3: Research three countries government, crime, and economic data. At least two countries should be on the list from the schema. Record your findings on Handout 3

Step 4: Check in on what students are learning and finding from their research.

Step 5: Develop three hypothesis and 2 conclusion about why some countries tend to have the death penalty and some countries do not. Use the following PowerPoint as a guide for your own:

Step 6: E-mail your PowerPoint to Mr. Cotto or Ms. Graham

Step 7: Discuss: How does the U.S. compare to the rest of the world?