Objective...

To use mind mapping, facts, media clips and case studies to formulate non-

religious arguments both for and against

Capital Punishment.

Grade C You will be able to define the

term CAPITAL PUNISHMENT and select facts about this

topic.

Grade B You will be able to identify at

least FOUR non-religious arguments both FOR and

AGAINST capital punishment.

Grade A-A* You will be able to express an

opinion on the death penalty and evaluate its place in UK

society.

Your GOALS for the end of

this lesson are…

Outcomes...

What point is this

question trying to make ?

Does it make sense to

show killing is wrong by

killing?

Write a short answer to

this question

The death penalty for a crime or

offence.

Taking the life of a condemned

prisoner.

Also known as…

EXECUTION

DEFINE the word... CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT – complete page 93

QUESTION 1.

Now SELF MARK your own work – give a mark

out of 2 and make corrections if necessary.

Grade C You will be able to define

the term CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT.

Did you achieveYOUR goal?…

Outcomes...

Forms of Capital Punishment...

Make a list of all the

different types of

Capital Punishment

you can think of…

HANGING...

The neck is broken and death comes quickly unless the

free fall distance is inadequate and the prisoner

ends up being slowly strangled to death. If the

distance is to great the rope will tear the prisoners head

off .This was used in the UK for

many years!

ELECTRIC CHAIR... The person is usually shaved and strapped to

a chair with belts that cross the chest, groin, legs, and arms.

A metal skullcap-shaped

electrode is attached to the

scalp and forehead over a

sponge moistened with saline. A jolt of between 500

and 2000 volts, which lasts for

about 30 seconds, is

given.

LETHAL INJECTION... Lethal drugs

are injected into the

prisoner who is strapped to a

table.

Many people consider this

the most humane way as it looks as if the person is going to sleep – this

is not the case.

The first drug paralyses all of their muscles

so that they are unable to show pain visibly – however they are in pain.

Usually a black hood is pulled over the prisoner's head. A doctor locates the inmate's heart with a stethoscope and

pins a circular white cloth target over it. The prisoner is shot through the heart by multiple marksmen. Death is quick.

FIRING SQUAD...

GUILOTINE...

A famous French

invention severing the

neck. Death is

quick.Many famous

Queens died in this

way.

You could have also had…

Being stoned to death

DecapitationBeing burnt alive

Being fed alive to wild animalsBeing ripped apart by horses

running in opposite directions

Being hurled from rocks

DrowningCrucifixion

IN BRITAIN...

Hanging was the principal form of execution in Britain since the 5th

Century, although other methods were used such

as:• drowning, • burial alive,

• hurling from cliffs• boiling alive,

• burning at the stake

Are all methods of Capital punishment humane? Are some worse than others? Are any

inhumane?

Is there a difference between killing someone legally and murdering someone?

Read the following statements carefully – decide which ones you think are FACT and which are

FICTION…

• In the 18th Century you could be hanged in Britain for over 200 offences. • FACT – changed in 1957 to murder and treason

• 50% of the worlds countries do not allow the use of Capital Punishment • FACT – 98 countries in total have removed it from their legal system

• 58 countries still use the death penalty as a form of punishment.• FACT – including the USA (some states) IRAQ, IRAN and CHINA

• IRAQ had the highest recorded number of executions in 2009 • FICTION – it was China - they executed more people than all other of the 58 countries

combined.• 25 of the 50 states in America use the Death Penalty

• FICTION it is 37• Lethal injection, electric chair, firing squad, gas chamber, hanging and beheading are all forms of

capital punishment still used today. • FACT – only beheading is not carried out in the USA

• Capital Punishment was abolished in the European Union in 1999.• FACT

• You can still be sentenced to death today in the UK for treason.• FICTION –It was abolished in the UK completely in 1998

• The death Penalty was abolished in the UK in 1973.• FACT – In all cases except for treason

• The last 2 people to be hung in UK was in 1964• FACT – though it wasn’t abolished until 9 years later

Grade C You will be

able to select

facts about this topic

Did you achieveYOUR goal?…

Outcomes...

There have been many debates over the years, in

the UK and elsewhere, about whether or not the

DEATH PENALTY is an effective punishment, and

there are persuasive arguments both FOR and

AGAINST.

Take a page in your book for each side of the argument.

Create a mind map for BOTH – Arguments FOR Capital Punishment and Arguments AGAINST Capital Punishment

Remember these are NON-RELIGIOUS arguments.

1. Add any ideas you can to both mind maps.2. Swap with a partner – add anything they are missing to

their mind map in GREEN PEN

Watch the following clips and respond to the questions.

These should help you formulate arguments

both FOR and AGAINST

Capital Punishment.

They will also provide

EXAMPLES for your exam – add these to your mind

map.

In YOUR OPINION what punishment did they deserve?

Could the death penalty for Brady and Hindley have helped the victims

families?

Both lived full lives (though in prison) was this fair?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41NIF0YLUbo

The Moors murders were carried out by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley between July 1963 and October 1965, in and around

what is now Greater Manchester. The victims were five children aged

between 10 and 17—at least four of whom were sexually assaulted.

The murders are so named because two of the victims were discovered in graves dug on Saddleworth Moor, with a third

grave also being discovered there in 1987, over 20 years after Brady and Hindley's

trial in 1966. The body of a fourth victim, Keith Bennett, is also suspected to be

buried there, but despite repeated searches it remains undiscovered.

ARGUMENT AGAINST Human life is vitally important

whatever the person has done – it should not be taken away for

any reason.

ARGUMENT FORThe value of human life is made clear by executing those who kill

others.

Should Brady have been allowed to die?

Is it more of a punishment to make him live and suffer the guilt of what he has done?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVUfei6MmVY

ARGUMENT AGAINSTExecution is an easier punishment than life

imprisonment.ARGUMENT FOR

The Death Penalty means that society can rid itself of the most dangerous people, so they cannot be a threat again.

Why might some argue Sutcliffe’s crimes were not his fault?

How do you think his victims and their families would feel about

arguments stating he is blameless?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjXtczD1sRU

ARGUMENT AGAINSTPeople not of sound mind cannot be fully punished as

it is not their fault.

ARGUMENT FOR Execution is compensation for taking the life of

another and may help the victims families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXQvKLGYThoWhy was there so much controversy surrounding this

case?

What do they mean by degrees of murder?

What arguments are given for and against Capital punishment?

The trial and punishment of Ruth Ellis became notorious as she was the last

woman to be executed in England.

Her family campaigned for her murder conviction to be reduced to

manslaughter.She had shot her 25 year old lover

David Blakely outside a pub in London.Her family claimed she should not be

executed as she had been provoked and therefore it was manslaughter.

David Blakely was apparently an abusive partner and 10 days prior to his

murder he had punched Ruth in the stomach causing her to miscarry their

child.The law at the time was simple – murder was murder and she was

punished accordingly.

FOR =

AGAINST =

ARGUMENT AGAINST It doesn't work as a deterrent - countries that

have the death penalty do not seem to have a drop in murders committed. Also no two

murders are the same (we need to look at the circumstances)

People should not be made to make the decision to kill someone OR carry this out - it is not

civilised – shouldn't be carried out on women and childrenARGUMENT FOR

The death penalty acts as a deterrent and a warning to others. It stops people committing the crime as they know that they will be killed if they

are caught.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SyaAkbERxYWhat human rights may be broken

by the use of execution as punishment?

Why were human rights campaigners concerned in this

case?

ARGUMENT AGAINST It violates peoples human rights – including the right to

life

ARGUMENT FOR Often criminals have taken away another's humans rights (right to live, torture, to feel safe etc…) so should not have

their own human rights upheld

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzGZQWXPdc0

What evidence got this man convicted?

How did the wrong man end up being punished?

ARGUMENT AGAINST Many people have been executed who were later

discovered to be innocent.

ARGUMENT FOR It has a good effect on society psychologically- bad things

happen to bad people

The death penalty acts as a deterrent.

Society can be free of its most dangerous people.

The value of human life is made clear by executing those who kill.

Execution is the ultimate retribution and compensation for killing others.

Execution helps brings satisfaction and closure to victims families.

Execution is cheaper than keeping a prisoner in prison for life.

The person who commits a serious crime should lose all their human rights including

the right to live.

Serious crimes do not seem to drop in countries with the death penalty.

There have been many occasions of innocent people wrongfully executed.

People facing the death penalty will be more likely to kill to avoid capture.

Terrorists who are executed could end up as martyrs encouraging others.

Human life is important and should not be taken in any circumstances.

Execution can be seen as an easier sentence than imprisonment.

The UN Declaration of Human Rights states that every human has the right to

life and the right not to be tortures or suffer.

Grade B You will be able

to identify at least FOUR non-

religious arguments both

FOR and AGAINST capital

punishment.

Did you achieveYOUR goal?…

Outcomes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNNGCn-MeF8

Why are Amnesty International so against

Capital punishment?

Do YOU think it is an effective form of

punishment?

Would you like to see the death penalty

reintroduced into the UK?

Complete page 93 QUESTION 2 & 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ5tWGTReOA

Plenary...

Give ONE argument to support this

AD

Give ONE argument

AGIANST this AD