To use mind
mapping, facts,
media clips and
case studies to
formulate nonreligious
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.
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
Now SELF MARK your own
work – give a mark out of 2
and make corrections if
necessary.
DEFINE the word...
CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT –
complete page 93
QUESTION 1.
Also known
as…
EXECUTION
The death penalty
for a crime or
offence.
Taking the life of a
condemned prisoner.
Grade C
You will be able
to define the
term CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT.
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!
The person is
usually shaved
and strapped to a
chair with belts
that cross the
chest, groin, legs,
and arms. A
metal skullcapshaped 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 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.
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
Decapitation
Being burnt alive
Being fed alive to
wild animals
Being ripped
apart by horses
running in opposite
directions
Being hurled from
rocks
Drowning
Crucifixion
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
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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41NIF0YLUbo
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?
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 FOR
The value of human life is made
clear by executing those who kill
others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVUfei6MmVY
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?
ARGUMENT AGAINST
Execution 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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjXtczD1sRU
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?
ARGUMENT AGAINST
People 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=uXQvKLGYTho
Why 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?
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 children
ARGUMENT 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.
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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SyaAkbERxY
What 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 nonreligious
arguments both
FOR and
AGAINST capital
punishment.
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.y
outube.com/w
atch?v=lZ5tW
GTReOA
Give ONE
argument to
support this
AD
Give ONE
argument
AGIANST
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