Left In the Cold

Introduction

Truman Capote wrote the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood about the murder of the entire Cutter family which took place in Kansas.  In the novel, Capote delves into the psyche of the murderers and becomes a so-called expert on the case.  His book raises several essential questions.  Should capital punishment exist?  Is everyone convicted of a crime guilty?  Is everyone who commits a murder insane? Should the psychological evaluations of the accused be essential in determining guilt or innocence, or play a part in sentencing?

Task

Go to the websites listed below and define the words given and answer the following questions. At the conclusion of the webquest,  you will create a PSA regarding your opinion on the essential questions.

Process

Step 1. Define the following terms using the website below. 

http://www.capitalpunishmentincontext.org/resources/definitions#death_qualified

death qualified juror

voir dire

mitigating

Step 2. Define the following terms using the website below.

http://dictionary.search.yahoo.com

just

exoneration

punitive

capital punishment

aggravating factors

Step 3. Using the web address below, answer the following questions.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Truman_Capote

1.  What was Truman Capote's name at birth?

2.  When did Capote change his name?

3.  How old was Capote when he began writing?

4.  Describe Capote as a child.

5.  Who was Capote's childhood friend?

6.  What was Capote's inspiration for the novel In Cold Blood?

7.  Who aided in his research for the book?

Step 4. Watch the following video on Capote and answer the following questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWMAReGazY

1.  How was Capote's high school years different than his early childhood in Alabama?

2.  Why did his parents leave him with relatives for the first ten years of his life?

3.  What are Capote's feelings regarding school and formal education?

4.  Describe Capote as an adult.

Step 5. Using the link below, identify crimes punishable by death.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/crimes-punishable-death-penalty#BJS

Step 6.  List states that have the death penalty. How many murders have happened in that state, and how many people are on death row?

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/state_by_state

Step 7. Using the link below, summarize how Capote feels in regards to capital punishment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xxGchy14pE

Step 8. Why do people commit murder?  Use the following link to discover the answer to this questions.

http://www.public.asu.edu/~tlstanle/nurturingaserialkiller.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/why-people-kill-310600.html

Step 9.  Using the link below determine your psychological profile.  Is it accurate?  Why or why not?

http://www.anvari.org/fun/Truth/Psychological_Profile_Test.html

Step 10. - Watch the video in the link below, and then, write a short paragraph in which you share your reaction to the video.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/know/conviction/

Step 11. - Using the link below, select two of the people listed and tell their stories.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/know/Browse-Profiles.php

Step 12. -

PSA – Must include title which should be your essential question.

List arguments for and against.  Give your opinion and support with information from the research. Each opinionated statement should be supported with three pieces of evidence from the research. Include at least two pictures that are related to the topic.  You may use Power Point, imovie, or a display board to create your project.  You must also use an additional source of digital media to support your argument (This should be a short clip from youtube, a documentary, a commercial,  movie, or other digital media).  You will have three minutes to present your argument, and your classmates will have 1 minute to ask questions. It should be colorful, creative, and convincing.

Evaluation

Grading Scale

 

 

Total

Steps 1 and 2  (2 Points each)                                    16

Step 3 (2 points each)                                     14

Step 4 (5 Points each)                                     20

Step 5 (10 Points each)                                   10

Step 6                                                              35 (35 have it  - 1/2 point per state 1/2 pt.

Step 7                                                              5

Step 8                                                              20

Step 9                                                              5

Step 10                                                            10

Step 11                                                            30

Step 12 (PSA)                                                 110

 

Total Points Possible                                      275

Rubric will be used to assess PSA

PSA Checklist: Grades 9-12



Teacher Name:


Student Name:_____________________________    Reviewer Name: ___________________________

Date: _________________

Project:

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CATEGORY

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

 

Delivery

 

 I maintained eye-contact most of the time.

 

 

 I spoke to the entire audience, not just one or two people.

 

 

 My pronunciation was clear and easy to understand.

 

 

 My rate of speech was not too fast or too slow.

 

 

 My voice could be heard easily by the entire audience.

 

 

 My voice varied in pitch; it was not monotone.

 

 

 I did not use filler words (e.g., "uhm," "uh," "ah," "mm," "like," etc.)

 

 

 I used standard grammar.

 

 

 My body language was not too tense or too relaxed.

 

 

 I maintained good posture.

 

 

 I used meaningful gestures.

 

 

 I used notes sparingly; I did not read from them.

 

 

Content

 

 The information I gave was interesting or important to others.

 

 

 I was well informed about my topic.

 

 

 I used vocabulary that the audience could understand or defined unfamiliar terms.

 

 

 My vocabulary was strong and varied.

 

 

 I used an effective and appropriate attention-getting device.

 

 

 I used logical appeals where appropriate.

 

 

 Logical appeals included reliable, factual information.

 

 

 I used emotional or persuasive appeals where appropriate.

 

 

 I added supportive detail to the main point(s).

 

 

 I correctly answered most questions from the audience.

 

 

Presentation Aids

 

 Presentation aids improved the presentation or reinforced main points.

 

 

 Presentation aids were not distracting.

 

 

 Presentation aids were creative.

 

 

 Visual aids were attractive.

 

 

 Visual aids were easily viewed or read by the entire audience.

 

 

 Visual aids contained no spelling or grammatical errors.

 

 

 Written content was next to corresponding visual aids

 

 

 Writing was could be clearly read from 4 feet away

Name and class period was on project

Project included essential question as title.

At least 3 pieces of evidence was shown in support of cause.

At least 3 pieces of evidence was shown against cause.

Opinion of presenter was evident.

Opinion of presenter was supported by at least 3 pieces of evidence.

At least 3 pictures were included that were relevant to topic.

Additional digital media was included.

Additional digital media was relevant and aided in the development of the argument.

 

 

Organization

 

 I organized ideas in a meaningful way.

 

 

 The information and arguments/details were easy to follow.

 

 

 I stayed focused and did not stray off topic.

 

 

 The introduction included a clear statement of the main point(s).

 

 

 The body of the presentation contained support for, or details about, the main point(s).

 

 

 I used helpful transitions between main points (e.g., "First of all..." or "Similarly..." etc.).

 

 

 I used logical connectors between main points (e.g., "On the other hand..." or "Therefore...", etc.).

 

 

 Ideas flowed logically from one to the next.

 

 

 A strong conclusion was present.

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Credits