Current Event # 3: How Should Society Deal With Lawbreakers?

Current Event # 3:

How Should Society Deal With Lawbreakers?

Due: Friday, 9/30/2011

The question of how to deal fairly and effectively with lawbreakers is as old as society itself. To begin your own investigation, examine the following viewpoints.

Babylon 1790s B.C.

The Code of Hammurabi calls for strict justice:

"If a son strike his father, his hands shall be cut off. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken....If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out."

Italy 1764

Cesare Beccaria was one of the first reformers to argue against torture, capital punishment, and harsh treatment of criminals:

"The purpose [of punishment] can only be to prevent the criminal from inflicting new injuries on its citizens and to deter others from similar acts....Such punishments and such methods of inflicting them ought to be chosen, therefore, which will make the strongest and most lasting impression on the minds of men, and inflict the least torment on the body of the criminal."

Singapore 1994

In 1994, an American teenager living in Singapore was sentenced to a painful flogging for acts of vandalism. An official defended his country's harsh penalties.

"Unlike some other societies which tolerate acts of vandalism, Singapore has its own standards of social order as reflected in our laws. We are able to keep Singapore relatively crime-free. We do not have a situation where acts of vandalism are commonplace, as in cities like New York, where even police cars are not spared."

You will need to:

Research and post a link of a fairly recent news story, detailing a crime involving someone or an organization quilty of breaking a law(s). Be sure to provide the clear specifics of the case and what law(s) was/were broken. Discuss at length, in detail, how you agree or disagree with the punishment given for the crime(s) committed. Within your response, provide strong reasons to support your argument as to whether you feel the justice system failed or supported those involved. 

Be sure to include the following in your blog post:
-Your name/class period
-Title of article/author
-Source/date of article
-URL (copy and paste your article link in your response for me to review your article)

Paragraph #1:
-Summary of your selected article (minimum of 6-7 sentences that provide detail about who/what, when, where, and why your current event is significant) 

Paragraph #2:
-Reflection/Opinion of article (minimum of 3 sentences)
-Give supporting facts and include any personal experiences associated with the article

Individual Topic of Interest: Current Event #2

Current Event #2

Due: Friday, September 23, 2011

The topic for this week's current event blog assignment is your choice. Please refrain from using sports or entertainment articles. Make sure to use a current and reputable source (not Wikepedia) and find an article that interests you. Your post should adhere to the following format:

Heading/ Be sure to include the following in your blog post:
-Your name/class period
-Title of article/author
-Source/date of article
-URL (copy and paste your article link in your response for me to review your article)

Paragraph #1:
-Summary of your selected article (minimum of 5-7 sentences that provide detail about who/what, when, where, and why your current event is significant) 

Paragraph #2:
-Reflection/Opinion of article (minimum of 3 sentences)
-Give supporting facts and include any personal experiences associated with the article
-Relate the current event to what we've been studying in class (if applicable--this will only apply on the weeks where specific topics are assigned)
-pose questions/concerns about the event

Ten Year Anniversary of 9/11

***Directions: When posting to this blog, please be sure to include your first and last name and the class period that you are in for your entry. If you do not provide this information, Mr. Waters will not be able to credit you with a grade for any work submitted.

Hint: I strongly encourage you to type your responses into a google or word document first. You can then copy and paste your assignment into blogger. This will enable you to check your spelling/grammar and also prevent you from losing your work in the event of a computer error. Blogger is NOT perfect and has been known to crash in mid sentence. Remember that you can always email me your assignment if you are having trouble with blogger.

Please feel free to read and comment on other student posts in an appropriate manner to provide an open forum of discussion.

**Deadline/Blog Response By: Monday, September 12, 2011**

Current Event #1: As the world remembers the historic events of September 11, 2001, reflect and analyze how this changed America. This day marked a time which brought Americans together as one. This week, you should read an article about something relating to 9/11. Remember to include the link to the article you read, provide the topic of your article, and write at least 5-6 sentences discussing your opinion of the article. You may also use video clips or podcasts for your current event. In addition to your article, include the answers to the following questions in your blog response. What changes have occurred to serve as preventive safety measures. How has these changes personally affected you from a social standpoint? Do you feel that America's unity and attitude toward terrorism and foreign relations have strengthened or weakened 10 years later? Explain why or why not?

Sign Up for Mr. Waters Weekly Current Events Blogs

Students in Mr. Waters World History Classes will be required to read or post a weekly current event to their class blog page.

Students will be directed to respond to a written prompt given by Mr. Waters. Students will post their comments in a blog regarding a current event that will be posted or one that they choose to share with the group. These assignments will be graded based on participation and on the premise of being submitted within a timely manner, each week prior to the deadline given by Mr. Waters.

When posting to this blog, please be sure to include your first and last name and the class period that you are in for each entry. If you do not provide this information, Mr. Waters will not be able to credit you with a grade for any work submitted.

Please feel free to read and comment on other student posts in an appropriate manner to provide an open forum of discussion.

Mr. Waters