Reflective Writing 3: Trial By Fire Death Penalty Critical Analysis of the Todd Willingham Case

 

When writing your essay, respond to the prompt thoroughly, and completely. Essays must be a minimum of 2 pages in length, double spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 point font, and written in Times New Roman.

A bibliography, references or works cited page, must accompany submission. Bibliographies should be uploaded, as a single file, along with your 1.5 page essay. This page does not count towards the minimum length, of the paper. When completing your essay, you must also include  in-text citations for any work that is directly quoted or paraphrased.   Failure to properly, or consistently cite paraphrased or directly quoted  work, from the original work, thoughts and/or ideas of someone, other than your own, (according to 1 of the 3 approved formats…MLA, APA, or Chicago) will result in an automatic 0, with no make-up work being accepted.  For assistance with proper citation formatting, use the easybib website. Access this website, by clicking

Your response should be your own original thoughts and analysis.  Research and resources should be incorporated with scholarly application. I.e. used as examples or evidence to support your analysis. Make sure to use complete sentences, and proper grammar. Your response to the prompt should focus on analyzing the information you gathered. Incorporate the information you gathered by using it to provide examples and support for your response.

A papers should include a critical analysis of the videos by applying at least 1 example from each film to support your position.

PART 1: Video Access and Viewing 

The video you are required to watch, in order to complete this assignment is 50 minute in length.  The video is over the Todd Willingham Case. The video is publicly accessible through PBS Frontlines official website.  You can access the video one of two ways, following the instructions provided below

  1. Click the link below, or copy and paste the link , into a new tab, in your internet browser.

PART 2: Video Reflection, Analysis and Submission Instructions
Write a reflective analysis of crime, justice and punishment under application of the Death Penalty, in Texas, based on application of what you learned from the Todd Willingham Case Video.

Write an essay that addresses each of prompt’s 2 components, Issue Position and Explanation and Application, outlined below

Issue Position:

First, Identify whether you are for, or against use of the death penalty as a form of criminal punishment (there is NO right or wrong answer). Successful completion of this assignment, and its learning objective, require your compliance in identification or your personal position, and perspective, towards the issue of the death penalty.  Responses are confidential and will be graded objectively, based on students independent, reflective analysis of their own individual personal perspectives,  and application of the information.

Explanation and Application

Then, Discuss, and describe, the nature of political debate, surrounding the issue of the death penalty, and explain how your personal position toward the issue has changed or been reinforced, with regard to application to crime, punishment and justice in Texas, based on what you learned from the movie.