1.1. Define the problem

1.2 Identify the information requirements

Defend/refute the death penalty.

Condemned: Do they regret what they did? Do they think it was worth it? Do most of them ask for a spiritual advisor? What type of backgrounds (geography, economic status, urban vs rural, education level, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs) do they have? What factors - if any - are common? What is the ratio poor/wealthy?

What are the conditions on death row? How long is the average wait? What are their rights/privileges? What can they earn by good behavior?

Families: Are the victim's family consoled by execution? How is the executed person's family affected? Do the condemned usually have interested family? Why can't the families hug the condemned? Does it make a difference if the victim's family is opposed to execution?

Execution: How many executions happen annually in the US? Internationally? What percentage of US executions are minorities? What is the cost of execution vs life sentence?

What are the different methods? are some methods more barbaric than others? Who actually injects the condemned? does it hurt?

Legal: When & where was it legalized (US and international)? What does the Constitution say about it? Has the Supreme Court looked at it? What is the process for stay of execution? What crimes are worthy of this punishment? What kind of evidence is required? Can minors be executed? Sentenced to execution? How many executions have been carried out to find that the executed person was innocent? What part does prejudice play in applying the death penalty? Does it act as a deterrent to crime?

Moral: What do the major religions say about it? What is the view of the Church? How does philosophy regard execution?

2.1 Determine kinds of sources

2.2 Prioritize sources

Books, Internet, magazines, encyclopedia, documentaries, newspapers, interview (experts), databases

Prioritize according to your need; make sure you are not using encyclopedias as cited sources.

Academic journals: peer reviewed journals are the most authoritative

3.1 Locate actual resources

3.2 Locate information

Books: Justice system, 345; Death Penalty, 364.66

Databases: Gale for news and opinions; Facts on File American History Online

Internet: Google, but be sure to credential your source - use "death penalty" as a search term.

Recommended sites:

Blog of DA Josh Marquis (click "Death Penalty)

Death Penalty ProCon.org

Prosecuting Attorney for Clark County, IN

Death Penalty Information Center

Cornell University Law School

The Guardian (UK)

The Atlantic

CBS News

4.1 Engage (read, view, interview)

4.2 Extract (make notes)

Take notes electronically, making sure to capture info for citation.

Citation generator (Easy Bib)

How to use Easy Bib to cite a website

Note: For Google Book, use "BOOK - ONLINE"

Database help for EasyBib (you must have previous print information for articles from Gale and Facts on File)

5.1 Organize information

5.2 Present information

Use proper MLA date formatting:

Heading: 21 October 2009

REMINDER: NO general (World Book, Grolier, Britannica) encyclopedia entries are acceptable as sources.

6.1 Judge the product

6.2 Judge the process

What did you learn about the death penalty? What could you have done to make your case stronger?

What did you learn about planning your research? Sources?