Capstone Research on Wrongful Conviction Wrongful Conviction Senior Seminar Capstone Research Paper:
In this senior seminar course, you will write an original capstone research paper on the death penalty, specifically focusing part of the paper on a case study of a defendant’s argument of wrongful conviction. This is NOT an opinion paper, but rather an original piece of research, with an emphasis on what you have learned in your law courses. The paper is to be no less than 10 pages of content (excluding references, title page etc.). It must be double-spaced Times Roman font with one-inch margins on all sides. The paper needs 10 scholarly sources, minimum, and 7 of the 10 must be peer-reviewed journal articles or books approved by Dr. Bellas. The other 3 can be from credible newspapers such as The New York Times, Washington Post or other credible government agencies, or think tanks etc. The contents of the research paper must include the following:
Capstone Research on Wrongful Conviction
- The history of the death penalty in the United States 5 points
- The history of the death penalty in three countries of your choosing other than the U.S. (try to be creative). 5 points
- The methods of execution in the U.S. and how it has changed over time 5 points
- Then each student in the class will research one legal case (JOHN WAYNE GACY), on a specific defendantís claim of being wrongfully convicted, and thus being sentenced to death. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR RESEARCH PAPER! This section of the paper, called a case study, should make up at least 5 pages (half of your paper).
d1. You will provide a background of his/her crime. 5 points
d2. You will give the argument for why this person was correctly sentenced to death (citing evidence, criminal law, prior court cases, and constitutional issues) YOU are the prosecutor/government arguing that he/she was correctly sentenced to death. 5 points
d3. You will then play the role of the defense attorney and give the argument as to why this person should not be sentenced to death (citing evidence, criminal law, prior court cases, and constitutional arguments). 5 points
Capstone Research on Wrongful Conviction
- Finally, at the end of the paper I want you to make a solid argument as to why the death penalty should or should not be the law of the land in the United States. Here, you are permitted to state your position, but it needs to be supported by research, case law etc. not just ìI think…î 8 points
References must be scholarly and at the minimum required. 4 points Page length must be appropriate. 4 points
Grammar/spelling etc. must be at a senior college student level. 4 points
Dr. Bellas will call for you to provide to him or his graduate assistant, the case study you plan on writing about several weeks before the paper is due, to ensure no two students are assigned the same case.
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