The Wrongfully Convicteda researched position paper – of sorts

wrongful conviction

• "'Miscarriage of justice' is sometimes synonymous with wrongful conviction, referring to a conviction reached in an unfair or disputed trial. Wrongful convictions are frequently cited by death penalty opponents as cause to eliminate death penalties to avoid executing innocent persons. In recent years, DNA evidence has been used to clear many people falsely convicted.

• "Scandinavian languages have a word, the Norwegian variant of which is justismord, which literally translates as 'justice murder.' The term exists in several languages and was originally used for cases where the accused was convicted, executed, and later cleared after death. With capital punishment decreasing, the expression has acquired an extended meaning, namely any conviction for a crime not committed by the convicted. The retention of the term 'murder' both demonstrates universal abhorrence against wrongful convictions and awareness of how destructive wrongful convictions are." - from Wikipedia

the wrongfully convicted

• James Driskell• Anthony Hanemaayer• Donald Marshall Jr.• Simon Marshall• David Milgaard• Guy Paul Morin• William Mullins-Johnson• Romeo Phillion• Thomas Sophonow• Steven Truscott• Erin Walsh• Rubin “Hurricane” Carter

the product:a researched position paper

• research ONE of the wrongfully convicted• use at least three different sources• explain

• the crime• the conditions that led to the wrongful conviction• the process of having the conviction overturned• the aftermath of the wrongful conviction

The position you argue will be,"A wrongful conviction destroys a person's self-respect."

“Research and Ethics”

• Chapter Nine – Canadian Students Guide to Language Literature and Media• notation• research strategies• research sources• evaluating sources• citing sources• academic ethics and values

research position paper rubric

• Exploration of the Issue• exploration of the issue • development of the issue (depth and breadth)• understanding of the issue 

• Defence of Position• well-considered arguments • consistently and maturely argued • supported by evidence• show a strong relationship with the evidence

• Quality of Examples• relevant and accurate• comprehensive

• Language and Expression• clarity and fluency, vocabulary• control of syntax and conventions

presentation (historical non-fiction)

• This paper will be different from what you write in Social Studies, as you are going to write in the FIRST-PERSON, adopting the persona of one of the people involved in the wrongful conviction.

• You may present your ideas in a format that is different from a typical research paper, but all of the research position paper elements must be present.

options for ‘first-person’

• the convicted man• family member• lawyer (for either side)• prison official• forensic investigator• police office• journalist etc.

options for prose form

• newspaper story or column• news conference• official report• journal• speech• story to friends• interview• etc.