CCJ 4361: The Death Penalty
Film Analysis Assignment Instructions
Due: by 11:59pm Friday April 29
Purpose
Thepurposeofthis assignment isto learn more about wrongful convictions andthe death penalty – a topic that was not specifically covered in class. The films focus on factors that can contribute to wrongful convictionsand how public fear can cloud investigations and trials. Most films also incorporate interviews with family members (on both sides), defense attorneys, and government officials involved in the conviction or exoneration.
Instructions
You should read chapter 10 in your textbook and watch one of the (excellent) documentaries listed below and write an essay summarizing and responding to the film.Your answer should be written in essay format and not just answering the listed points in sequence.Part of this essay is based on your opinion and reactions to the film. Your essay must include the following:
- Summarize the film, but do notgive an extensive plot summary. In your opinion, what was the most memorable moment from the film, and why?
- Discuss specific factors that led to a death sentence andcontributed to the wrongful conviction(s). Use material from Chapter 10 to specifically back up your discussion.
- Is there any one factor that you believe played the biggest role in the conviction and/or the jury decision to sentence the defendant to death? Why was this factor so influential?
- Was there evidence of any of the types of disparities discussed in the last two modules?
- What is your general reaction to the case/to the film?
- Did you learn anything new from the film?
- Was there anything in the film that you found particularly surprising? Frustrating?
- How well does the film supplement class material?
- Think about the modules on justifications for and arguments against the death penalty. Do these stories of wrongful death sentences affect or weaken arguments for or against the death penalty? How so?
Thefilm should bethe primarysourceforyouranswers, butyou mayuseyour class notes. You do not need to provide citations.No other sources are allowed. You arenot allowed to useonlineresources including blogs, Wikipedia, film summaries orreviews, etc.You should not confer with anyother student:this Assignment should bedoneindependentlyand bebased onyour own individual assessment.
Films
Bloodsworth – An Innocent Man (2015) – Follows the story of Kirk Bloodsworth, an innocent man sentenced to death. He is the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA evidence. The film is about an hour and 20 minutes. This film is available for free (with ads) on Vudu (must have a Vudu account).
The Phantom (2021) – Recent documentary that examines the story of Carlos DeLuna, who was executed in Texas in 1989, despite doubts about his guilt. One hour 21 minutes. Available on Netflix.
The Thin Blue Line (1988) – Older, but terrific, documentary about the arrest and conviction of Randall Dale Adams for the murder of a Dallas police officer in 1976. One of the first true-crime documentaries, it has actually been credited with solving the case; and the director is one of the best in the documentary film business. One hour 41 minutes. Available to rent for $2.99 on Amazon.
Wrong Man Episodes 3 & 4, Curtis Flowers: Trial and Error and Death Again (2018) – Curtis Flowers was tried six times for murder of four people in Mississippi. Three of his convictions were overturned for prosecutorial misconduct, two ended in mistrials, and his final trial sent him to death row. His conviction was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court due to evidence of racial bias in jury selection. Must watch both episodes, approximately 50 minutes each. Available on Starz or to purchase on Amazon for $1.99 an episode.
Styleguidelines
Your summary and discussion responses should be as well written as possible. Your answer should be in the form of an essay and not a sequential list of answers (e.g., 1a., 1b., 2a…). Be sure to check your grammar and spelling; egregious spelling and grammatical errors will result in a grade reduction. Answers canbesingle ordouble-spaced with 1-inch margins. Do not skip a line between paragraphs. Pleaseuseany legiblefont no larger than 12-point. Thereis nopageor answer length requirement. Minimize the use of any quoted material. Answers that rely too much on quotes will be marked down.
Submission
You will submit your assignment on Canvas through TurnItIn. TurnItIn is a plagiarism detection device; it will compare your submitted answer to the work of other students, published work, and the internet. Answers that show evidence of plagiarism, copying, or not submitting original work, will not be graded. If you are unsure what constitutes as plagiarism, please contact me. You are responsible for submitting the correct file; I will not accept late assignments because you uploaded the incorrect one.
Hints to do well
- Provide enough detail to proveto Dr.Boggess thatyou watched theentiredocumentary and did not just search the internet.
- You are allowed andencouraged to includeyourpersonal opinions and assessments of thecase, butbesureto back upyour opinions with facts from the film.
- You must incorporate class material. Do not use any other source.
- Double-checkyour spellingandgrammar:A “trail” is notthe same thingas a“trial.”
- Do not manipulate your font and page formatting so that your answer looks longer than it really is; Dr. Boggess finds this to be particularly annoying.
Things I’ll look for when grading
Followingdirections andstyle (25%)
- Student has not used anysourcebesidesclass material and thefilm
- Answers havefewgrammatical mistakes and nomisspelled words
- Answers areclearlywritten in full sentences withproper capital letters andpunctuation
- Answer is written as a cohesive essay and not “chunked out” point by point listed above
- Answers minimizethe inclusion of anysuperfluous orunnecessaryinformation
- Answer minimizes quoted material
Answer quality(75%)
- Answers provideaccuratefacts pertainingto thefilm
- Student has provided sufficient evidencethat theywatched the documentary
- Answers provideenoughdetailto address each component ofthe assignment
- Opinions arebacked upwith evidencefrom the film or from class
- Essay incorporates class material (particularly the last four modules)
Note: There are no film-specific questions. These instructions apply to all films.
The Film Analysis is worth up to100 points (constitutes 20% of your final grade).