The required term paper for this class (roughly 7-10 pages) will be a topical essay that reflects a sophisticated understanding of several death penalty issues. Students will select and write on three of these basic issues/problems: deterrence, discrimination, mistakes, costs of the DP, inadequate representation, and what would a fair DP be like.
SUGGESTIONS FOR STRUCTURING THE PAPER:
I. Introduction (1-2 pages?)
A brief background of the DP and some history of the whole array of problems with the DP, the evidence that they still persist, etc.
II. Discussion of each of the three topics that you have selected (about 2 pages each?)
III. Conclusions /Discussion (1-2 pages?)
What do these continuing problems mean for the fairness, future, etc. of the DP.