Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Question - Guidelines and Rubric

1. Read through the handout. What is it about?

2. What is the issue that is being raised?

3. What is the question asking me to do?

You are being asked to give an opinion on whether judges, with their professional knowledge, experience, and expertise, should be constrained in the way they pass sentence on individual criminals. Mandatory minimum sentencing means that when judges sentence individuals convicted of certain offences, the sentence they give cannot be less than government legislation has laid down for that offence. Or, on the other hand, do you believe that judges should be allowed to use their knowledge, experience, and expertise to decide on a sentence that is appropriate for each individual criminal, based on the principles of sentencing that are defined in Section 718 of the Canadian criminal Code?

4. Decide on three points which support your point of view and refer to the handout when writing your response.

5. Use each point to write paragraph that clearly expresses your rationale.

6. Your paragraph must have a topic sentence that puts forward a strong argument in support of the point you are making.

7. The body of the paragraph must clearly explain your three points, with any supporting examples to back them up.

8. You must complete paragraph with a concluding sentence, one that clearly demonstrates the strength of your opinion on this question.