Project: Parole: Are We Better Off Without It?

As you learned in this lesson, federal parole was eliminated in 1984. This made a dramatic impact on the incarceration system in the United States. Inmates who had received federal parole before this date continue to be monitored by federal parole officers. There was considerable debate about whether to continue or discontinue parole. Ultimately, there is still some disagreement about this issue. In this exercise, research the elimination of parole and write an essay about whether eliminating parole had a positive impact or whether it should be restored.

Instructions

1. Conduct research into the elimination of parole. You can use the Internet for this research. Research why the federal government eliminated parole. Additionally, research what states eliminated parole.
2. Identify at least five websites that you will use in your research. Write up a list of the complete names of the websites and their web addresses. Submit these sources to your instructor for approval. Do not continue until you have had your sources approved.If your sources are not approved, follow your instructor's advice for selecting more appropriate resources and try again. Repeat until your sources are approved.
3. Make notes on the most important points you learn from your resources.
4. Decide whether you will argue for or against the elimination of parole. Write a clear thesis statement that states your position.Show this statement to your instructor and wait for approval before continuing with your essay.
5. Using your notes and sources, write an essay arguing whether the elimination of parole was overall a positive decision. Make sure you support your point using facts you have collected in your research.
6. Include in your final document the notes you used in writing your essay.
7. Your essay should be approximately four pages long, double spaced in a standard 12 point font, with standard margins.
8. If you use direct quotations or summaries from your web sources, indicate them properly in the text. Your instructor will tell you what citation format to use.
9. Create a references page, where you list the full titles and web addresses of your sources. If you used published books or similar materials, add those to your reference page. Print your reference page.
10. Submit your essay, reference page, and notes to your instructor.