BM #4 Assessment: Argumentative Writing Piece: Are People born killers? This benchmark you explored a key psychology question of are people born killers? Now it’s time to synthesize the
information to put together a writing piece with your thinking about this question.
❏ Step #1: Review your own responses and your classmates responses to the tasks from Benchmark #4. I’m including the part about your classmates' responses because you are welcome to “borrow” their ideas in formulating your response to this question.
Task #1: Initial Thoughts (I copied your initial responses into the Google Classroom comments) Task #2: Mind of a Rampage Killer
Task #3: Research on are People Born Killers
❏ Step #2: The Task: Argumentative Writing Piece
Directions: Use the Mind of a Rampage Killer Documentary Guide (Task #2) and your response on Parlay to the “Research on Are People Born Killers” (Task #3) to create a final writing piece explaining if people are or are not born killers.
Evidence you can use in your writing:
● Andy Williams Case (Santana High School Shooter)
● Charles Whitman (Texas Tower Sniper)
● Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold (Columbine Shooting)
● Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook/Newtown Shooting)
● James Holmes (Aurora Shooting)
● Science Research Studies on Attachment Theory and what trauma does to the brain (rats & stranger scenario)
● Brain Scans/Activity of people who are suicidal, depressed or psychopaths
● Philosophical Perspective-Are people good or evil? (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke
● Other?Look up other forensic cases, scientific research or philosophical ideas that can help you
determine if someone is born a killer or not.
How should you organize the writing piece and what should you include in the writing?
Writing Piece “Are People Born Killers” Structure & Organization (at least 1-2 paragaphs) What should you include in the Writing Piece?
Rubric: How will it be graded?
❏ Introductory Sentence: Introduction sentence that should provide your reader with a general understanding of what this writing piece is about
The writing piece includes a specific, concise, and clear explanation that supports the claim and is relevant to the topic and prompt.
❏ Your claim—Are People Born Killers?
The writing piece includes a specific, concise, clear and valid claim about the prompt and establishes the writer’s position.
❏ Evidence--Use at least 3 key pieces of evidence (see list above) to support your claim. Cite where you got each piece of evidence from.
The writing piece contains at least 3 pieces of evidence relevant, sufficient, and correctly cited evidence that thoroughly supports the claim.
For example: On the documentary “Mind of Rampage Killer”,

❏ Analysis--what can be drawn from each piece of evidence you provide and provide an in depth explanation of how it supports your claim.
For example: This piece of evidence shows
The writing piece thoroughly breaks down and explains how the evidence supports the claim.
❏ Counterclaim & Rebuttal---What would the other side argue? What would you respond? For example, if you think people are born killers, what might the other side argue? What would you argue back?
For example: Some people may argue thathowever,
1 counterargument & rebuttal provided
❏ Conclusion Sentence: In this conclusion sentence include your Reflections-- Include any questions/general thoughts you have about the question, evidence you examined or what exploring this question reminds you of.
The writing piece closes by making a clear and strong connection to other relevant texts, ideas, topics, events, etc. that support the claim.
While Writing the writing piece keep in mind:
➔ Mechanics:
➔ Language Use, Audience & Purpose: The writing piece should be written for someone interested in forensics and psychology (so feel free to use terms like attachment theory, stranger scenario etc.)
➔ Criteria:
➔ Analysis & Evidence: Be sure to cite evidence and information from the case to support your rationale
throughout the writing piece & go deep with the evidence analysis.
➔ See the Are People Born Killer Rubric for more informationm (on Google Classroom