[MODEL] Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2021

Date: Feb. 9, 2020

Name: Paige Turner
Essential Question: Should Hawaii institute the death penalty?

Three Points to Prove: #1: The death penalty is not a deterrent of crime.
#2: The death penalty is inhumane.
#3: The death penalty is not cost effective.

Point that this Source Proves: # 1: The death penalty is not a deterrent of crime.

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Early in the article, Carlisle explained in simple terms, “When the smaller crimes go down--the quality of life crimes--
then the murder rate goes down.” (Bonner, 24)

Carlisle reported that in Hawaii we don’t have “the death penalty, but we have one of the lowest murder rates in the
country.” He continued, “The F.B.I. statistics for 1998 showed Hawaii’s homicide rate was the fifth lowest.” ( Bonner,
13)

Changing voters’ minds will not be easy: “Culture and religion play a role, as well as political vagaries in each state.” (
Bonner, 12)

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

This website provides arguments against capital punishment. The author suggests the death penalty is not a deterrent
of crime. Surprisingly, the homicide rates of several different states that do not have the death penalty are actually
lower than those with the death penalty. Hawaii is one of these states. There are quotes from judges, governors, and the
prosecuting attorney from Hawaii, Peter Carlisle. Early in the article, Carlisle explained in simple terms, “When the
smaller crimes go down--the quality of life crimes--then the murder rate goes down.” ( Bonner, 24)
Carlisle makes a reference to the Bryan Uyesugi case – where the defendant shot seven of his co-workers at the Xerox
copy machine company.
There is specific evidence against the death penalty that indicates it is not a deterrent of crime. For example,
even without the death penalty, Hawaii has the fifth lowest homicide rate in the nation. This proves, at least to some
degree, that a state without the death penalty can thrive as a one of the safest states in the nation. Along these same
lines of reasoning, homicide rates in the states that do have the death penalty are still high, such as Texas and
California. Carlisle reported that in Hawaii we don’t have “the death penalty, but we have one of the lowest murder
rates in the country.” He continued, “The F.B.I. statistics for 1998 showed Hawaii’s homicide rate was the fifth
lowest.” ( Bonner, 13) This indicates that the death penalty doesn’t necessarily deter crime. To ground this in more
specific data, the NY Times found that during the last twenty years, the homicide rate in states with the death penalty
has been 48% to 101% higher than states without the death penalty!
Culture, religion, politics, and the overall ideologies that dominate a community influence whether the death penalty
will remain law. In more conservative states, the death penalty is more prevalent. Interestingly, at Michigan’s
constitutional convention in the 1960s, some argued that those who were executed were predominantly poor and of
racial minorities. Changing voters’ minds will not be easy: “Culture and religion play a role, as well as political
vagaries in each state.” ( Bonner, 12) If valid, this is concerning as it indicates corruption in the system (a system that
can end life). If the death penalty remains, more efforts must be taken to ensure the quality and fairness of the justice
system through which they will be punished.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Bonner, Raymond and Ford Fessenden. “States with No Death Penalty Share Lower Homicide Rates.” The New York
Times. The New York Times. 22 September 2000. Web. 4 Jan 2004.
This is a reputable and reliable article because it was published in The New York Times Magazine and it only hires
the nation’s most highly trained and experienced writers.

Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2021

Date: Feb 8, 2021
Name: Kai Gardiner
Essential Question: Why Hawaii should make their Mental health care better?

Three Points to Prove: #1: Hawaii does not have enough mental health care facilities/services.

#2: Not everyone can receive mental health services like low-income families.

#3: Not taking care of mental health can lead to bigger problems.

Point that this Source Proves: #

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

In the Hawaii’s Mental Health Care Crisis article, it says that “ Hawaii was short more than 750 physicians across
the medical field, according to University of Hawaii professor Kelley Withy, who conducts an annual
workforce survey. This calculation accounts for differing needs on neighbor islands and the unique demand
for medical specialties like psychiatry.”

Most psychiatrist do not take public insurance plans.

In the Mental Health Issue Article it tells us that “mental illness can cause health problems all on its own.
Chronic stress is associated with a risk of heart attacks, stroke, obesity, and premature death, and many other
symptoms associated with mental illness can also lead to serious health issues.”

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

These articles support why we should have better Health care because it really shows how mental illnesses
affects ourselves and others. Also lacking the mental health facilities and services proves that we should have a
better mental health care. Listing the affects that lead to bigger problems supports why we should have better
mental health care. Not everyone achieves mental health care in Hawaii which can lead to worse problems for
themselves.

In article one titled Hawaii’s Mental Crisis it states that “we are lacking physicians across the medical field,
according to University of Hawaii professor Kelley Withy.” The article talks about how we are lacking
psychiatrist in Hawaii. The website provides lots of information on the shortage of psychiatrist on each island
especially on Kauai. Our whole state is short on psychiatrist by ten percent. This article supports the point I am
trying to prove because it shows that we need more facilities and services throughout Hawaii. This article
specifically talks about the lack of services in Hawaii. The article provides lots of statistics on the shortage of
psychiatrist. In the article it also states that most psychiatrist do not take public insurance plans which means
not everyone can receive professional help. This makes it harder for the people that cannot afford private
insurance to get help. Usually, low-income people are the ones that cannot receive mental healthcare because
they cannot afford private insurance.

In article two titled Mental Health Issues it tells us that mental illness can cause health problems all on its own.
Chronic stress is associated with a risk of heart attacks, stroke, obesity, and premature death. We do not realize
how serious having a good mental health can affect ourselves. These are just some examples of what can happen
if you do not treat mental health. This also supports my point that we need to have better facilities and services,
so we do not experience these symptoms.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Lyte, B. (2018, October 01). Hawaii's mental health care crisis. Retrieved February 08, 2021, from
https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/09/hawaiis-mental-health-care-crisis/

Young, J. (2015, December 30). Untreated mental illness. Retrieved February 09, 2021, from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/when-your-adult-child-breaks-your-heart/201512/untreated-
mental-illness

These were reputable and reliable articles because they were made by professionals and the other article is on well
know Hawaii website that has research from a university and psychiatrist.

Point that this Source Proves: #

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

This is a reputable and reliable article because

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 Research Log # - Solutionary Project 20210
Date:
Name:
Essential Question:

Three Points to Prove: #1:

#2:

#3:

Point that this Source Proves: #

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

This is a reputable and reliable article because