Reading Task: Murderer or a Mistake?
Overview
Teachers can make use of the given real life newspaper content as a reading material. The content has been adapted to their learners. Guiding discussion/debate questions will be helpful for their post-reading activities.
The athlete Oscar Pistorius known as the Blade Runner shot his girlfriend in his house. "Some of the state witnesses heard a woman scream, followed by moments of silence, then heard gunshots and then more screaming," the people said. Pistorius admits shooting his girlfriend at his luxury home in Pretoria this year but he thought that she was a thief and he defended himself. This case was surprised South Africa and his fans around the world who regarded the Paralympian as a sporting hero. "The dead, a 29-year-old woman, was shot and killed in the home of Oscar Pistorius just after 3 am on 14 February 2013," " Oscar Pistorius armed himself with his 9 mm gun and he fired four shots at the woman through the locked door. The woman died on the scene. The cause of death is given as 'multiple gunshot wounds'." "Oscar Pistorius said that he thought she was a thief. However, he killed a person..." Dressed in a dark suit and dark tie, Pistorius, 26, entered the court and faced a wall of cameras. Occasionally his upper lip trembled and he lost the battle with his emotions, taking a deep breath, squeezing his teeth or wiping away tears. The court asked Pistorius if he would arrange his own defence. Pistorius stood up and said quietly into the microphone: "That is correct, your honour." The case was sent to the high court in South Africa.
Discussion
1. Why do not South Africans find Oscar Pistorius guilty?
2. What is the reason behind this “empathy”?
3. Do they match with the habits of Highly Empathic People?
4. What do you think about the story now? 5. Do you find him guilty or not?
5. Do you find him guilty or not?
Debate
1. There will be two debate groups: one group who thinks that he is guilty and one group who thinks that he is not. You will sit together with those who have the same answer with you for the question 5.
2. You are going to defend your opinions with the information you have gathered from the video and the news report.
3. First, you are going to have a little discussion with your group members.
4. Then, decide on your supporting points and evidences from the sources.
5. If necessary, take some notes. 6. Make sure that everyone contributes to the discussion.
7. The group that defends their opinions best is going to win the argument.