English Fury
  • Students
  • Parents
  • MixedInk
  • Contact Us

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

11/17/2019

 
Picture
In 1996, Rodney Reed, 51, was found guilty of the abduction, rape and murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites in Bastrop, Texas. On November 17th, an appeals court made the decision not to execute him. 

For decades, Reed has maintained his innocence. He, and many other people who can support his truth, say that Reed and Stites were having an affair, and that she was killed by her fiance because that affair was with a black man. Stites, who is white, was afraid of and abused by her husband according to several witnesses at the time.

Her fiance, Jimmy Fennell, was a police officer with a history of violence against women. After Stites's murder, Fennell kidnapped a woman and sexually assaulted her while on duty as a police officer. He was arrested, but while in prison, bragged about killing his "n***r loving fiance," and at her funeral bragged, "she got what she deserved." Even his friend and fellow police officer admitted that Fennell gave him inconsistent accounts of his whereabouts during the time of Stites's murder. Renowned forensic pathologists all concluded that Reed’s guilt is medically and scientifically impossible.

Six months after Stites was killed, Reed had been arrested and charged with the kidnapping, beating and attempted rape and murder of two other women. However, he was not prosecuted in either of these attempted rape cases. But somehow, the all white jury felt they had enough evidence to convict Reed.

Now, decades later, supporters from around the country were begging his pardon. Probably the most profound plea came from Congressman Michael McCaul in a letter to Governor Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole.

“A death sentence is final, and given the doubt surrounding his innocence at this time, I believe our state cannot execute Mr. Reed in good conscience,” he wrote. Without a date of execution looming, Reed will now await his retrial.

Read the blog post above in its entirety. Then, comment intelligently, academically and with fidelity on the following: Had no one stepped up to challenge the law, Rodney Reed would have died today, probably innocent of the charge he was convicted of. Think about that. Does the government have the right to decide who lives and who dies?

1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

2. Respond in no more than 10 sentences and no less than five.


3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student.

4. Make sure your reply addresses the comment you're replying to. Stay on topic.

5. No identical comments on different posts (i.e., "I agree" or "I disagree"). Such comments will earn you a zero.


CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.


Due Friday, November 22, 2019 11:59 p.m. CST​​​

If you would like to submit a topic for discussion, submit it here.

50/50 or 70/30?

11/10/2019

 
From 1919 to 2019, many things have changed in the world! People have become bolder, more outspoken, relaxed (in some areas) and less formal (in other areas). Technology tells us what to do and when, and family dynamics are no longer traditional in the sense of, "the man is the head of the household and the woman is the heart of the household."

But what about relationships? It seems that, whether it's a heterosexual relationship or a same-sex relationship, one of the two takes on a more dominant lead role. It's been said that one person is going to love more and rule more no matter what. That notion hasn't seemed to have changed since 1919...or before! Critics say that it's just natural for the man (or the male-dominant) to take the lead in a relationship. No matter how feminist you are or how progressive the world seems to be, men/male-dominants rule.

So, what does that look like?

That means if the male/male-dominant makes a decision on what dogmas to follow, candidates to vote for, what foods will be eaten for dinner, what clothes will be worn by both parties, or how money is spent, that is what will happen.
Read the blog post above in its entirety and watch the video. Consider what you read and watch, then comment intelligently, academically and with fidelity on this question: Who should take the lead in a relationship and why?

1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

2. Respond in no more than 10 sentences and no less than five.


3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student.

4. Make sure your reply addresses the comment you're replying to. Stay on topic.

5. No identical comments on different posts (i.e., "I agree" or "I disagree"). Such comments will earn you a zero.


CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.


Due Friday, November 15, 2019 11:59 p.m. CST​​​

If you would like to submit a topic for discussion, submit it here.

    Mixed Ink

    Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

    Although the students receive a grade based on a rubric for completing this assignment, they are not graded on complexity of thought. This is a place where students of all levels can freely, confidently and creatively express themselves and their opinions in a nonjudgmental platform. They are required to respond to and critique each other, but degradation, slander, lewdness, etc., will not be tolerated. 

    Bridge Builders

    All subjects are vital to learning, but  English is the bridge of communication. So let's build the arch, one word at a time...


    Grading Rubric


    Learning Objectives
    • Communicate effectively
    • Be aware of current events
    • Write concisely
    • Boost critical thinking skills
    • Be accountable
    • Follow directions
    • Have a voice about what goes on in the world around you

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012


    Copyright Disclaimer
    Creative Commons License
    This blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be made available by contacting [email protected].

    Categories

    All
    Class Period

    RSS Feed

©2012-2024 English Fury. All rights reserved in all media. English Fury is a registered trademark owned by thawriter.biz. No part of the contents of this website can be reproduced without the express written consent of thawriter.biz.