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Glorifying CriminalsDiscussion Starters

PRE-READING VOCABULARY TASK Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. glorify2. outsmart3. hashtag4. boycott5. copycat6. household name7. notorious8. brag9. prohibition10. serial killer

PRE-READING WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Why are humans so interested in criminals and crime?2. How do some criminals profit from their crimes?3. Why do many young people think its cool to be bad?

a. to avoid an organization, product, or person as a form of protest

b. a keyword used for categorizing topics onlinec. a well-known person or thing d. famous for having a bad characteristice. a person who has killed many peoplef. a period when the sale of alcohol was forbiddeng. to make smarter choices than another personh. to make something more visible by celebrating iti. to talk about how good someone or something isj. a person who copies another persons behavior

Glorifying CriminalsHow did bad become cool?

1. Does the face of a criminal belong on the glossy cover of a magazine? According to opinion polls, many people disagree with the glorification of criminals. The truth is that crime sells. When young, attractive, or famous people commit crimes, the media cashes in. The media also makes money when criminals outsmart law enforcement. Who doesnt love a good chase?

2. How far is the media willing to go to shine a spotlight on a criminal? In 2013, Rolling Stone magazine put an accused terrorist on the cover of its magazine. Many businesses refused to sell the issue. In fact, a hashtag telling people to boycott the magazine began trending on Twitter. What effect did this negative publicity have on sales? Back in 1970, cult leader Charles Manson made the cover of Rolling Stone. The interviewer won an important award for the piece. It also helped Charles Manson get more fan mail.

3. After the Colorado Theater shooting in 2012, a brother of one of the victims made a special request to the president. He asked President Obama not to name the shooter when he addressed the nation about the tragedy. He wanted the victims to be remembered rather than the shooter. This didnt stop the media from repeatedly comparing the killer to a comic book character. Criminals who are nicknamed by the media often become household names. Who can forget names like Scarface, the Black Widow, or Son of Sam? These are the criminals that inspire copycats. Fortunately, they are also the criminals who are most likely to get caught.

4. Young people often brag about living in dangerous areas. They think its cool to have friends or relatives in gangs. How did criminal behavior become so cool? Is the media or the entertainment industry to blame? Al Capone was a notorious American gangster in the prohibition era. Movies, television shows, and books have been written about him. Criminals like Capone often profit from their crimes. Would you buy a book written by a serial killer?

Life is nothing but a competition to be the criminal rather than the victim. Bertrand Russell

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VOCABULARY REVIEW

A. Using New VocabularyUse the vocabulary from page 1 to rewrite the following sentences. Underline the keyword.

B. Word FormsLook at the bold word in each sentence. Is it used as a noun, verb, or adjective? Place your answer in the blank.

1. My brother always brags about how his friends beat people up. __________________2. During prohibition, many gangsters sold alcohol illegally. __________________ 3. Mass murderers often inspire copycats. __________________4. The newspaper had a special feature on four notorious Chicago-based gangsters.__________________5. The victims family members thought the media treated the terrorist like a celebrity. ________________

COMPREHENSION Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. According to polls, how do most people feel about the glorification of criminals?2. Why did some businesses boycott an issue of Rolling Stone magazine in 2013?3. What good thing can come out of the nicknaming of notorious criminals?4. What do kids sometimes brag about?5. Who was Al Capone?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Should radio stations and nightclubs ban music with lyrics that glorify criminal behavior? 2. Studies suggest that notorious criminals with nicknames are more likely to be caught. Is this a good enough reason to

assign a nickname to a criminal, or do you think this practice should be ended?3. Are we more tolerant of criminal behavior because we are so used to seeing it on TV and in films?

CRITICAL THINKINGThe media often uses words like mastermind or the perfect crime to describe criminals who outsmart law enforcement. Do you think that the language chosen by the media promotes crime?

Glorifying CriminalsDiscussion Starters

1. #Boston is trending on Twitter.

2. Bonnie and Clyde were known around the world.

3. Eli always tells us that his cousin is in a gang.

4. People in New York are refusing to eat at that fast-food restaurant.

5. The movie is about a murderer who kills a bunch of neighbors.

6. Police searched for the bank robbers for ten years, but the thieves never got caught.

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Lesson Description: Students read about the glorification of criminals. The lesson includes vocabulary review exercises, comprehension questions, and discussion questions. IntermediateAdvanced. Time: 1.52 hours. Tags: crime, news, media, discussion

PRE-READING WARM-UP AND QUOTEIndividual Answers. Discuss as a class or in small groups. Discuss the quote with your students, too. What do they think it means? Do they agree with this definition of life? You could also have students come up with their own quotes using Life is nothing but.... Use this as a writing exercise or homework task.

PRE-READING VOCABULARY TASK1. h 2. g 3. b 4. a 5. j 6. c 7. d 8. i 9. f 10. e

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. According to surveys, most people disagree with the glorification of criminals.2. Some businesses boycotted an issue of Rolling Stone magazine in 2013 because it featured an accused terrorist.3. Nicknamed criminals are more likely to get caught because there is so much attention on them.4. Kids sometimes brag about living in dangerous areas or knowing people in gangs.5. Al Capone was an American gangster in the prohibition era.

VOCABULARY REVIEWA. Rewrite the sentence. (New sentences will vary)1. The hashtag #Boston is trending on twitter. 2. Bonnie and Clyde became household names around the world. 3. Eli always brags that his cousin is in a gang. 4. People in New York are boycotting that fast-food restaurant. 5. The movie is about a serial killer who murders a bunch of neighbors. 6. The bank robbers outsmarted the police for ten years.

B. Word Forms1. verb2. noun3. noun4. adjective5. noun

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS and CRITICAL THINKING Individual answers.

*See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide (www.esl-library.com/discussion) for avariety of ways to use the reading. Audio is available for this lesson. Students can access the audio via our podcast and iTunes.

Teachers Notes

From the editor: Spelling and Usage NotesThis lesson shows the American spelling of the words behavior and neighbor. Most other English-speaking countries spell these words this way: behaviour and neighbour. Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in the lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.

Pre-Reading Warm-Up Questions, Pre-Reading Vocabulary Task & ReadingComprehension Questions, Vocabulary Review, Discussion Questions & Critical Thinking TaskTeachers' Notes / Answer Key