Close-up p 70. Crime and Punishment. Written Mediation Task

A friend of yours from England is going to write a newspaper article about crime in different parts of the world. While doing his research, he came across these pictures on Google. He shares them with you and asks you some questions about them. You decide to send your friend an email answering his questions.

1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you? 
2. What kind of crime do people in your neighbourhood fear the most?
3. What is your opinion about the rehabilitating capacity of your prisons today?
4. Are your prisons an effective deterrent against crime? Why / why not?
5. Can the public in your country do anything to reduce crime?
6. What do you think of the judicial system in your country?
7. What are the most common types of crime in your area? Is safety a big concern in your area? Has it always been like this? What can be done to improve the situation?
8. What are the biggest criminal issues affecting your country today?

Useful language to describe a chart:
 
This chart illustrates how...
This chart compares...
The results that are shown in the chart are...
As can be seen from these results, ...
According to this chart, 
From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ...
We can see on this chart how... 
The chart indicates that...
The chart represents...
The information given in the chart...
The thousands of cybercrimes committed in Spain are shown on the chart.  
The chart shows quite clearly the impact of... 

Close-up p 70. Surveillance Cameras. Oral Mediation. Open Cloze

 

Read the instructions for the task. With the information given, speak for 4 minutes using your own words.

Task description:

Your class is working on the topic of "security". You come across these two texts about surveillance cameras . Explain to your debate class what you have read and what messages you think these texts convey. As you elaborate on these thoughts include your own ideas.

Your MONOLOGUE should last about 4 minutes.

1)

Text 1

To Protect and Serve

Nowadays, if you enter places such as malls, banks, stadiums and airports, a network of cameras is plainly visible. It's clear to all that they are likely to be captured on film in these public places, and any questionable behaviour such as vandalism or theft will be documented. Most people realise that it is in the interest of public safety that surveillance cameras continue to be operational. In fact, the mere presence of these cameras seems to make the public feel a sense of security knowing that the "bad guys" are being watched.

2) 

Text 2

People's Guardian

The purpose of surveillance cameras is not to invade homes and other personal spaces but rather to protect the public by deterring criminal activity. This works because cameras provide material evidence when a crime has been caught on film that enables law enforcement agencies to make a case. What is more, security analytics can actually raise alarms about potential crimes or accidents before they even take place, raising the possibility of prevention. And prevention is, of course, the primary goal.

Sample answer

If you walk through any public space in any city, chances (1)_________ that you will spot at least one surveillance camera. How does that make you feel? Do you agree that this has become a controversial issue?

Evidently, there are enough reasons why we should not only tolerate but also welcome these cameras. First of all, (2)___________ everyone can see the cameras, they know that any misdeeds they commit will be recorded on film, (3)_______________ is comforting rather than threatening for most law-abiding citizens. Secondly,  cameras are there to prevent crime and they accomplish this (4)___________ providing evidence that can lead to prosecution, as (5)__________ as flagging up suspicious situations (6)__________ that police officers can act before a crime is even committed.

(7)_______________ these are valid points, I personally feel that the power of security analytics is the most significant factor in crime prevention. This is (8)____________ it can predict and give law enforcement a chance to prevent crimes rather than just punishing the perpetrators. (9)____________, while most people agree that cameras discourage planned crimes (10)_________ vandalism and theft, critics have raised the point that cameras have little effect on crimes that are committed (11)__________ impulse. What is more, the prediction of crimes comes with a (12)____________: who sets the parameters of (13)_______________ is suspicious, and what happens if someone gets it wrong?

(14)_________________ I believe there are clearly factors that need close public scrutiny when it (15)___________ to surveillance cameras, especially regarding security analytics, I would agree that the sense of protection they offer is well (16)______________ some sacrifice of privacy in public places.

Vocabulary

flag something up

​(British English) to draw attention to something

• The report flagged up the dangers of under-age drinking

 

Security Analytics is an approach to cybersecurity focused on the analysis of data used to detect potential threats to IT systems.

KEY

1. are

chances are: it is very likely that. E.g. Chances are she has already heard the news.

 

 

2. since

 

 

3. which 

 

 

4. by 

 

 

5. well 

 

 

6. so 

 

 

7. While/ Although 

 

 

8. because 

 

 

9. However 

 

 

10. like 

 

 

11. on 

 

 

12. catch 

catch: a hidden problem or difficulty  E.g. This deal looks too good to be true – there must be a catch somewhere. The catch is that you can’t enter the competition unless you’ve spent $100 in the store. 

 

 

13. what  

 

 

14. Though 

 

 

15. comes

when it comes to (doing) something ​when it is a question of something. E.g. When it comes to getting things done, he's useless. There's nothing she doesn't know when it comes to computers. He's a sweet guy, but he's a bit useless when it comes to kids. 

 

 

16. worth

well worth: 
certainly worth.
"Salzburg is well worth a visit" 

Close-up p 70. Crime and Punishment. Extra Speaking

1. MONOLOGUE. Prepare a talk of AT LEAST 5 minutes on the subject. You may use the pictures above and the contents below if you wish:

If it were not for injustice, men would not know justice. - Heraclitus, c. 535 – c. 475 BCE was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher-

What is fairness? Should we torture one person to save many?  
Justice is giving people what they deserve, but the real difficulty begins with figuring out who deserves what and why. 
The idea that there are universal duties requires that we treat human beings with respect, regardless of who they are, or what they’re doing, or where they live. 
Are miscarriages of justice rare and exceptional? 
What happens after exoneration? Have you heard of anyone who has been exonerated?
What could be done with victims of wrongful convictions in order to help them back to a normal life?

You may make some notes for your talk to take into the exam. These should not exceed five lines.


2. INTERACTION

In this part of the test, the examiner will ask you some questions about issues related to the TOPIC. Remember that you are expected to have a conversation as natural as possible and give full answers. This part of the examination will last AT LEAST 5 minutes. You will not see the questions below.

________________________________________




TEACHER'S QUESTIONS  

1. Have you ever caught anybody red-handed doing something wrong?
2. Can you think of a famous person who has been in the dock recently? Why? What is the public opinion? Do you think public opinion can influence the jury's or the judge's decision when they return a verdict? Do you think the media plays a crucial role?
3. Can you think of anybody who has been subpoenaed to appear as a witness in court? What did this witness have to give evidence about?  
4. Do you think there are criminals who instead of doing time should do some kind of community service? Can you give some examples? Do you think judges are too lenient?
5. Can you think of an instance of a phishing scam? How was it run?
6. What would you do to combat corruption?
7. Are there any crimes where you live that the police should crack down on? 
8. Have you or anyone you know ever reported an incident to the police? What happened?
9. What scam has been uncovered recently?
10. What can companies do to avoid liability?





Vocabulary
1.
miscarriage of justice: a situation in which a court makes a wrong decision, especially when somebody is punished when they are innocent.

exoneration: /ɪɡˌzɒnəˈreɪʃn/ the act of officially stating that somebody is not responsible for something that they have been blamed for. E.g. A DNA test eventually led to his exoneration.  

exonerate somebody (from something) /ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt/ (formal) to officially state that somebody is not responsible for something that they have been blamed for. E.g. The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption. The president cannot be exonerated from responsibility for this problem. The report exonerates the president of any knowledge of the arms deal. 

wrongful: not fair, morally right or legal. E.g. She decided to sue her employer for wrongful dismissal.

2.
catch somebody red-handed: to catch somebody in the act of doing something wrong or committing a crime. E.g. I caught him red-handed, stealing a wallet.

witness the crime/attack/murder/incident.

sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock.

Dock: the part of a court where the person who has been accused of a crime stands or sits during a trial. Sp. El banquillo de los acusados. E.g. He's been in the dock (= on trial for a crime) several times already. 

reach a unanimous/majority verdict.
return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death.Return a verdict: to give a decision about something in court. Sp. Emitir. E.g. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The inquest ( investigation) returned a verdict of accidental death.

be called to/enter (British English) the witness box.

take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand

call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness.

Subpoena: /səˈpiːnə/ to order somebody to attend court and give evidence as a witness. E.g. The court subpoenaed her to appear as a witness. 

give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody.

Evidence: the information that is used in court to try to prove something. Sp. Testimonio. E.g. I was asked to give evidence (= to say what I knew, describe what I had seen, etc.) at the trial. 

lenient: not as strict as expected when punishing somebody or when making sure that rules are obeyed. E.g. a lenient sentence/fine. The judge was far too lenient with him.

restraining order (against somebody):  an official order given by a judge which demands that something must or must not be done. A restraining order does not require a trial in court but only lasts for a limited period of time. A restraining order or protective order is an order used by a court to protect a person or entity, and the general public, in a situation involving alleged domestic violence, harassment, stalking, or sexual assault. Sp. orden de alejamiento.

convict/acquit the defendant of the crime.
receive/be given the death penalty.
be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail).
do/serve time/ten years.

launder drug money (through something).
Launder: /ˈlɔːndə(r)/ to move money that has been obtained illegally into foreign bank accounts or legal businesses so that it is difficult for people to know where the money came from. E.g. Most of the drugs money was laundered through Swiss bank accounts. 

run a phishing/an email/an Internet scam.

Phishing: the activity of tricking people by getting them to give their identity, bank account numbers, etc. over the Internet or by email, and then using these to steal money from them.

statute of limitations: the legal limit on the period of time within which action can be taken on a crime or other legal question. E.g. at the time of the trial, his actions had passed the statutes of limitations so he was released.

combat/fight crime/terrorism/corruption/drug trafficking.

reduce/tackle/crack down on knife/gun/violent/street crime; (especially British English) antisocial behaviour.

Crack down (on somebody/something): to try harder to prevent an illegal activity and deal more severely with those who are caught doing it. Sp. Ponerse serio/duro. E.g. Police are cracking down on drug dealers.  

report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/(especially British English) an incident to the police.

investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case.

uncover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons.

Scam: a clever and dishonest plan for making money. Sp. Estafa, timo. E.g. an insurance scam.
Cache: /kæʃ/ a hidden store of things such as weapons. Sp. Alijo. E.g. an arms cache 

Influence peddling: the illegal activity of a politician doing something for somebody in return for payment. Sp. tráfico de influencias.

Blackmail: the crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell somebody else a secret about them. Sp. Chantaje.

Bribery: the giving or taking of bribes. Sp. soborno. E.g. She was arrested on bribery charges. Allegations of bribery and corruption.

Bribe: a sum of money or something valuable that you give or offer to somebody to persuade them to help you, especially by doing something dishonest. E.g. It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office.She had been offered a $50000 bribe to drop the charges.

Embezzlement: theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one’s trust or belonging to one’s employer. E.g. charges of fraud and embezzlement.

admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)

Liability: /ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/ the state of being legally responsible for something. Sp. Responsabilidad. E.g. The company cannot accept liability for any damage caused by natural disasters.