Lesson Plan

Case Study: The Execution of Ruth Snyder (1928)

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

The case of the 1928 execution of Ruth Snyder takes center stage in a lesson that asks young journalists to consider the ethics involved in publishing an image of an execution. A series of discussion questions ask individuals how they would cover the story.

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Instructional Ideas
  • To conclude the lesson, after groups have debated how to cover the story and shared their thoughts with the rest of the class, have pupils read the story of Ruth Snyder's execution and examine the image
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires copies
Pros
  • The discussion questions encourage groups to consider the many factors that editors must consider when covering sensational news stories
Cons
  • None