Judge slaps Vick with 23 months for dog fighting

Ben Amato | Educational consultant

Expository Writing - ELA Standards 1, 3 and 4

"Michael Vick's sentence should be immediately changed to 161 months - that's 23 months in dog years."

Ken Bossert, Newsday reader from Port Jefferson

The brutality of dogfighting was exposed with the arrest and conviction of NFL star Michael Vick. He has lost his fortune, freedom and the respect because of his involvement in "Bad Newz Kennels," a place of unspeakable horrors and cruelty. Today's lessons looks at the road which led Vick from NFL playing fields to fighting pits and now federal prison.

Television Component
The CW 11 News at Ten had a story of Michael Vick's sentencing in federal court. View the video twice and then answer the Multiple Choice questions.

Newspaper Component
Today's Newsday contains the article "Judge slaps Vick with 23 months for dog fighting." Read the story and then using the facts and details within, complete the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle.

Language Arts Component
"Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards."
Anonymous

The rise and fall of Michael Vick involved wealth, fame, cruelty, inhumane behavior and now disgrace and punishment. There are lessons to be learned from his experience about the treatment of living things, both human and animal.

Situation
Based upon the details in the article and TV news report write an EXPOSITORY ESSAY about the crime, punishment and future of Michael Vick.

The Nature and Structure of an EXPOSITORY ESSAY
An EXPOSITORY ESSAY is a form of writing in which things are explained and described. The goal of this style is to inform the reader of some event, issue or discovery. Typical of all formal styles of writing, this essay will follow a set pattern of 3 paragraphs.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

Expository essays begin with the TOPIC, where in short, direct sentences the issue or event is explained. Details about the SETTING and CAST are presented next. These sentences tell WHO the major players are and WHERE the story is being played out. The final sentence of this section is where the writer presents his/her OPINION on the issue. This is a "grabber" that makes the reader want to read the rest of the essay.

BODY PARAGRAPH
This section concerns the details of the story. Using the information from the article and interviews, the writer should present the facts in a strong, direct manner. It is best to arrange details in an ORDER OF IMPORTANCE. Place the more significant details at the start of the essay and the lesser ones later in the paragraph. The aim of an expository essay is to inform the reader, but the writer should also try to bring the reader to their opinion by using logic and the evidence.

This section may be longer than just one paragraph, depending on how many facts and details are gathered from the article and television news story. Use the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle and the answers to the Multiple-Choice Quiz as a resource so you can make sure all the important facts have been included.

CONCLUSION
The final section of an expository essay should drive home the opinion of the writer. Repeat the TOPIC in a short, clear phrase and then answer a few questions expressing your own thoughts on the situation. Does the sentence Vick received fit his crime? Is dogfighting a "sport" or a symbol is man's inhumanity? End this section with a look towards the future. Should Vick be allowed to play football, once his sentence is completed?

READING ENHANCEMENT
Newsday has another story about the Vick case, written by Bob Glauber. It is titled "Vick deserves chance to play football again." There is a link to that story on this page. Read it over to get another opinion about what awaits Vick after his sentence is served. Use details and opinions from this article to help you decide your feelings towards this horrible episode in Vick's life.

LISTENING ENHANCEMENT
NPR has a short editorial about the Vick case. It is written by Kevin Blackistone and titled "Black Men and Dogs: Don't Believe Vick." Use the link posted and listen to this essay about the historical connections between race and Vick's case.