Lab #3 Annotated Graphs 1

Running head: Lab #3 Annotated Graphs

Jessica Waldron

Lab #3 Annotated Graphs

Ms. Macaurtur SOWK300 Spring 10

Due: 02/06/2010
 Lab #3 Annotated Graphs 2

Magnitude of the Problem

This graph describes the magnitude of executions of males, females, whites, and blacks.
We can see by looking at the graph that males represented the highest executions rates compared
to those of females. We can also see that there isn’t a big difference between blacks and whites
being executed either. In fact they are both “neck and neck” in numbers and value.

For the share difference in males being executed compared to those of females, I can
infer that more males committed crimes than females, at least crimes that amount to the death
penalty or capital punishment. I can also infer that because of the little to no difference in
executions between whites and blacks that both whites and blacks received equality when it
came to capital punishment. These numbers are huge in my opinion, especially for a country who
prides themselves on keeping themselves above the status quo when it came to dishing out
punishments to their citizens, and not referring to barbaric means to solve issues within our
country.
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Scope of the Problem

On this graph, it’s quite evident who constitutes the highest percentage of executions,
MALES. It’s not even 49.85% because in actuality because the 24.76% blacks and 24.96%
whites are mainly male, that 49.85% is much higher. The graph basically describes the
percentage of occurrences of executions between those of males, blacks, whites and females.

This graph makes me question where exactly are these statistics coming from, and what
time period are they coming from as well because it is a well known fact that more black males
were in imprisoned and more likely to given the death penalty than white males during the
Segregation era. Women seem to be on the back burner also on this graph, leading me to believe
that women were not as active in criminal acts as males or maybe they were smarter and didn’t
get caught as much as males. Whatever the case may be females represents a small percentage of
deaths through execution.
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Changes in the Problem

Through the numbers in the graph one can see that the numbers don’t change as greatly
as one would think they would in time. The greatest change came in 1985 were there was only
18 civil executions. From 1985 to 2003 there was a big increase in executions and from there;
year after year the numbers steadily decreases.

Does this graph tell me America has changed its view on executions? No, not at all.
There isn’t enough of decrease for me to assume that America has changed her mind on
executions within our societies. It does however make me assume that maybe less crimes, which
result in capital punishment, are being committed. Maybe people are finally noticing that when
they commit a crime the United States government is going to punish you for it.
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Disparities in the Problem

This graph, again, gives one the numerical occurrences and differences between males
and females and blacks and whites. Males represent the highest number of executions while
females represent the lowest occurrence. There is no major difference between white and blacks
being executed. There is only a 20 count difference which is little nothing compared to the share
size of the executions overall.

Through this graph I can infer that there was no disparities in deciding who should be
executed weather they was black or white. But on the other hand there seem to be some
disparities in the small number of women executed. From the general census count, there are
more women to men in the United States and through personal experience I know women can be
just as tough if not tougher and crueler than men. So why is there such a small execution count
for women compared to those of men? I can assume from this graph that women were more
pitied than men when it came to granting execution sentences. I can also assume that women
were less likely to be caught for a capital punishment crime than men were.
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Summary and Conclusion

These annotative graphs were basically created to give a personal account on the data
tables I used in my exercise 1. This assignment in my opinion was created to give me a better
understanding on how graphs were created using data tables. This assignment was also created
so that I the student can have a better understanding on how to fully describe a graph as well as
come up with my own interpretation on what exactly I think that graph means.

Overall the assignment was helpful and I did gain a better understanding on how to create
and explain a graph. The assignment took me quite a while but I did gain graphing experience
which I would not have gained if I didn’t have this assignment.