Leachman 1

Jacob Leachman
Jessica Harrell
English III
May 14th, 2015

Research Question: Is Police Brutality over exaggerated?

Working Thesis Statement: The issue of police brutality is getting out of control, but the
problem is being over exaggerated to get the public stirred up for news ratings.
Refined Thesis Statement: Police brutality is sweeping the nation, which has brought upon us a
modern day civil rights movement, yet this issue is not being correctly analyzed but simply
swelled out of proportion.
Annotated Bibliography
Auerbach, Michael P. "Point: Police Brutality Is Over-Sensationalized." Points Of View: Police
Brutality (2015): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 11 May 2015.
Michael Auerbachs article Police Brutality Is Over-Sensationalized, discusses the
growing controversy over the exaggeration of Police Brutality in the United States. Never the
less the article further proves my thesis. The essay goes over key facts and specific examples that
provide a solid foundation to support my claim that police brutality is over exaggerated. It goes
over claims of police brutality, and the outcome that followed suit after the event. As well as
explaining some of the situations that police officers are put in to protect the public from the war
on crime. Auerbach does a really good job of allowing the reader to visualize the situation and
have an understanding why a police officer would have to use excessive force in a threatening
environment.

Leachman 2

Walter, Andrew. "Police Brutality: An Overview." Points Of View: Police Brutality (2015): 1.
Points of View Reference Center. Web. 12 May 2015.
The article Police Brutality: An Overview by Andrew Walter, is a phenomenal source
in its ability to provide a solid basis of information for my thesis. The article describes in specific
detail what police brutality actually is, and what qualifies as excessive force. Also it provides the
information on specific examples of actual police brutality, and then compares it to the
illegitimate claims, which unsurprisingly outnumbers the real examples. Walter goes on to
further my claim by explaining, how few officers have actually been convicted of police
brutality, and by sharing the personal encounters by citizens who have been harmed by an officer
in a confrontation. The vast majority of these citizens after the situation is over, have admitted
that the confrontation was provoked by themselves. It also goes over alternative methods police
use to stray away from excessive force. Walter does an outstanding job at portraying both sides
with legitimate and understanding information.