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Good Sample of "High School Massacre: The Columbine Shooting" paper + an outline
Posted Date:
10 Jun 2008
Total Responses:
2
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Posted By: Nate Bower Member Level: Bronze Points: 1
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High School Massacre: The Columbine Shooting
Many historical events have occurred in the year 1999. On January 31st, the Denver Broncos emerged victorious against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII (Scope Systems). On March 15th, the planet Pluto is again declared as the farthest planet. On December 22nd, Macau is handed down by Portugal back to China. Eleven days after, Panama regains control of the Panama Canal (Scope Systems). However, the most historical but most tragic event occurred on April 20th: it was the Columbine High School Shooting. This research paper aims to discuss the tragedy that took many lives and affected the entire American community.
Columbine High School is located in the suburb of Littleton in Jefferson County Colorado (CNN; Yellin). The school is situated, along with two others, in the southeastern part of the county (CNN). Jefferson County has the highest number of residents; it has a population of almost 100,000 people. Among those residents, 1,945 of which were students at Columbine. The high school eventually became the venue for one of the most devastating and traumatic massacres in American history, as two of its own students terrorized their own alma mater.
The students responsible for the massacre were eighteen year old Eric Harris and seventeen year old Dylan Klebold (Portner and Richard 3; Yellin). Both were believed to have been under the influence of “neo-Nazi dogma,” which in turn fueled speculation that the reason the massacre occurred on April 20th was because it was the 110th birthday of Adolph Hitler (CNN; Yellin). Among the two, it was Harris who seemed to be the mastermind. This is because his journal served as evidence to his hatred, which was seen as the motive for the massacre (Cullen 1). In his journal, Harris expressed rage over many different things and personalities, including the WB network and Tiger Woods. The conclusion that can be derived from his writings is that he generally hated the world. As for Klebold, he was perceived as simply a follower. This is because compared to Harris, he kept no journal and his essays from school did not reveal the anger that Harris conveyed. His profile was largely based on testimonies from his family and friends, as well as the survivors. Nonetheless, it was established that both were “equal partners” in the shooting (Cullen 1).
It was said that the massacre was originally planned on April 19th (CNN). It was not specifically established if there was significance to the date, but authorities have pointed out that it was the same date as the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma as well as the Texas Branch Davidian standoff. The postponement of the attack could also be attributed to the unpreparedness of the suspects. However, people suspect that the date might be connected to what was called the “national marijuana day,” since the date has the same digits as the assigned criminal code for marijuana possession in California (CNN).
The April 20 shooting was initially a “suicide mission,” with the objective of killing the most number of people from school (Cullen 1). The plan of attack had begun one year earlier, and despite the careful planning as revealed in Harris' notes, the attack did not go as planned (CNN; Cullen 3). According to the plan, the school assault was to begin in the cafeteria a few minutes after the lunch period started (Cullen 3). The suspects have already placed two propane bombs in the middle of the cafeteria a few minutes past 11 a.m.; they then proceeded to their car to get their gear. They brought with them many weapons and other military paraphernalia. This includes “homemade bombs, two sawed-off twelve-gauge shotguns, a nine-millimeter semiautomatic rifle, and a nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol” (Yellin). Harris and Klebold wore trench coats to conceal all the weapons they brought, and stayed in the parking lot to wait for the explosions (Cullen 3). After the bombs have exploded, the suspects were presented with two options. The first option was to enter the school; the second one was to shoot at the students who were coming out (Cullen 3).
The bombs inside the cafeteria were supposed to explode at approximately 11:16 a.m. (Cullen 3). Harris and Klebold waited for about five minutes for the bombs to detonate. When the bombs did not go off, they realized the dilemma and have probably decided that if the bombs did not explode, they would have to directly shoot the students instead. So at 11:19 a.m., the school shooting began (Pascopella 27). They began shooting at the students outside the library, then they killed faculty member Dave Sanders in the hallway. It was in the library where they shot most of their victims. They entered the cafeteria, and Klebold tried to make the bomb explode using a Molotov cocktail. After their shooting spree, Harris and Klebold committed suicide. In as little as fifteen minutes, 12 students and a faculty member was killed, along with the suspects (Pascopella 27); 184 people were injured, 24 of which was hospitalized while 160 were given treatment at the school itself. In such a small amount of time, many people have lost their lives in one of America's darkest times.
The motive behind the massacre has been speculated upon, and the media frenzy that arose from the tragedy certainly did not help the authorities in their search for truth (Yellin). It has long been talked about that Harris and Klebold intended to hurt the athletes as response to the social discrimination they had experienced in school (Cullen 1;Yellin). Racism and bias against Christians were also considered to be the reason behind the shooting (Cullen 2). The former was brought about the death of the lone African-American victim Isaiah Shoels. The latter was derived from the death of Cassie Bernall; the killers asked her if she believed in God, and when she replied yes, she was shot in the head. However, investigators said that the motive was connected to neither race nor religion. Authorities affirm that if there was one reason why the gunmen did what they did, it was because of pure hatred (Cullen 1).
The Columbine High School Shooting is one of the most devastating tragedies to affect American society. Almost a decade after it occurred, there are still more questions than answers. The tragedy proves to be a lesson for everyone, a reminder of how strong and dangerous hatred could be.
OUTLINE
I. Introduction
II. Columbine High School
A. Location
B. Population
III. Suspects’ Profile
A. Nazi Influence
B. Suspects
1. Eric Harris
2. Dylan Klebold
IV. Date of Massacre
A. Connection to Other Events
B. Marijuana Link
V. Objective of Massacre
A. Suicide Mission
B. Change of Plans
C. Weapons and Gear
D. Plan of Action
VI. Sequence of Events
A. Planting of Bombs
B. Places Attacked
C. Statistics
VII. Motives
A. Revenge against Social Discrimination
B. Racial Discrimination
C. Religion
VIII. Conclusion
Works Cited
CNN. “April 20, 1999.” In-Depth Specials. 9 June 2008 .
Cullen, Dave. “Inside the Columbine High Investigation.” Salon News. 23 Sept. 1999. 9 June 2008 .
Pascopella, Angela. “Columbine Revisited.” District Administration April 2004: 27-29.
Portner, Jessica and Alan Richard. “Suits, Memorials Mark Columbine Anniversary.” Education Week 26 March 2000: 3.
Scope Systems. 1999. 9 June 2008 .
Yellin, Eric S. “Columbine School Massacre.” US History Encyclopedia. 9 June 2008 .
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| Author: Khemraj 10 Jun 2008 | Member Level: Gold | Rating:  Points: 2 | Wonderful collection
| | Author: Khemraj 16 Jun 2008 | Member Level: Gold | Rating: Points: 2 | Nowadays, It has become general in USA
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