Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Criminals” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Types of Criminals
1. What are the different categories of criminals?
2. Can you describe what a burglar does?
3. What is a con artist?
4. How would you define a white-collar criminal?
5. What makes someone a repeat offender?

II. Motivations Behind Criminal Behavior
6. Why might someone become a criminal?
7. What could lead a person to commit a crime for the first time?
8. How can someone’s upbringing influence their likelihood of becoming a criminal?
9. Can peer pressure lead to criminal activities?
10. What role does greed play in criminal behavior?

III. Profile of a Criminal
11. What traits are common in criminals?
12. Can criminals be easily recognized?
13. How do professionals profile a criminal?
14. Is it true that anyone could become a criminal?
15. What psychological factors are often found in criminals?

IV. The Life of a Criminal
16. How does being a criminal affect someone’s life?
17. What dangers do criminals face?
18. How does criminal life differ from the movies?
19. Can a criminal have a normal family life?
20. How do criminals interact with each other?

V. Consequences of Criminal Actions
21. What are the consequences of getting caught for a crime?
22. How does imprisonment affect a criminal?
23. Can a criminal record impact future life?
24. What is parole?
25. How do criminals deal with guilt and remorse?

VI. Criminal Organizations
26. What is organized crime?
27. How do gangs recruit new members?
28. What are some famous criminal organizations?
29. How do criminal organizations influence society?
30. What is the impact of criminal organizations on local businesses?

VII. Turning Away from Crime
31. What encourages a criminal to change?
32. Can a criminal truly reform?
33. What programs exist to help criminals turn their lives around?
34. What challenges do former criminals face?
35. How can society help reintegrate former criminals?

VIII. The Impact of Crime on Criminals
36. How does committing a crime impact the criminal emotionally?
37. What are the long-term effects of a life of crime?
38. Do criminals often suffer from addiction issues?
39. How does crime affect the criminal’s family?
40. What health risks do criminals face?

IX. Youth and Crime
41. Why are some young people drawn to crime?
42. What can be done to steer youth away from crime?
43. How does juvenile detention differ from adult prisons?
44. What role do schools have in preventing youth crime?
45. How effective are juvenile reform programs?

X. Women and Crime
46. Are there differences between male and female criminals?
47. What types of crimes are more commonly committed by women?
48. How are female criminals treated by the legal system?
49. What support systems exist for women in crime?
50. How does society view female criminals compared to male criminals?

XI. Media Representation of Criminals
51. How does the media portray criminals?
52. What effect do crime dramas have on our perception of criminals?
53. How accurately do documentaries present criminal lives?
54. Why are some criminals glamorized in the media?
55. What responsibilities do filmmakers have when depicting criminal stories?

XII. Studying Criminals
56. Why is it important to study criminal behavior?
57. What can we learn from interviews with criminals?
58. How do criminologists contribute to our understanding of crime?
59. What insights have been gained from famous criminal cases?
60. How can studying criminal patterns help prevent future crimes?

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