Some people advocate the death penalty for those who committed violent crimes. Others say that capital punishment is unacceptable in contemporary society.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the death penalty and give your opinion.
Capital punishment is a divisive issue. Some believe it deters violent crimes and ensures justice, while others argue it is unethical and prone to errors. This essay will examine both its benefits, such as deterrence and reduced costs, and its drawbacks, including wrongful executions and societal desensitization.
One benefit of capital punishment is crime prevention. It instills fear in potential offenders, discouraging them from committing serious crimes. If offenders knew execution was certain, they might reconsider their actions. It also delivers justice for victims’ families and eliminates reoffending. Additionally, life imprisonment places a financial burden on taxpayers, while execution reduces long-term costs. Governments with overcrowded prisons struggle to accommodate violent offenders, making capital punishment a more practical alternative. For instance, in my community, a released murderer reoffended. Had he faced the death penalty, lives could have been saved.
However, capital punishment has serious drawbacks. It contradicts the principle of rehabilitation, which aims to reform criminals rather than eliminate them. Wrongful convictions are irreversible, making errors in the justice system catastrophic. No system is infallible, and executing an innocent person is a grave injustice. Moreover, instead of deterring crime, it might normalize violence. Many argue that life imprisonment without parole is equally effective. Studies show that strict sentencing can achieve similar deterrent effects without the moral and legal risks of execution. For example, several European nations have abolished the death penalty and focused on rehabilitation, leading to lower crime rates.
In my opinion, capital punishment must be given to repeated offenders. Those who do not change their behavior and start following the law. In this way, others will be warned and prevented from committing dangerous crimes over and over again.
In conclusion, while the death penalty may have benefits, its ethical concerns and the possibility of wrongful execution make it a flawed solution. Life imprisonment provides justice without the risk of irreversible mistakes. Therefore, capital punishment remains unsuitable for modern society.
Capital Punishment Essay Band Score Analysis: 7.0 Bands
1. Task Response (7.0)
- The essay fully addresses the task by discussing both advantages and disadvantages in separate paragraphs.
- Examples are relevant and support the arguments effectively.
- A clear opinion is presented in the conclusion.
- Slightly more depth in argumentation could improve the score.
2. Coherence & Cohesion (7.5)
- The logical progression of ideas with clear linking between sentences and paragraphs.
- The use of referencing and substitution is effective.
- Some sentences could have more variation in linking phrases to enhance fluency.
3. Lexical Resource (7.0)
- A wide range of vocabulary is used, including advanced words like irreversible, deterrence, rehabilitation.
- Synonyms are well-managed, and word repetition is avoided.
- Further use of idiomatic or academic expressions could improve lexical variety.
4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy (7.0)
- Good mix of complex, compound, and conditional sentences.
- Use of relative clauses is present (e.g., which aims to reform criminals).
- Minor refinements in sentence structures could enhance clarity and variety.
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