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73 Death-Penalty US Student
73 Death-Penalty US Student
B. Vocabulary Preview
4. lethal injection d) prison area for people who have been sentenced to death
8. solitary confinement h) a chance to be free from jail based on good behavior
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The Death Penalty
Mini-Debates
Reading
1. The death penalty, also called capital 4. Amnesty International calls the death penalty
punishment, refers to the killing or execution the “ultimate denial of human rights.” In 2011,
of a person as punishment for a crime. Half of the this human rights group defended an American
countries in the world have abolished this form prisoner named Troy Davis. Davis was convicted
of punishment. About 30% of the countries in the of killing a police officer, but many doubted the
world still use it as punishment for crimes such evidence. The executive director called this case
as murder and treason. Each year, a few more a “catastrophic failure of the justice system.”
countries abolish the death penalty. Troy Davis maintained his innocence until the
moment he died. One thousand people attended
2. Capital punishment is legal in 31 of the 50 states
his funeral.
in the US. Does the word “capital” seem odd? This
term comes from the Latin word for head. Long 5. Statistics show that minorities are more likely to
ago, capital punishment referred to cutting off face capital punishment. Americans who murder
a person’s head. In America, execution is now a white male are at least three times more likely
carried out by lethal injection. While this method to be executed than those who kill a black male.
of killing is not as disturbing to watch, autopsies In addition, those who can’t afford a good lawyer
show that the injections are not always quick and are more likely to face the death penalty. Studies
painless. The procedure sometimes goes wrong, also show that capital punishment does not deter
and the injections cause severe pain. Medical criminals. Would you believe that a death penalty
professionals are often required to assist in the sentence costs taxpayers more than a sentence of
executions. The UN has asked that all countries life imprisonment? Some people think the death
refrain from using this cruel and unusual form penalty is a less severe sentence than life in prison
of punishment. with no chance of parole.
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The Death Penalty
Mini-Debates
Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs and write the answers in your notebook.
1. What is another word for the death penalty, and why does it have this name?
5. Why are poor criminals more likely to face the death penalty?
Vocabulary Review
Complete the sentences using a word from the vocabulary list on page 1.
You may need to change the word form.
1. The murderer was sentenced to death and will now wait on .
2. The showed that the lethal injection caused the heart to stop beating.
5. The man was on for good behavior when he killed his neighbor.
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The Death Penalty
Mini-Debates
Discuss
Work with a partner or in small groups. Discuss the following questions.
Debate
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs.
Your teacher will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea.
You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.
Topic #1 Topic #2
A death penalty sentence is more severe than a All countries will have abolished
sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole. capital punishment by the end of this decade.
Write
Choose one of the questions from the Discuss section above.
Then write a paragraph in your notebook stating your own opinion.
Copyright 2018 Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T – A DV / V E R S I O N 3 . 0) 4
The Death Penalty
Mini-Debates
• That doesn’t take away from the fact that... • In my honest opinion...
• That’s beside the point. • It is my belief that...
• With all due respect... • From my experience...
• I agree with you there. • From where I look at it...
• I agree with ---- (name). • From my point of view...
• I see your point, but...
• That may be true, but...
Clarifying / Rephrasing
• We’re going to have to agree to disagree.
• I get/see where you’re coming from, but... • Let’s be clear here...
• I’m afraid I disagree entirely. • I think you misunderstood what I said.
• I’m afraid I’d have to disagree. • What I said was... (repeat a point
• I agree to some extent, but... that was misunderstood or confused)
• I disagree with you there. • What I meant to say was...
• Pardon me for disagreeing, but... (rephrase something in a way that is clearer)
• In other words...
• What I was trying to say
Interrupting / Asking to Contribute
before I was interrupted is that...
• I hate to interrupt, but...
• If I may come in here...
Summarizing / Concluding
• I’d like to add something.
• Would you like to contribute something? • So let me get this straight. You think...
• I’d like to raise a point. • To conclude...
• If I could speak for a moment... • I’d just like to summarize by saying...
• I’d like to cut in here. • Finally, I’d like to reiterate that...
• You haven’t answered my question. • It’s time to take stock of what we’ve heard today.
• Both sides have some valid points.
• The stronger argument/team today is...
Persuading
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