3. Give each of the paragraphs one of the following headings: Conclusion, Introduction, Advantages, Disadvantages.
4. Work with your partner and compare the arguments in the essay with those you put forward before you read.
5. Write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of providing prisoners with education and training.
Reading 2
1
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Pre-reading task
1. First look at the photograph, and discuss these questions: What are the people doing? Where are they? What do their signs mean?
2. Discuss the following questions in small groups.
Capital punishment means taking the life of someone who has committed a crime. In the United States, capital punishment is allowed in some states. Do you know of any other societies in which capital punishment is allowed?
Why do some people believe that capital punishment is fair? Why do others think that it is unfair?
2. Reading
1. A newspaper editorial gives the writer's opinion about a topic. As with any news article, an editorial begins with a headline or title.
Divide into two groups.
Group A Look at the following editorial headline. On a separate piece of paper, write any ideas that you expect to find in the editorial. Then read it and check.
Headline 1—Life in Prison Is Still Life: Why Should a Killer Live?
Group B Look at the following editorial headline. On a separate piece of paper, write any ideas that you expect to find in the editorial. Then read it and check.
Headline 2—Why Do We Kill People to Show That Killing People Is Wrong?
Work with other students in your group and check whether you can find the same ideas in the editorial as you predicted.
Text A
Life in Prison Is Still Life: Why Should a Killer Live?
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Murder is totally unfair; the victims of murder are gone forever. Their hopes and plans have ended permanently, and the pleasures they enjoyed in life have been destroyed. They will never see their friends again and will never hear the voices of parents, brothers, and sisters who cry, "How could this have happened?" But the murderer is still alive. Without capital punishment, murderers are allowed to participate in and enjoy life. Today there are murderers in prisons all over the world. Most of them would rather spend their lives in prison than die. This is not surprising since the desire to live is normal and natural. In prison there are many small pleasures that one can enjoy every day: the feeling of warm sunshine, the taste of a hot meal, the comfort of sleep. The lifestyle in |
prison is not always harsh and cruel; many prisoners have the opportunity to continue their educations, play sports, enjoy movies, and receive visits from their loved ones. There is no reason why a killer, a destroyer of life, should live. Justice requires that each person respect the rights and freedoms of every other person, or be punished for not doing so. The people who commit murder give up their rights to citizenship and life itself. Why should the tax money of citizens—including the victim's family—keep the killer alive? The only fair punishment is execution. Execution puts the killer away from society forever, stops him from killing again, and sends a strong message to others who might kill: Killers will not be allowed to live. Let sunshine fall on those who respect life—not on those who destroy it. |
Text B