ACTIVITY 4 {.h**riar6 It;?*rJnil:;
Read the following argumentative essay. Circle the modal in parentheses that you feel is more appropriate.
Life or Death?
I How would you feel if a loved one were murdered? Would you
want retributircn, or wouid sending the killer to prison be enough?
This question has been asked many times, but people are not in
agreement about the ultimate punishment. l{e alt know that it is
wrong to take a human life, but if our government does the killing,
is it still a crime? Sorne people say that the government does not
have the right to end someone's life, but the following reasons
(rnlXh+/qi11 ) showwhy capital punishment should be preserved.
2 The first reason for allowing the death penalty is for the sake of
punishment itself. Most people agree that criminals who commit serious crimes rrtrrd+/ghould ) be
separated from society. The punishment (Witl/oU$t {o ) depend on rhe degree of the crime. Capftal
punishment, the most severe form of punishment, ends criminals'lives. It seems reasonable that this
severe punishmentbe reserved for those rvho commit the most serious of crimes.
3 The second reason to preserve capital punishment is financial. The government $[ru[//rlill ) not
have to spend a lot of money on criminals. Next to capital punishment, the most seyere punishment
is a life sentence in prison, where the government (Iniehyha, t0 ) take care of criminals untii they die
naturally. These criminals do not work, but they receive free housing and food. It is unfair to use tax
dollars for such a purpose.
4 The last reason for continuing the use of the death penalty is based on the purpose of
government. If the government has legitimate power to make, judge, and carry out the laws,
it (WrOU/Sh:uli 1 ,tto have the power to decide if criminals should die. Capital punishment is
iike any other sentence. If one believes that the government has the right to charge a fine or put
crirninals into jail, then the government (could f wuot ) also have the same power to decide the fate
of a prisoner's life.
Developing Argumentative Essays 119
