Saturday, February 5, 2011

IELTS academic writing sample 1

Without capital punishment (the death penalty) our lives are less secure and crimes of violence increase. Capital punishment is essential to control violence in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Today ,one of the most debated issues of criminal justice system is the issue of capital punishment which is also commonly known as the death penalty.Capital punishment was widely applied in ancient times throughout the world and it is still practiced in non-democratic or authoritarian countries.

There are both supporters and protesters of capital punishment.Proponents have argued that capital punishment is an extreme penalty as a deterrent to brutal crimes.Moreover, they have also pointed out that only capital punishment could provide emotional compensation to the families of crime victims.To some extent, the death penalty is "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth " philosophy. What the offenders have done is irreversible based on human judgment.Thus,it has been argued that society has the right to keep the offenders from ever committing further brutal ,violent crimes :executed offenders will never commit another capital offense .

Does capital punishment discourage murderers? Opponents have counterargued that there is no valid supporting statistical evidence showing that crimes are totally deterred by the death penalty and capital offenders can just as easily be prevented from committing further crimes by a life imprisonment. They believe that the death penalty is the ultimate cruel punishment and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the human right as it does not give the offenders a second chance for reform. Opponents have also argued that there are high rates of error in the criminal justice system thereby executing innocent ones wrongly.

In my opinion,I am totally against the death penalty.Capital offenses are still occurring in countries where the death penalty is carried out.Most offenders are not afraid of death, even welcoming it.I also believe that everybody is capable of rehabilitations and personally see capital punishment as a form of revenge within the justice system. Justice and vengeance are two entirely separate things, one is based on hatred, the other on a humanitarian desire to make the world a better place.

(approximately 30 mins, 245 words)

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