If you are writing on any sort of controversial topic, you are writing an argument essay.An argument essay is one that attempts to convince your reader that your opinion is correct and/or to change your reader's mind about a particular issue.The two model essays below discuss the same subject: capital punishment.While reading them, you can see how the writers' opinions differ from each other.
Model Essay One
Arguments against Capital Punishment
Capital punishment, or death penalty, has been used since the beginning of human existence.Fortunately, in this century the number of people executed has been decreasing.In the 1930s, 1, 667 people were executed, compared to 717 in the 1950s.Since 1977, only 47 people have been executed.Although a majority of Americans advocate keeping the death penalty, it should not be applied any longer because it is ethically unacceptable, socially unpractical, and financially unbearable.
The first reason why we should abolish capital punishment is that it is ethically unacceptable.“Thou shalt not kill”is the fifth commandment (戒律) that was given to us by God.An individual has no right to kill, no matter what another person has done.Only God can create, and God should be the only one to destroy.
The second reason we should not have capital punishment is that it has failed in its purpose.Many supporters of the death penalty argue that it is a strong deterrent (威懾) to people who could be criminals.They use the theory that a person will weigh the amount of the reward to be gained from killing someone against the pain of the punishment.If the punishment is great enough, they reason, the person will not commit the crime.However, this is a false argument because most people who commit violent crimes are not rational at the time.A study by Dr.Gordon Grisby of the University of Florida showed that 75 percent of the males and more than 90 percent of the females who committed violent crimes were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and not rational at the time.