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The Death Penalty

Mini-Debates

The Death Penalty


1. The death penalty, also called capital punishment, refers to the
killing or execution of a person as punishment for a crime. Half of
the countries in the world have abolished this form of punishment.
About 30% of the countries in the world still use it as punishment
for crimes such as murder and treason. Each year, a few more
countries abolish the death penalty.
2. Capital punishment is used in 34 of the 50 states in the US. Does the
word capital seem odd? This term comes from the Latin word for
head. Long ago, capital punishment referred to cutting off a persons
head. In America, execution is now carried out by lethal injection.
While this method of killing is not as disturbing to watch, autopsies
show that the injections are not always quick and painless. The
procedure sometimes goes wrong, and the injections cause severe
pain. Medical professionals are often required to assist in the
executions. The UN has asked that all countries refrain from using
this cruel and unusual form of punishment.

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions


1. Does your country have the death penalty?
2. How many countries do you think use the death
penalty?
3. What are the arguments against the death penalty?
4. What are the arguments for the death penalty?
5. How are criminals typically treated in prisons?

3. Many opposed to the death penalty say that death row is a form of
torture. Death row is a section of a prison for those sentenced to
death. Some inmates spend years waiting for their execution date.
This happened to Manuel Valle, a Floridian man who killed a police
officer. He spent 33 years on death row before being executed. How
does death row differ from regular prison life? In some cases,
prisoners spend their days in solitary confinement. They are not
allowed to worship, exercise, or take part in group activities.
4. Amnesty International calls the death penalty the ultimate denial of
human rights. In 2011, this human rights group defended an
American prisoner named Troy Davis. Davis was convicted of
killing a police officer, but many doubted the evidence. The
executive director called this case a catastrophic failure of the
justice system. Troy Davis maintained his innocence until the
moment he died. 1000 people attended his funeral.
5. Statistics show that minorities are more likely to face capital
punishment. Americans who murder a white male are at least three
times more likely to be executed than those who kill a black male. In
addition, those who cant afford a good lawyer are more likely to
face the death penalty. Studies also show that capital punishment
does not deter criminals. Would you believe that a death penalty
sentence costs tax payers more than a sentence of life imprisonment?
Some people think the death penalty is a less severe sentence than
life in prison with no chance of parole.

COMPREHENSION
Read the article then answer these questions.
1. What is another word for the death penalty and
why does it have this name?
2. What percentage of countries have abolished the
death penalty?
3. What do autopsies of previous death row inmates
sometimes show?
4. How does Amnesty International feel about the
death penalty?
5. Why are poor criminals more likely to face the
death penalty?

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

The Death Penalty


Mini-Debates

VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
__1. capital punishment

a. discontinued

__2. abolished

b. the purposeful administration of a drug that kills

__3. treason

c. a crime of betrayal against a country or its leaders

__4. lethal injection

d. prison area for people who have been sentenced to death

__5. autopsy

e. a form of cruel punishment that causes severe pain

__6. death row

f. the death penalty

__7. torture

g. a medical procedure to determine exactly how a person died

__8. solitary confinement h. a chance to be free from jail based on good behavior
__9. convicted

i. punishment preventing prisoners from interacting with others

__10. catastrophic

j. to help prevent someone from doing something

__11. deter

k. causing great damage

__12. parole

l. found to be guilty of a crime

B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the following
sentences.
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.
3. Burning someone in exchange for a guilty plea is a form of

DISCUSS IT
Work with a partner or in small
groups. Discuss the following
questions.
1. Is capital punishment a fair
punishment for murder?
2. How do prosecutors prove that
a person is guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt?
3. Do you know of any cases
where a person did time for a
crime he or she did not commit?
4. What should happen if a victim
or victims family has forgiven
a criminal on death row?
5. Is killing a police officer worse
than killing a citizen? Should
the punishment be more harsh?
6. What does race have to do with
the death penalty?

WRITE IT

________________________ used in some prisons.


4. Statistics show that capital punishment does not _______________ murderers .
5. The man was on ___________________ for good behavior when he killed his
neighbor.

Choose one of the questions


above and write a paragraph
stating your own opinion.

DEBATE IT
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:
A death penalty sentence is more severe than a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole.
Topic#2
All countries will have abolished capital punishment by the year 2020.

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Teachers Notes
The Death Penalty

ANSWER KEY
[In this lesson, students read about the death penalty and death row. After practicing new vocabulary,
students have the opportunity to discuss their viewpoints about capital punishment.]
Please note: The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson.
Comprehension:
1. Another word for the death penalty is capital punishment. Capital means the head in Latin. Long ago, capital punishment
usually referred to cutting off someones head.
2. About 50% of countries have abolished the death penalty.
3. Autopsies of previous death row inmates sometimes show that lethal injection does not always go as planned. The injections can
take longer than planned or cause severe pain.
4. Amnesty International feels that the death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights.
5. Poor criminals are more likely to face the death penalty because they cannot afford good lawyers.

Vocabulary:
A. Match the words
1. f
2. a
3. c

4. b

B. Choose the correct word


1. death row
2. autopsy

5. g

6. d

3. torture

7. e

8. i

4. deter

9. l

10.k

11. j

12.h

5. parole

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Teachers Notes
The Death Penalty

Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating


Agreeing and Disagreeing
That doesnt take away from the fact that...
Thats beside the point.
With all due respect...
I agree with you there.
I agree with ---- (name).
I see your point, but...
That may be true, but...
Were going to have to agree to disagree.
I get/see where youre coming from, but...
Im afraid I disagree entirely.
Im afraid Id have to disagree.
I agree to some extent, but...
I disagree with you there.
Pardon me for disagreeing, but ...

Interrupting/Asking to Contribute
I hate to interrupt, but...
If I may come in here...
Id like to add something.
Would you like to contribute something?
Id like to raise a point.
If I could speak for a moment...
Id like to cut in here.
You havent answered my question.

Expressing an Opinion
In my honest opinion...
It is my belief that...
From my experience...
From where I look at it...
From my point of view...

Clarifying/Rephrasing
Lets be clear here...
I think you misunderstood what I said.
What I said was... (repeat a point that
was misunderstood or confused)
What I meant to say was... (rephrase
something in a way that is clearer)
In other words...
What I was trying to say before I was
interrupted is that...

Summarizing/Concluding
So let me get this straight, you think...
To conclude...
Id just like to summarize by saying...
Finally, Id like to reiterate that...
Its time to take stock of what weve heard today.
Both sides have some valid points.
The stronger argument/team today is...

Persuading
Can you see where Im coming from?
I challenge you to give this a try/chance.
I want you to see it my way.
Put yourself in my shoes.
Am I getting through to you?

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

The Death Penalty


Mini-Debates

The Death Penalty


1. The death penalty, also called capital punishment, refers to the killing or execution of a person as
punishment for a crime. Half of the countries in the world have abolished this form of punishment. About
30% of the countries in the world still use it as punishment for crimes such as murder and treason. Each year,
a few more countries abolish the death penalty.
2. Capital punishment is used in 34 of the 50 states in the US. Does the word capital seem odd? This term
comes from the Latin word for head. Long ago, capital punishment referred to cutting off a persons head. In
America, execution is now carried out by lethal injection. While this method of killing is not as disturbing to
watch, autopsies show that the injections are not always quick and painless. The procedure sometimes goes
wrong, and the injections cause severe pain. Medical professionals are often required to assist in the
executions. The UN has asked that all countries refrain from using this cruel and unusual form of punishment.
3. Many opposed to the death penalty say that death row is a form of torture. Death row is a section of a prison
for those sentenced to death. Some inmates spend years waiting for their execution date. This happened to
Manuel Valle, a Floridian man who killed a police officer. He spent 33 years on death row before being
executed. How does death row differ from regular prison life? In some cases, prisoners spend their days in
solitary confinement. They are not allowed to worship, exercise, or take part in group activities.
4. Amnesty International calls the death penalty the ultimate denial of human rights. In 2011, this human
rights group defended an American prisoner named Troy Davis. Davis was convicted of killing a police
officer, but many doubted the evidence. The executive director called this case a catastrophic failure of the
justice system. Troy Davis maintained his innocence until the moment he died. 1000 people attended his
funeral.
5. Statistics show that minorities are more likely to face capital punishment. Americans who murder a white
male are at least three times more likely to be executed than those who kill a black male. In addition, those
who cant afford a good lawyer are more likely to face the death penalty. Studies also show that capital
punishment does not deter criminals. Would you believe that a death penalty sentence costs tax payers more
than a sentence of life imprisonment? Some people think the death penalty is a less severe sentence than life
in prison with no chance of parole.

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

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