Note: Unlike most of the Sample IELTS Writing on this blog, which are either taken from textbooks, or from co-workers, this pair of sample essays was written by myself. The question is taken from legitimate IELTS websites, but, unable to find suitable pro and con sample answers, I just threw something together by myself. And did it rather hastily as well (this was all thrown together just one hour before class). Therefore the quality of this essay is probably poor, and should be used with caution. Among other failings, one of the essays is far too long for IELTS Task 2, and although both essays are about the death penalty in general, neither essay is specifically to address the exact question.
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
Talk about this issue with a partner:
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 with this opinion?
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 with this opinion?
Introduction/ Gives opinion, lists main reasons
First main reason and supporting details
Second main reason and supporting details
Conclusion: re-emphasize main points
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The death penalty is a very controversial issue. Many people are against the death penalty, because they feel that the government should not have control of life and death. Other people are in favor of the death penalty. In my case, I believe that the death penalty is necessary because it keeps society safe, and it provides a way to punish our most serious crimes.
First of all, the death penalty helps to keep the streets safe. If someone knows that they will be put to death for a crime, they will not do that crime. Would you do something if you knew the penalty for it would be death? So if a criminal knew they would be put to death for murder, they would be much less likely to murder someone. In this way, the death penalty should work to lower the murder rate.
I also believe that some crimes deserve the death penalty. When someone shows that they have lost their respect for life, they forfeit their right to live. Murder is a horrible crime and murders don’t deserve to live. When people demonstrate that they do not respect life, they should not be shown any mercy. After all, as in the ancient saying, “an eye for an eye, a life for a life.”
In conclusion, I believe that the death penalty is both necessary to keep people say, and a completely fair and just punishment for our most horrible crimes. If we do not show that we take crimes seriously, then the criminals will not respect the justice system.
(262 Words)
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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 with this opinion?
Introduction/ Gives opinion, lists main reasons
First main reason and supporting details
Second main reason and supporting details
Third main reason and supporting details
Conclusion: re-emphasize main points
|
Although some countries have abolished the death penalty, the death penalty is still being used in many other countries across the world. Some people feel that the death penalty makes them safer, because it stops criminals. Other people feel that the death penalty is sending the wrong message to society. My own opinion is that the death penalty is wrong because it is pointless, because it does not reform criminals, and because it contributes to a culture of violence.
First of all, the death penalty is pointless. As Amnesty International points out, “The death penalty has NEVER been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments.” In states which have the death penalty, the murder rate is not higher than in states without the death penalty. In states where the death penalty is introduced, it has never caused the murder rate to go down. In states where the death penalty has been abolished, the murder rate has never gone up.
Secondly, part of the purpose of the criminal justice system is to reform criminals. The death penalty is lacking in this regard. In the words of the Dalai Lama, “My overriding belief is that it is always possible for criminals to improve and that by its very finality the death penalty contradicts this.” In fact, the only purpose the death penalty serves is that of revenge, and our criminal justice system should not operate on revenge.
Finally, the death penalty contributes to a culture of violence already embedded in our society. We, as a society, complain frequently about violence in the media, but if institutional violence were given as much attention, perhaps conditions would actually improve. The death penalty is not the sole instance of institutional violence, but it is part of the structure. Should we be surprised that violence is so prevalent in the streets when we help create it? Should we be surprised at the current murder rates when we as a society endorse murder? The message the death penalty sends is clear: Life is not valuable.
In conclusion, I believe the death penalty is wrong for all of these reasons. In the old times, people used to believe in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.” But now, we are capable of building a better society that is not based on revenge. I hope that someday the death penalty will be eliminated in all countries.
(407 Words)
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Cut up and shuffle. Have students separate the paragraphs into two separate essays, and then put the essays in order.
First of all, the death penalty is pointless. As Amnesty International points out, “The death penalty has NEVER been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments.” In states which have the death penalty, the murder rate is not higher than in states without the death penalty. In states where the death penalty is introduced, it has never caused the murder rate to go down. In states where the death penalty has been abolished, the murder rate has never gone up.
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Finally, the death penalty contributes to a culture of violence already embedded in our society. We, as a society, complain frequently about violence in the media, but if institutional violence were given as much attention, perhaps conditions would actually improve. The death penalty is not the sole instance of institutional violence, but it is part of the structure. Should we be surprised that violence is so prevalent in the streets when we help create it? Should we be surprised at the current murder rates when we as a society endorse murder? The message the death penalty sends is clear: Life is not valuable.
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First of all, the death penalty helps to keep the streets safe. If someone knows that they will be put to death for a crime, they will not do that crime. Would you do something if you knew the penalty for it would be death? So if a criminal knew they would be put to death for murder, they would be much less likely to murder someone. In this way, the death penalty should work to lower the murder rate.
|
Although some countries have abolished the death penalty, the death penalty is still being used in many other countries across the world. Some people feel that the death penalty makes them safer, because it stops criminals. Other people feel that the death penalty is sending the wrong message to society. My own opinion is that the death penalty is wrong because it is pointless, because it does not reform criminals, and because it contributes to a culture of violence.
|
The death penalty is a very controversial issue. Many people are against the death penalty, because they feel that the government should not have control of life and death. Other people are in favor of the death penalty. In my case, I believe that the death penalty is necessary because it keeps society safe, and it provides a way to punish our most serious crimes.
|
Secondly, part of the purpose of the criminal justice system is to reform criminals. The death penalty is lacking in this regard. In the words of the Dalai Lama, “My overriding belief is that it is always possible for criminals to improve and that by its very finality the death penalty contradicts this.” In fact, the only purpose the death penalty serves is that of revenge, and our criminal justice system should not operate on revenge.
|
In conclusion, I believe that the death penalty is both necessary to keep people say, and a completely fair and just punishment for our most horrible crimes. If we do not show that we take crimes seriously, then the criminals will not respect the justice system.
|
In conclusion, I believe the death penalty is wrong for all of these reasons. In the old times, people used to believe in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.” But now, we are capable of building a better society that is not based on revenge. I hope that someday the death penalty will be eliminated in all countries.
|
I also believe that some crimes deserve the death penalty. When someone shows that they have lost their respect for life, they forfeit their right to live. Murder is a horrible crime and murders don’t deserve to live. When people demonstrate that they do not respect life, they should not be shown any mercy. After all, as in the ancient saying, “an eye for an eye, a life for a life.”
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