Persuasive Essay Outline

1) Hook: (This essay did not have a hook. However, if I were to create one this is how it might look: No one would ever want to hear these words, "We the jury, find the defendant guilty." Imagine, though, if you also heard that you were sentenced to die.)

2) TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME -Main Argument: Capital punishment should be stopped.

i) 1st supporting argument (2nd strongest reason): because it is morally wrong,

ii) 2nd supporting argument (least strongest reason): expensive, iii) 3rd supporting argument (strongest reason): and such a slow process.

3) TELL ME - 1st supporting argument (2nd strongest reason): because it is morally wrong

i) #1 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): we are following the criminals' example by doing something equally as bad ourselves

ii) #2 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): taking one life for another lifeiii) #3 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): a chance that a mistake will be

made4) 2nd supporting argument (least strongest reason): expensive

i) #1 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): States with the death penalty use taxes to pay these expenses.

ii) #2 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): Over the past 13 years, Florida has spent $57 million to carry out 18 executions.

iii) #3 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): If you divide this dollar amount by the number of executions, you come up with a cost of $3.2 million for each execution.

5) 3rd supporting argument (strongest reason): such a slow processi) #1 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): 97% of all death-row prisoners

are not exeuted on time.ii) #2 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): If the U.S. legal system executed

one inmate every day, it would still take 30 years to empty all of the cells on death row.

iii) #3 proof (facts, examples, quotes, stories): (This essay did not have a 3rd form of proof. However, if I were to create one this is how it might look.)

6) Opposing Viewpoint: (This essay did not have an opposing viewpoint. However, if I were to create one this is how it might look: Convicts on death row deserve to die because of the horrendous crimes that they have committed.

i) Challenge: (This essay did not have a challenge. However, if I were to create one this is how it might look: a convict's crime may be horrendous, but it is our responsiblity to try and rehabilitate them instead of killing them.)

7) TELL ME WHAT YOU JUST TOLD ME - Main Argument: Capital punishment should be dropped from our legal system.

i) 1st supporting argument (2nd strongest reason): morally wrongii) 2nd supporting argument (least strongest reason): expensiveiii) 3rd supporting argument (strongest reason): slow process

Capital Punishment is Wrong!

by Stephanie Wood

Captial punishment results in death by execution. It is legal in many states as a

punishment for serious crimes, but that does not make it right. Captial punishment

should be stopped because it is morally wrong, expensive and such a slow process.

First of all, there is no moral basis for it. When we use the death penalty, we are

follwoing the criminals' example by doing something equally as bad ourselves. We are

taking one life for another life. There is also a chance that a mistake will be made, and

the wrong person will be put to death. Is this type of revenge worth such a risk?

Another problem with captial punishment is the high cost. For example, the

special prison housing is expensive to staff and keep up. States with the death penalty

use taxes to pay these expenses. Over the past 13 years, Florida has spent $57 million

to carry out 18 executions. If you divide this dollar amount by the number of executions,

you come up with a cost of $3.2 million for each execution. that is a great deal of

money.

In addition, using the death penalty is a very slow process. At least 97 percent of

all death-row prisoners are not executed on time. As a result, the waiting list for

executions grows year after year. If the U.S. legal system executed one inmate every

day, it would still take 30 years to empty all of fthe cells on death row. A process this

slow does not make sense.

In conclusion, capital punishment should be dropped from our legal system.

People should see that it is morally wrong. If not, then common sense should tell them

that it doesn't work well since it is so expensive and such a slow process.

Kember, Dave and et al. All Write: A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning.

Wilmongton, MA. Great Source Educatioon Group. 1998.