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Capital punishment
Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the toughest form of
punishment enforced today in the United States. It is a controversial issue that
continues to be debated by the American public. One of the biggest issues being
debated is whether or not the death penalty is immoral, excessively cruel or
inhumane. I support capital punishment and do not believe that it is cruel or
inhumane but that it delivers a small sense of closure to the public.
The death penalty is an issue that divides our country. Currently, 65% of Americans
support the death penalty for those convicted of murder. This number drops to 50%
when a mandatory life in prison sentence is also offered. With an infinite number of
variables in cases and in sentencing options, it is easy to see why there are so many
different opinions.
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) is the only fully staffed,
national organization committed to removing capital punishment from the nation.
Some of the main points that the NCADP brings up are that the death penalty is
racially biased, the death penalty cost more to implement than life without parole,
the death penalty does not deter capital crime, and that innocent people may be
executed. There are also a number of groups that support the death penalty. These
groups use the same statistics as the anti-death penalty groups to shine a different
light on the same key issues surrounding the death penalty.
Racial Bias
The NCADP states that “In North Carolina, the odds of receiving a death sentence
are 3.5 times higher among defendants whose victims were white,” and “The odds
of receiving a death sentence in Philadelphia are 38% higher in cases in which the
defendant is black.” However, pro death penalty groups share these facts, “…found
that white murderers received the death penalty slightly more often (32%) than
non-white murderers (27%). And while the study found murderers of white victims
received the death penalty more often (32%) than murderers of non-white victims
(23%), when controlled for variables such as severity and number of crimes
committed, there is no disparity between those sentenced to death for killing white
or black victims.” The deciding factor on this issue is the official inmate population
numbers from the United States Department of Justice. Since 1976, whites have
outnumbered African Americans on death row. Given the available facts, I do not
feel that there is sufficient evidence of a racial bias when considering the death
penalty.
Cost
The NCADP states that the average cost of a trial ending in life without parole is
about $500,000 while death penalty case average between $1 million and $3
million. While pro death penalty groups do not dispute the cost of a death penalty
case, they do disagree with the method used to compare cases across the different
punishments. The site www.prodeathpenalty.com goes into specific detail on
comparing costs of cells and trial durations. They estimate that life without parole
cases cost about the same as death penalty cases. One interesting fact that I
discovered is that a maximum security cell, with inmate, cost about $75,000/year.
When you multiply this cost by 50 years (average incarceration of inmate sentenced
to life without parole) the cost comes out to almost $400,000 leaving only $100,000
for trial costs according to the NCADP estimates. This number seems unrealistically
low and unsupported by evidence. Given that the pro death penalty estimates are
more based on reliable sources, I believe that the cost difference between death
penalty cases and life without parole case is negligible.
Deterrent
While it is difficult to accurately gauge the deterrent effect of the death penalty,
both side present statistics backing their sides of the argument. Pro death penalty
groups use national trends, compiled by the Bureau of Criminal Justice, to show an
increase in murders while the death penalty was banned by the federal government
from 1972-1976. Then in 1976 when executions were once again allowed, murder
rates began to go down. The best evidence that the NCADP can come up with is a
40% drop in murders since the death penalty was abolished in Canada. Again, I feel
that the evidence presented by the pro death penalty group is more reliable than
that of the NCADP.
Innocence
According to the NCADP, 118 people have been exonerated from death row. Many of
these people were sentenced before DNA testing was used in criminal
investigations. To this date, only 12 of the 118 (10%) have been exonerated through
DNA evidence. The other 106 were wrongly sentenced by a jury of their peers. It is
for these reasons of human error that pro death penalty groups feel that innocence
is not a valid excuse. Furthermore, with the introduction of DNA testing, the same
evidence that exonerated 12 people of murder, a murderer can be proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. In the case of innocence, the jury is a source of human error that
plays and equal role in both death penalty cases as well as life without parole cases.

In addition to the main points made above, pro death penalty groups note that laws
often change and sometimes murderer sentenced to life without parole find
themselves back out on the streets. A key example from the pro death penalty site,
“In 1962, James Moore raped and strangled 14-year-old Pamela Moss. Her parents
decided to spare Moore the death penalty on the condition that he be sentenced to
life in prison without parole. Later on, thanks to a change in sentencing laws in
1982, James Moore is eligible for parole every two years!” While there are
multitudes of different information and statistics regarding the death penalty and
life without parole, I feel that there is more evidence supporting the benefits of the
death penalty.
While the press and media do not show a definite stance on capital punishment, I
believe that they do lean towards supporting the death penalty. All the stories I
found from sources such as ABC and CBS left out opinions and focused on the facts
that could be easily backed up. One story I found contained only a few sentences
about the changes being made to Illinois’ death penalty procedure. After the
information about the reform taking place, CBS cites facts about states that have
capital punishment laws on the books and then more specific details about
executions in Illinois. With the public almost evenly spilt in opinion regarding the
death penalty, it is an important issue for the popular media to remain neutral on.
Through all this research, there are many important points to keep in mind. Capital
punishment is a highly debated topic that essentially splits the American public.
There are a number of groups that both support and wish to abolish the death
penalty. There is also an almost infinite number of statistics and facts available to
both sides of this debate. The important thing to remember is that it is up to the
viewer how each of these different statistics is interpreted.
My opinion remains the same even after writing this paper. I feel that even though
the abolitionists made some very specific points, I believe that the points brought
up by the pro death penalty groups contained more merit as they were more
general and looked at capital punishment across the nation. Everyone has their
own, deeply rooted opinion of the death penalty, and it is for this reason that this
great debate will not end anytime soon.

2- One of the most complicated issues in this world, and issue that seems
straightforward yet, its not. What shall you do when someone murders someone
else? Should the criminal justice system execute him, or imprison him for the rest of
their life? What if he is mentally sick? What if he is a minor? Everyone has a
different point of view on the death penalty, based on his or her upbringing, race,
and religion. I believe all these factors contribute to the various points of view
towards the death penalty. I believe that murderers deserve to die, when they
commit a serious crime, unless they are mentally ill.

I grew up learning that the death penalty was given to awful people who have
committed hideous crimes. Through religion I learned that capital punishment is a
last resort to a serious crime. In Islam, Capital punishment applies in the case of a
person who meets any of the following conditions: The apostate, the apostate is one
who disbelieves after being a Muslim. A married adulterer, whose punishment is to
be stoned to death, a murderer who kills someone deliberately, he is to be killed in
retaliation (qisaas) unless the victim's next of kin let him off or agree to accept the
diyah (blood money), the Bandits, who wage a war against Allah and His
Messengers, and spies.

Based on my beliefs, I was fine with the death penalty. It only makes sense because
it is fair. Its karma, you deserve what you get, and what goes around, comes
around. Murderers deserve to die if they take someone else life away. They have no
right to take anyone’s life away, because they did not give them that life in the first
place.

I believe minor should be trailed as adults, and therefore, if they get the death
penalty, then that is fair. They committed a serious crime, and therefore their
consequences should be equal to that. Since the time we learn what is right and
what is wrong, we also know that to kill someone is wrong too. Every little kid in this
world knows killing is wrong, and furthermore the basics god given rules like, not to
steal or lie etc.

On the other hand, if a person is mentally ill, then they don’t deserve to die. Their
illness should be treated and cured to the best of the doctors’ ability. If a person
doesn’t know any better then you cannot punish them for a crime they have
committed. Those people should be handled with love, care, and should be given
outmost attention.
The death penalty has been around since the beginning of society and culture. Yes,
sometimes it is unfair and innocent people get executed, but its there to bring order
to the system. If murderer gets sent to prison for 20 years, and come out, they
could repeat their past crime again. Therefore, I’m pro death penalty.

3- Pros and Cons to Capital Punishment

For many years the death penalty has been the sentence for murders, rapists, and
other serial criminals. But, in recent months it has been an issue in whether the
death penalty should or should not be legal. There are many people that think that
capital punishment should be used and there are others that feel that it should not
be used. Also there are some in the middle that think that it doesn't really matter
because they feel that whatever happens will be right because it was brought up
and decided in a court of law. Capital punishment is the only way to be sure the
killing will at least end with that criminal.

Prisons are not hard enough on there inmates. For example, citizens feel that capital
punishment is only fair to those that have committed the crime such as murder. This
shows that you have to find and prove that the criminal is truly guilty. This could
take days, months, even years and in that time they are treated nice and not like
prisoners. For example the inmates are allowed to attend school and watch TV in
case that they are released. But then, are the guards even thinking? These are men
that committed series crimes, capital crimes. They killed people, and if there not
going to be killed they sure better not be released to do it again. It seems like they
don’t remember that the inmate had no mercy when they were raping, or killing
that innocent person, yet we feel sorry for them.

There are lots of issues that arise with the death penalty, such as moral issues and
innocent lives being taken, when may be they shouldn’t. For example there is a lot
that needs to be done before the initial action is taken place. This shows that their
needs to be clear and correct evident on the suspect in custody. There fore the new
technology that has been presented to society, such as DNA testing, many mistakes
shouldn’t be made in these life-threatening decisions. New Technology should be
used as a sure way that the judgement to death is correct.

There are people that believe that the death penalty is morally wrong because they
feel that only god should have the final authority in death. This shows that the
death penalty is just a form of cruel and unusual punishment. There fore they
believe that the criminal should not be punished with death, even though, the
criminal had no mercy on hisher victim. For example in July of 1999, Allan Lee Davis
was electrocuted in the Florida electric chair. During the time of his electrocution he
suffered a nosebleed and pictures were posted all over the Internet. This shows and
helped ones against capital punishment prove it was a form of cruel and unusual
punishment. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to review all electric chairs to see
whether or not it is a form of physical violence, disfigurement, and or torment.

Right now there is still quit a few forms of civilized forms to kill. First is lethal
injection, electric chair, gas, hanging, and shooting. Most citizens feel lethal
injection should be the only form of capital punishment. Overall capital punishment
seems like the only way to assure criminals that the justice system is for real. This
will allow the criminals to see the consequences of taking the lives of others. This
method will not only assure they will not kill again but also reassure the phrase, “An
eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
IELTS Essay, topic: Computers instead of teachers
As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for
teachers in the classroom.
There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the introduction of
computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has
expedited the data availability. Though experts systems have made computers more intelligent,
they have not yet become a substitute of the human interaction in the learning process. In my
opinion; what can be expected, is a change of the teachers? role but not their disappearance from
the classroom.
Nobody can argue that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The
mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a kid. This,
accompanied with the relaxing attitude and software interactivity, usually conduce to a better
grasping of new knowledge. At a higher educational level; the availability of digital books,
simulator and other academic materials, provide the student with an ever accessible source of
information, that otherwise would not be at hand.
But, besides the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is usually
embedded in the academic digital material, the need of human interaction in the learning process
will always be present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the necessity for a human being
to be able to determine what the specifics needs of each individual are. The expertise of a teacher
in how to explain and adapt complex concepts to different individuals can hardly be mimicked
by a computer, no matter how sophisticated its software is.
As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching, teachers should be more aware of their
role as guides in the acquisition of knowledge rather than transmitters of facts. They have to be
open minded to the changes that are taking places, keep updated and serve as a problem solvers
in the learning process, thus allowing students to discover the fact for themselves.
To summarize, in my personal view, teachers play and will() play an important role in the
classroom, especially at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become, there will
be no replacement for the human interaction, but in the way haw this interaction takes place.
IELTS Essay, topic: Internet connecting people
Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together.
To what extent do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to communicate
with one another?
In today?s world _ due to the advancement of technology new inventions are coming into
existence. It is a certainty that ?necessity is a mother of invention?. _ Internet is just like a
wonder box, which contains every type of information. Besides it has also proved as a very
important tool to connect people with each other.
In today?s modernized era nobody has sufficient time to write letters to their loved ones.
Moreover it also takes longer to send or receive any information. But through an internet it is an
easiest way to send massages to our loved ones. Either it can be in the form of an e- mail or by
text messages from internet to cell phones. We can send and receive messages straight way.
In other hand today?s youth generation mostly prefer to do chatting on () internet. Through this
chatting we can write messages and straight way can get their reply. Moreover voice chatting is
going to be very popular day-by-day.
As it is a reality that advantages and disadvantages are like both sides of a coin, which usually
runs parallel. So like other things internet also have some downsides, like people are facing some
health problems for example, poor eye-sight, back ache, migrane. Today?s teenagers usually
prefer to spend their time on internet rather than to participating in other physical activities, so
that?s why they are going to be weaker in their physical health.
To conclude, I would like to say that internet is one of the most modernized and most successful
tools, not only for communication, even to get most relevant information regarding every field in
a very short period of time.
IELTS Essay, topic: Space exploration
With all the troubles in the world today, money spent on space exploration is a complete
waste. The money could be better spent on other things.
Nations after nations, everyday, every year, celebrate their achievements in space exploration .
However, it is now time to question how meaningful these blasts are. This essay aims to explain
why it is questionable.
First, until all urgent and important matters in this globe have been solved, money bumped on
space exploration is of no meaning. It is not a common sense at all to invest million dollars
researching and producing foods for astronauts (for space exploration purpose), while everyday
thousands of people are starving. Furthermore, the discovery of outer space only serves a minor
group of people if the majority are even not well-educated. Those in rural areas or third-world
nations do no even know how to prevent common threatening diseases like AIDS and lung
cancer.
Then, some may argue that the purpose of space exploration are to discover new lands, new
energy resources or to deter potential threat to globe. Nevertheless, is it effective to do so while
other alternatives are available? Lands on earth are no yet effectively used. New energy
resources (e.g. solar and nuclear energy) have not yet been widely-used. Threats of plagues have
not yet been deterred. All these ?not- yets? need money. That is why costly space discovery
programs are a waste of money.
In the nutshell, people should only invest in space exploration providing that () early-mentioned
urgent and important matters have been solved. Also, purposes of space exploration campaign
should be studied carefully and other alternatives should be considered before money is wasted.