ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY SAMPLE

Topic: Reinstating capital punishment is the only way to solve Jamaica’s crime problem.

Every year hundreds of defenseless, law-abiding citizens become victims of the

monster known as crime and are brutally murdered. As a result, the issue of reinstating

capital punishment has become a source of contentious debates across the island and in

the diaspora. With the uncontrollable surge in the number of crimes even after numerous

states of emergency, Zones of Special Operations and most recently nightly curfews due to

the current pandemic, these calls have grown louder. Reinstating capital punishment is the

only way to solve Jamaica’s crime problem as it will prevent recidivism, lower the cost

of keeping them incarcerated and serve as a deterrent from criminality.

Firstly, reinstating capital punishment is the only way to solve Jamaica’s crime

problem as it will prevent recidivism. By permanently removing the worst criminals,

capital punishment also removes the threat of these criminals repeatedly carrying out acts of

brutality against citizens, thus creating a safer society. Besides, it is a well-known fact that

even after persons receive sanctions or undergo interventions for crimes that they have

committed, they can still relapse into criminal behaviour. A study conducted by the Bureau

of Justice revealed that within a five year period 76.6 percent of criminals had been

rearrested, most of them within the first year of their release from prison. Since dead

criminals can no longer commit crimes, reinstating capital punishment is the only way

to solve the crime problem.

Secondly, reinstating capital punishment will lower the cost of keeping criminals

incarcerated. Money is not an inexhaustible commodity and every year billions of dollars

are spent annually to keep sadistic rapists and murderers in prison where they merely

continue living the good life. Recent videos of these same criminals decked out in the
latest fashion, partying, enjoying expensive liquors like Hennesy and showing large

wads of cash, have surfaced on various social media sites. This is proof that taxpayer

dollars are going to waste as incarceration does not deprive them of the privileges that should

only be enjoyed by free, law-abiding citizens. More disturbingly, it does not guarantee that

they will pay for the atrocities that they have committed. The death penalty is clearly the

solution for this.

Reinstating capital punishment can also serve as a deterrent to persons with the

inclination to become criminals. Everyone has an innate need to protect his life. The fear of

death is perhaps man’s greatest fear. Therefore, if someone with criminal intent knows that

the result of his action will be certain death, then it stands to reason that he will reconsider his

plans to commit any form of criminal act. It was on this basis that the death penalty was

restored in New Zealand in 1950. Similarly, it should be on this basis that the

government of Jamaica reconsiders the reinstating capital punishment.

There are those who may argue that capital punishment is inhumane as it causes

undue suffering to convicted felons. However, the people who truly suffer are the family

and friends of the victims of the brutal and gruesome activities of those criminals.

Although there is no place in a modern society for the old-fashioned principle of “lex

talionis” (an eye for an eye), the family and friends of these victims should be able to get

justice for their loved ones whom they have lost forever.

In closing, the legislature should hasten to reinstate capital punishment as it is the

only way to solve Jamaica’s crime problem. It incapacitates criminals by permanently

removing them from among law-abiding citizens, thus removing the possibility of recidivism.

It also lowers the burden on taxpayers whose hard-earned money keep them imprisoned and

finally, acts as a deterrent to those with criminal intent.

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE TOPIC - Every year hundreds of defenseless, law-abiding

citizens become victims of the monster known as crime and are brutally murdered.

CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE ISSUE - As a result, the issue of reinstating

capital punishment has become a source of contentious debates across the island and in

the diaspora.

SET UP FOR YOUR POSITION - With the uncontrollable surge in the number of crimes

even after numerous states of emergency, Zones of Special Operations and most recently

nightly curfews due to the current pandemic, these calls have grown louder.

POSITION/STANCE

THESIS SENTENCE - Reinstating capital punishment is the only way to solve

Jamaica’s crime problem as it will prevent recidivism, lower the cost of keeping them

point 1 point2

incarcerated and serve as a deterrent from criminality.

point 3

(Please note that the three points will be become your topic sentences)

BODY

FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH

TOPIC SENTENCE - Firstly, reinstating capital punishment is the only way to solve

Jamaica’s crime problem as it will prevent recidivism.

DISCUSSION OF POINT - By permanently removing the worst criminals, capital

punishment also removes the threat of these criminals repeatedly carrying out acts of brutality

against citizens, thus creating a safer society. Besides, it is a well-known fact that even after
persons receive sanctions or undergo interventions for crimes that they have committed, they

can still relapse into criminal behaviour.

USE OF STATISTICS TO SUBSTANTIATE POINT - A study conducted by the

Bureau of Justice revealed that within a five year period 76.6 percent of criminals had

been rearrested, most of them within the first year of their release from prison.

CLINCER SENTENCE - Since dead criminals can no longer commit crimes,

reinstating capital punishment is the only way to solve the crime problem.

SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH

TOPIC SENTENCE - Secondly, reinstating capital punishment will lower the cost of

keeping criminals incarcerated.

DISCUSSION OF POINT - Money is not an inexhaustible commodity and every year

billions of dollars are spent annually to keep sadistic rapists and murderers in prison where

they merely continue living the good life.

REAL INCIDENT THAT PROVES THE POINT - Recent videos of these same

criminals decked out in the latest fashion, partying, enjoying expensive liquors like

Hennesy and showing large wads of cash, have surfaced on various social media sites.

CLINCHER SENTENCE - The death penalty is clearly the solution for this.

THIRD BODY PARAGRAPH

TOPIC SENTENCE - Reinstating capital punishment can also serve as a deterrent to

persons with the inclination to become criminals.

DISCUSSION - Everyone has an innate need to protect his life. The fear of death is perhaps

man’s greatest fear. Therefore, if someone with criminal intent knows that the result of his
action will be certain death, then it stands to reason that he will reconsider his plans to

commit any form of criminal act.

HISTORICAL REFERENCE AS EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT DISCUSSION - It was on

this basis that the death penalty was restored in New Zealand in 1950.

CLINCHER SENTENCE - Similarly, it should be on this basis that the government of

Jamaica reconsiders the reinstating capital punishment.

COUNTERCLAIM - There are those who may argue that capital punishment is

inhumane as it causes undue suffering to convicted felons.

REFUTATION OF THE CLAIM - However, the people who truly suffer are the family

and friends of the victims of the brutal and gruesome activities of those criminals.

Although there is no place in a modern society for the old-fashioned principle of “lex

talionis” (an eye for an eye), the family and friends of these victims should be able to get

justice for their loved ones whom they have lost forever.

CONCLUSION - In closing, the legislature should hasten to reinstate capital punishment as

it is the only way to solve Jamaica’s crime problem. It incapacitates criminals by permanently

removing them from among law-abiding citizens, thus removing the possibility of recidivism.

It also lowers the burden on taxpayers whose hard-earned money keeps them imprisoned and

finally, acts as a deterrent to those with criminal intent.