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Post by fuisgofg on May 2, 2005 20:13:51 GMT -6
need feed back on this, please reply
According to the FBI, over 18,000 people were murdered in 1997. The 1997 number has dropped 7 percent from 1996, and dropped again 26 percent from 1993 (Justice For All). That's a lot of people. 575 people have been executed from 1998 to 2004. They have murdered as a whole, 1199 at the least. That's an average of 2.09 victims each. Those 18,000 people must have not have died in vain, for only 1199 of those 18,000 deaths have been justified. The morality of the death penalty is both logical and fully reasonable. If you should kill someone, then you should be killed as a result for your heinous actions. Even so, people who are executed die considerably more painless deaths than the victims. The death penalty is much more humane and painless then the 1800's. In the 1800's, hanging was the primary use, but the convicts would take a while to suffocate (maybe 1-2 minutes of intense suffering), which is against the constitution's cruel and unusual punishment principals. Then it evolved into the electric chair. Nowadays (with some exceptions such as Texas, which still uses hanging) most death penalty chambers use overdoses of adrenaline, which is probably preferable to hanging. In addition, the humanity, that is, the privacy level of the death penalty chambers is a lot higher than the 1800's. Sometimes in the 1800's, convicts were left hanging at the gallows for days on end in the public, swaying in the wind and spreading the odor of death everywhere. Now only the convict's relatives and the convict's victims relatives can watch, and, under very secure and private circumstances, only the executioners.
The death penalty is a very solid punishment. Many people disagree with the death penalty because they think that a life sentence in prison helps more than a death sentence because if you are given a life sentence you will be given plenty of time to mull about your misdeeds. There is one flaw in this though, and it is a big one. Convicts can escape from prisons and kill again. For example, on January 30th, 2001, three convicts in maximum security prison in St. Clair Springs, Alabama (all were given life sentences) escaped from prison using only a broom to lift a 5000 volt electric fence (Deroy Murdock). With the death penalty, this flaw is completely erased. You can't escape from a prison when you have been executed. There is also the fact that only the guilty are being executed. Many people with anti death penalty stances try to make a point about the innocent being executed. This has never happened since the 1900. The death penalty is a deterrent. For every execution in the United States, 18 people are being prevented from murder or attempted murder (Emory University Economics Department). There are seven different recent studies on this topic, and all of them proved that the death penalty has a strong deterrent effect. One example of these studies is one from the FCC's economist Dr. Paul Zimmerman finds: "Specifically, it is estimated that each state execution deters somewhere between 3 and 25 murders per year (14 being the average). Assuming that the value of human life is approximately $5 million {i.e. the average of the range estimates provided by Viscussi (1993)}, our estimates imply that society avoids losing approximately $70 million per year on average at the current rate of execution all else equal. The study used state level data from 1978 to 1997 for all 50 states (excluding Washington D.C.).A recent study at the University of Colorado has found a statistically significant relationship between executions and homicide. (Jeff Jacoby). All of these studies prove one thing, that the death penalty does have a very strong deterrent effect on future murderers.
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Post by sally104 on May 2, 2005 22:01:57 GMT -6
Please note, the moderator edited you post so I could read it properly without the stars. If that was part of your layout, it made it very difficult to read.
Just some points
WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT YOU NEED TO BE ANSWERED
I REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT YOU NEED TO SCOPE YOUR ESSAY TO MATCH THE QUESTION. (eg a question such as “Evaluate the arguments against the death penalty” would require a different response from “Please state the arguments for and against the death penalty”)
THESE SEEMS TO BE A COMPLETE ABSENCE OF ANY STRUCTURE TO YOUR ESSAY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS ESSAY?
(You seem to start of with murder statistics, and then move to arguments for the death penalty. What you need to do is start off with an introduction, which outlines all you arguments for the death penalty, and in each subsequent paragraph (ie one paragraph, one argument) discuss in detail, the rationale for your point. And then sum up you paper in a concluding paragraph. You are calling this an essay so I am evaluating it like the essays I used to have to write.
YOU APPEAR TO BE WRITING AN ESSAY ON SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF “WHAT IS YOUR BELIEF ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY” IF IT IS THIS IS HOW I WOULD APPROACH IT
Introduction
I believe the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for murder (you may want to argue that it is applicable to other types of offenders) because it is (list reasons such deterrence, punishment/retriubution, restraint here,
New paragraph
Discuss deterrence (and the rationale why it is a valid consideration) ie backup that it does deter
New Paragraph
Discuss retribution (why this is a valid consideration)
Etc etc, for new paragraph for each point. (Additional paragraphs could include a critique of the anti arguments)
Finally, write a concluding paragraph to sum up your points
If we are to give feedback on your work then we need to see what the question is to answer.
Other points to consider.
Do you know how to cite sources for your research. There is a set way of doing this. You can probably ask you teacher for some help.
They currently execute people buy lethal injection in Texas, in fact I believe they were the first state to execute someone by lethal injection
You have some several good points in your essay, however it is disorganised, and hard to read. I have made some notes down below in italics
(Absence of any introductory paragraph showing the point of essay – you need to start of with a point you are trying to prove before you start quoting statistics)
According to the FBI, over 18,000 people were murdered in 1997. The 1997 number has dropped 7 percent from 1996, and dropped again 26 percent from 1993 (Justice For All – Is this a citing of a source, then you need to be able to note, whether it came from their website or another publication and if they have quoted someone else). That's a lot of people (wont dispute this, but why is this relevant, you talk about murder statistics dropping and then make the statement a lot of people get murdered each year). 575 people have been executed from 1998 to 2004. They have murdered as a whole, 1199 at the least. That's an average of 2.09 victims each. Those 18,000 people must have not have died in vain, for only 1199 of those 18,000 deaths have been justified. (Are u saying that all those convicted of murder should get the death penalty) The morality of the death penalty is both logical and fully reasonable. If you should kill someone, then you should be killed as a result for your heinous actions. (An person against the death penalty will simply argue the opposite to this) Even so, people
who are executed die considerably more painless deaths than the victims. The death penalty is much more humane and painless then the 1800's. In the 1800's, hanging was the primary use, but the convicts would take a while to suffocate (maybe 1-2 minutes of intense suffering), which is against the constitution's cruel and unusual punishment principals. Then it evolved into the electric chair. Nowadays (with some exceptions such as Texas, which still uses hanging) most death penalty chambers use overdoses of adrenaline, which is probably preferable to hanging. In addition, the humanity, that is, the privacy level of the death penalty chambers is a lot higher than the 1800's. Sometimes in the 1800's, convicts were left hanging at the gallows for days on end in the public, swaying in the wind and spreading the odor of death everywhere. Now only the convict's relatives and the convict's victims relatives can watch, and, under very secure and private circumstances, only the executioners. (Discussion of executions methods appears more to be a defence against the anti-dp argument that the dp is cruel and unusual then anything else)
The death penalty is a very solid punishment. Many people disagree with the death penalty because they think that a life sentence in prison helps more than a death sentence because if you are given a life sentence you will be given plenty of time to mull about your misdeeds (If you need to argue against anit dp arguments then you need to consider do murderers have a right to rehabilitation). There is one flaw in this though, and it is a big one. Convicts can escape from prisons and kill again. For example, on January 30th, 2001, three convicts in maximum security prison in St. Clair Springs, Alabama (all were given life sentences) escaped from prison using only a broom to lift a 5000 volt electric fence (Deroy Murdock). With the death penalty, this flaw is completely erased. You can't escape from a prison when you have been executed (Restraint argument (dp prevents dp inmates from causing more harm). There is also the fact that only the guilty are being executed. Many people with anti death penalty stances try to make a point about the innocent being executed (innocent people have come very lose to executions, it is not about proving innocence it is about proving the evidence that an inmate was convicted on was invalid, incorrect etc etc. It is very had for someone to prove they haven’t committed an action). This has never happened since the 1900. The death penalty is a deterrent. For every execution in the United States, 18 people are being prevented from murder or attempted murder (Emory University Economics Department). There are seven different recent studies on this topic, and all of them proved that the death penalty has a strong deterrent effect. One example of these studies is one from the FCC's economist Dr. Paul Zimmerman finds: "Specifically, it is estimated that each state execution deters somewhere between 3 and 25 murders per year (14 being the average). Assuming that the value of human life is approximately $5 million {i.e. the average of the range estimates provided by Viscussi (1993)}, our estimates imply that society avoids losing approximately $70 million per year on average at the current rate of execution all else equal. The study used state level data from 1978 to 1997 for all 50 states (excluding Washington D.C.).A recent study at the University of Colorado has found a statistically significant relationship between executions and homicide. (Jeff Jacoby). All of these studies prove one thing, that the death penalty does have a very strong deterrent effect on future murderers (TheDeterrant effect argument, please organise your soures a little better. Use foot noting if you know how to).JUST REMEMBER YOU NEED TO ANSWER YOUR ESSAY QUESTION DIRECTLY
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Post by Tozzie on May 2, 2005 22:44:47 GMT -6
I agree with Sally it is very hard to get a grasp of your points and the absence of paragraphs makes everything jumbled and difficult to read.
One other point, you state Texas still uses hanging as a method of execution, I think in 1977 Texas swithed exclusivly to lethal injection.
There are states that while they have lethal injection as the method of execution, however if the inmate was sentenced to death when the previous method of execution was used the inmate is permitted to choose the method of execution.
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Post by josephdphillips on May 13, 2005 12:52:15 GMT -6
I would scribble out a simple outline first.
1. Introduction -- describe the issue as one of penology, i.e. what does society do with murderers?
2. Define and briefly discuss what capital punishment is and what is offered instead
3. Detail your position
4. Detail your opponents' position
5. Rebut your opponents
6. Briefly conclude your essay
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Post by Felix2 on May 17, 2005 2:20:08 GMT -6
Oh, and send a copy to Jow when you are finished as he's not seen all of the above yet! ;D ;D
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Post by SkyLoom on May 25, 2005 7:33:35 GMT -6
need feed back on this, please reply According to the FBI, over 18,000 people were murdered in 1997. The 1997 number has dropped 7 percent from 1996, and dropped again 26 percent from 1993 (Justice For All). That's a lot of people. 575 people have been executed from 1998 to 2004. They have murdered as a whole, 1199 at the least. That's an average of 2.09 victims each. Those 18,000 people must have not have died in vain, for only 1199 of those 18,000 deaths have been justified. The morality of the death penalty is both logical and fully reasonable. If you should kill someone, then you should be killed as a result for your heinous actions. Even so, people who are executed die considerably more painless deaths than the victims. The death penalty is much more humane and painless then the 1800's. In the 1800's, hanging was the primary use, but the convicts would take a while to suffocate (maybe 1-2 minutes of intense suffering), which is against the constitution's cruel and unusual punishment principals. Then it evolved into the electric chair. Nowadays (with some exceptions such as Texas, which still uses hanging) most death penalty chambers use overdoses of adrenaline, which is probably preferable to hanging. In addition, the humanity, that is, the privacy level of the death penalty chambers is a lot higher than the 1800's. Sometimes in the 1800's, convicts were left hanging at the gallows for days on end in the public, swaying in the wind and spreading the odor of death everywhere. Now only the convict's relatives and the convict's victims relatives can watch, and, under very secure and private circumstances, only the executioners. The death penalty is a very solid punishment. Many people disagree with the death penalty because they think that a life sentence in prison helps more than a death sentence because if you are given a life sentence you will be given plenty of time to mull about your misdeeds. There is one flaw in this though, and it is a big one. Convicts can escape from prisons and kill again. For example, on January 30th, 2001, three convicts in maximum security prison in St. Clair Springs, Alabama (all were given life sentences) escaped from prison using only a broom to lift a 5000 volt electric fence (Deroy Murdock). With the death penalty, this flaw is completely erased. You can't escape from a prison when you have been executed. There is also the fact that only the guilty are being executed. Many people with anti death penalty stances try to make a point about the innocent being executed. This has never happened since the 1900. The death penalty is a deterrent. For every execution in the United States, 18 people are being prevented from murder or attempted murder (Emory University Economics Department). There are seven different recent studies on this topic, and all of them proved that the death penalty has a strong deterrent effect. One example of these studies is one from the FCC's economist Dr. Paul Zimmerman finds: "Specifically, it is estimated that each state execution deters somewhere between 3 and 25 murders per year (14 being the average). Assuming that the value of human life is approximately $5 million {i.e. the average of the range estimates provided by Viscussi (1993)}, our estimates imply that society avoids losing approximately $70 million per year on average at the current rate of execution all else equal. The study used state level data from 1978 to 1997 for all 50 states (excluding Washington D.C.).A recent study at the University of Colorado has found a statistically significant relationship between executions and homicide. (Jeff Jacoby). All of these studies prove one thing, that the death penalty does have a very strong deterrent effect on future murderers. I understand that your post has been edited but, as it is, it seems to me that you haven't provided proof for some of your statements. For instance, you claim that the death penalty as it is applied today involved only a minute or two of intense suffering. That's not true in all cases, so you need to check that fact. You also say that for every execution there are eighteen people deterred from murder. How do you know that? I don't know how long your essay is required to be, but given the length you have here, I'd say that you are trying to cover too much territory. If your assignment is to present both sides of the issue, then I'd select one or two of what you feel are the most valid and well-researched points from each side and provide more in-depth information about these rather than trying to include everything, as you seem to be doing. If your assignment is to present one side, then I'd select maybe two or three arguments and develop them very well. It also makes your piece easier to follow if you say briefly at the beginning what your thesis and supporting points are, then develop each of those points very well, and then conclude by summarizing what you said. You have some good thoughts to present. Also, it's clear that you have done some homework checking statistics and finding examples to support some of what you say (although not all of what you say!), so now I'd just get it organized and a bit more focused. Good luck! |
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Post by The Bavarian on Jun 8, 2005 12:19:49 GMT -6
need feed back on this, please reply According to the FBI, over 18,000 people were murdered in 1997. The 1997 number has dropped 7 percent from 1996, and dropped again 26 percent from 1993 (Justice For All). That's a lot of people. 575 people have been executed from 1998 to 2004. They have murdered as a whole, 1199 at the least. That's an average of 2.09 victims each. Those 18,000 people must have not have died in vain, for only 1199 of those 18,000 deaths have been justified. The morality of the death penalty is both logical and fully reasonable. If you should kill someone, then you should be killed as a result for your heinous actions. Even so, people who are executed die considerably more painless deaths than the victims. The death penalty is much more humane and painless then the 1800's. In the 1800's, hanging was the primary use, but the convicts would take a while to suffocate (maybe 1-2 minutes of intense suffering), which is against the constitution's cruel and unusual punishment principals. Then it evolved into the electric chair. Nowadays (with some exceptions such as Texas, which still uses hanging) most death penalty chambers use overdoses of adrenaline, which is probably preferable to hanging. In addition, the humanity, that is, the privacy level of the death penalty chambers is a lot higher than the 1800's. Sometimes in the 1800's, convicts were left hanging at the gallows for days on end in the public, swaying in the wind and spreading the odor of death everywhere. Now only the convict's relatives and the convict's victims relatives can watch, and, under very secure and private circumstances, only the executioners. The death penalty is a very solid punishment. Many people disagree with the death penalty because they think that a life sentence in prison helps more than a death sentence because if you are given a life sentence you will be given plenty of time to mull about your misdeeds. There is one flaw in this though, and it is a big one. Convicts can escape from prisons and kill again. For example, on January 30th, 2001, three convicts in maximum security prison in St. Clair Springs, Alabama (all were given life sentences) escaped from prison using only a broom to lift a 5000 volt electric fence (Deroy Murdock). With the death penalty, this flaw is completely erased. You can't escape from a prison when you have been executed. There is also the fact that only the guilty are being executed. Many people with anti death penalty stances try to make a point about the innocent being executed. This has never happened since the 1900. The death penalty is a deterrent. For every execution in the United States, 18 people are being prevented from murder or attempted murder (Emory University Economics Department). There are seven different recent studies on this topic, and all of them proved that the death penalty has a strong deterrent effect. One example of these studies is one from the FCC's economist Dr. Paul Zimmerman finds: "Specifically, it is estimated that each state execution deters somewhere between 3 and 25 murders per year (14 being the average). Assuming that the value of human life is approximately $5 million {i.e. the average of the range estimates provided by Viscussi (1993)}, our estimates imply that society avoids losing approximately $70 million per year on average at the current rate of execution all else equal. The study used state level data from 1978 to 1997 for all 50 states (excluding Washington D.C.).A recent study at the University of Colorado has found a statistically significant relationship between executions and homicide. (Jeff Jacoby). All of these studies prove one thing, that the death penalty does have a very strong deterrent effect on future murderers. Hi! To be honest, youre essay is not a good one. You claim a lot of things, which are not true. 1) Hanging is only authorized in Washington and New Hampshire. Texas does not have hanging. The sole method is lethal injection. 2) You cannot use adrenaline for LI... A short acting barbiturate (which is totally unreliable) is follows by a curare derivate. It masks suffering and stops als muscles one can control. The condemned cannot speak, cannot breath and needs an anal plug and a catheter because of that drug. Otherwise the whole thing would not be so nice for the visitors. The last drug: potassium chloride stops the heart. The effect is similar to a heart attack. 3) "That's an average of 2.09 victims each." What do you want to say? A mean average alone does not say much about a process. Analyze distributions carefully and then you can make assumptions. Numbers alone don't help anyone. Your essay lacs structure. 1) First give an indroduction, which catches the reader's attention. 2) Present the most important facts. 3) Present arguments for both sides and _then_ weight them! 4) Summarize. 5) You may give a personal statement in the end. By the way: What was your topic? Sorry for being a little bit critical, but you asked and I wanted to be honest. The Bavarian PS: I am sorry for my bad English. |
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Post by RFisher on Jul 1, 2005 14:11:14 GMT -6
I do not mean to "pile on" you, but I have to correct something else you wrote.
Hanging can be one of the most painless methods of execution when done properly. If done properly, the neck is snapped and death is almost instantaneous. However, if done by amateurs or those who don't know how to properly calculate it, then the person being executed may be slowly strangled to death or even have the head snapped completely off the body.
In the late 19th century, they came up with tables of height, weight and build of the person to be hanged. By checking the chart, the executioner could find the proper height to drop the person to be executed and the proper weight attached to their legs to ensure the neck would snapped and death almost instantaneous.
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Post by Felix2 on Jul 5, 2005 13:12:38 GMT -6
you state that it is fact that nobody innocent has been executed since the 1900? How do you support this so called fact? I imagine a lot of folk from both sides of the debate would raise their eyebrows at that statement.
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Post by josephdphillips on Jul 5, 2005 22:20:15 GMT -6
you state that it is fact that nobody innocent has been executed since the 1900? How do you support this so called fact? I imagine a lot of folk from both sides of the debate would raise their eyebrows at that statement. That no innocent has been executed since 1900 follows an analysis of a study done in 1985 by two academics, Hugo A. Bedau of Tufts University Michael L. Radelet of the University of Florida. These two professors claimed 23 innocents have been executed since 1900. The analysis of the professors' study was done about five years later by Professor Paul Cassell of the University of Utah Law School and Steve Markman, now a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. Cassell and Markman found outrageous flaws in the methodology of the 1985 study, enough to completely destroy any credibility such a study might have had. www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter062700.aspI'm sure RED has read about the Cassell/Markman study and can elaborate on it. Although I'm a big fan of Ann Coulter, my research doesn't stop with her. |
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Post by Felix2 on Jul 7, 2005 3:44:58 GMT -6
you state that it is fact that nobody innocent has been executed since the 1900? How do you support this so called fact? I imagine a lot of folk from both sides of the debate would raise their eyebrows at that statement. That no innocent has been executed since 1900 follows an analysis of a study done in 1985 by two academics, Hugo A. Bedau of Tufts University Michael L. Radelet of the University of Florida. These two professors claimed 23 innocents have been executed since 1900. The analysis of the professors' study was done about five years later by Professor Paul Cassell of the University of Utah Law School and Steve Markman, now a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. Cassell and Markman found outrageous flaws in the methodology of the 1985 study, enough to completely destroy any credibility such a study might have had. www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter062700.aspI'm sure RED has read about the Cassell/Markman study and can elaborate on it. Although I'm a big fan of Ann Coulter, my research doesn't stop with her. well you know what they say about research Joe, a lot will depend on the way it has been done. It also assumes everyone who knows something was available and did come forward and the methodology cannot factor that in with certainty. |
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Capt
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Post by Capt on Nov 15, 2005 18:49:30 GMT -6
What I would do is completely redo the essay, and restrict to a more narrow topic of the death penalty. To generalize it, means a whole lot more work for you, under time constraints. When you restrict it to a more narrow topic of the death penalty, you can keep the paper shorter (if you want to), and the reason why you should do that is to keep the readers interested, and not get them bored. For example one of the above posts talks about one of the effects of hanging, snapping the head off. This actually happened to Tom Ketchum, when he was hanged for murder by the sheriff in Clayton, NM. April 26, 1901. Ketchum used to run with Butch Cassidy and his gang, which hung out here in my home state of Wyoming in their heyday. www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/butchnm.html. Here's something alot of people here probably do not know. and that's the hanging of Tom Horn for the murder Willie Nickell on Nov. 20, 1903. www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/horn.htmlThis hanging is probably one of the most famous, because of the execution device that was used. A normal gallows was not used, but instead one called the Julien Gallows. From the website: www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/horn4.html"For the execution, a new type of gallows was introduced using an automatic trap activated by the weight of the convict, eliminating the need for an executioner. The gallows were invented in 1892 by Cheyenne carpenter J. P. Julian but had not been used before. The gallows used a system in which a water valve was opened and ultimately through a system of pullies the trap was opened. This type of gallows remained in use until replaced by the gas chamber." and as an added benefit to you, and not the paper you're doing, check our whole website out for the history of our state, which this website has many many pages of of details. while you're doing that, turn your speakers up and listen to the music. www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com |
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