Capital Punishment Essay

Patricia Ramirez
“The Psychological Cost of the Death Penalty”
Allison Gamble
The Dallas Morning News

Patricia Ramirez
Professor Ford
Reading 83
8 December 2014
Capital Punishment Project
A. Author’s perspective on capital punishment? The author feels that capital punishment is not effective and should be abolished. The author’s attitude towards the subject is sympathetic. For example the author stated in the article “The emotional cost to the families of victims and the convicted cannot be measured.” This shows that the author feels empathy for the families of the convicted and the victims’ families and their suffering cannot be measured. She also stated that the “Children are often the hardest hit, unable to articulate their feelings and come to terms with the situation.” In this statement she is also showing empathy for the children that they are unable to cope with the situation and express themselves.
B. What is the author’s tone and mood? The authors tone is subjective, and outspoken. For example the author states that “Research generally has not found any evidence to support a therapeutic gain for victims’ families by executing the convict.” There is no evidence to back this statement up it is subjective and opinionated. The author also stated that “Therapy and guidance is far more effective than putting ‘someone to death.” This is author’s outspoken opinion not a fact.

C. Determine the author’s thesis statement. The author’s thesis statement is that capital punishment is not effective because it affects both victim’s and convict’s families emotionally and financially.
D. Give evidence of bias.
1. “However, in terms of forensic psychology the argument that capital punishment provides closure to victims’ families is murky at best.”
2. “Research generally has not found any evidence to support a therapeutic gain for victims’ families by executing the convict.”
3. “Victims’ families of the executed suffer equally regardless of the death penalty, but the tragic pain and grief that the families of the executed endure is often overlooked.”
These are examples that author is bias, and I against capital punishment.
E. Summary To the Psychological Cost of the Death Penalty the author Allison Gamble is saying that capital punishment should not be used because it is not solving crime nor helping out the victims and their families. According to the author the cost of the death penalty is more than incarcerating the criminals. The author also states that families of the victim gain no peace after the convict is executed and therapy works better to help than killing the criminal. According to the author capital punishment affects victims and the convict’s family emotionally and financially and the outcome leaves no one at peace. The author stated that both families end up spending a lot of money on trials, but the criminal’s families suffering are often overlooked. The author is stating that capital punishment should be eliminated.

Patricia Ramirez
“Executions Saves Innocents…”
Jeff Jacoby
The Boston Globe

Patricia Ramirez
Professor Ford
Reading 83
8 December 2014
Capital Punishment Project
A. Author’s perspective on capital punishment?
The author feels that capital punishment is effective and the author wants to persuade the reader. For example the author states “the death penalty in America is probable the most accurately administered criminal sanction in the world.” This statements lets us know that the author feels that capital punishment is effective. The author also stated “No worthwhile human endeavor is utterly foolproof.” In this statement the author lets us know that we may make mistakes sometimes but the benefits outweigh the small mistakes made.
B. What is the Authors tone and mood?
The authors tone is subjective and sarcastic. For example “The benefits of a legal system in which judges and juries have the option of sentencing the cruelest or coldest murderers

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