Student: José Ricardo Gómez Group: 33

Ticket-in W12
PERSUASIVE ESSAY-Counter argumentative and concluding paragraphs
OBJECTIVE:To identify and put into practice the features of the counter argumentative and concluding paragraphs in
a persuasive essay.

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the first three paragraphs of this essay and do the activities below based on the CPS of week 12.

Issues in Morality

In order to become a member of the European Union (EU), a country must prove that it handles human rights in a
humane and civil way. One major concern of the EU is the death penalty. In fact, the death penalty is not allowed
in any of the EU countries. To that end, those countries that want membership must prove that their laws protect
the human lives of even the cruelest of criminals. This point of view, however, is not shared by all. Countries such
as Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and the United States allow for the death penalty. In fact, the death penalty
should be allowed in all countries.

Firstly, allowing the death penalty is for the sake of punishment itself. Most people agree that criminals who
commit serious should be separated from society. The punishment will depend on the degree of the crime. The
death penalty, the most severe form of punishment, ends criminals’ lives. Therefore, it seems reasonable that this
severe punishment be reserved for those who commit the most serious of crimes.

Secondly, the death penalty has financial advantages. The government will not have to spend a lot of money on
criminals. Next to a death sentence, the most severe punishment is a life sentence in prison, where the
government has to take care of criminals until they die naturally. These criminals do not actively improve society,
but society must provide them free housing and food. Hence, it is unfair to use a country’s taxes for such a
purpose.

ACTIVITY 1

Rewrite the topic sentences of:

 Thesis: Death penalty should be allowed in all countries

 Argument 1: Death penalty is made by the same guilt
 Argument 2: It would earn money too

ACTIVITY 2

Create and write strong topic sentences for the counter argumentative paragraph of this essay:

 Refutation: Human rights must be respected, but not for those who forgot being a human
 Explanation: If they break law badly they have to be punished to give example
 Closing sentence: Death penalty is not as bad as it looks, it brings many benefits.

ACTIVITY 3

Create and write a strong topic sentence to wrap up the conclusion of this essay:

 Call to action: Is it wise to let someone dangerous for anyone, with the opportunity to be free again?