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Lesson13 In Favor of Capital
Punishment
Jacques Barzun
Objectives of teaching:
1)Read between lines and understand the text properly;
2)Make a creative reading; 3)Appreciate the text from different
perspectives; 4) Understand some difficult words and
expressions; 5) Understanding rhetorical devices
Special Difficulties
Identify and understand technical terms in this essay.
I. Background information about the author A brief introduction to the author, Jacques
Barzun
www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jpriestley.htm
II. Type of literature
a piece of argument
http://teachnet-lab.org/santab/jeff/sbargue_index.htm
http://homepages.iol.ie/~laoistec/LENGLISH/lpers.html
III. Detailed study of the text Para.1-2: Introduction: admitting that many people
of much talent and enlightened goodwill are abolitionists. Para.3 The author states that he could be
convinced to abolish capital punishment on the condition that:
1) Some fallacies and frivolities in the abolitionist argument are disposed of;
2) The difficulties should be overcome instead of being ignored;
3) The safeguards could be found to really meet the difficulties;
III. Detailed study of the text Para.4 The author states that he himself considers the
present way of implementing capital punishment is revolting but this cannot be an excuse for the
abolitionist to against capital punishment. Para 5: The four main arguments advanced against the
death penalty are: 1) punishment for crime is a primitive idea rooted in
revenge; 2) capital punishment does not deter; 3) judicial error being possible, taking life is an appalling
risk; 4) a civilized state, to deserve its name, must uphold, not
violate, the sanctity of human life.
III. Detailed study of the text Para 6-7 Explanation of writer’s agreement on the first pair
of propositions. Para 8-11 Both Barzun and the abolitionists base their
arguments on a brief in the sanctity of human life. Para12 -14: The fallacies of the abolitionists should be
disposed of. Para15-19: The frivolities of the abolitionists should be
disposed of. Para. 20: Our society is far from civilized institutions. Para21-23: Imprisonment is worse than death. Para.25-28 The fault in the present system is not the
sentence but the fallible procedure. Para.29 Conclusion: To abolish capital punishment is to
violate the sanctity of human life.
IV. Organizational pattern 1) The thesis stated in the title of the essay:
In favor of capital punishment 2) In this piece the writer does not appeal
mainly to the emotions of the reader, but try to convince his reader through facts and logical reasoning and by refuting the fallacies of his opponents.
4) Weakness: Many abstract terms in essay remain undefined and vague.
V. Style and language features
1) Smooth and polish 2) Convincing and formal 3) Use of many learned, and
specialized terms 4) Rhetorical Devices
Transferred epithet “ The letters, sad and reproachful, offer me the
choice of pleading ignorance…” “ The assemblage of so much talent and
enlightened good will behind a single proposal …”
Parallelism “ I am asked…” “ I am told…” “ I am invited…”
V. Style and language features
Personification “ No anger, vindictiveness or moral conceit need
preside over the removal of such dangers.” Sarcasm “ it is too bad.” Cvek alone seems instructive,…” “ Failing a second birth …less hypocritical?”
V. Style and language features
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