Death Penalty Outline

Death Penalty Argument Essay Outline

Intro: The Death Penalty has always been a controversial topic that has been discussed alongside the system of how the execution system should be ran. The question is, is this process truly as fair as you think it is? Yes, one may argue that the death penalty keeps society safe, but how does that apply if innocent people are the ones being accused and later executed. Many innocent people have been convicted of crimes they have not committed all because of the one major reason, their race. Racial discrimination has been around for centuries, but when it comes to an innocent life being saved or not that is when it becomes a problem. There are also many cases in which the execution was itself, a very cruel way to be put down for their actions. It is true that you cannot expect things to be perfect, but in this case, it is violating the law of no use of cruel and unusual punishment. This demonstrates how flawed this system has become and why it should be highly reconsidered.

Body 1: It is cruel and unusual punishment.

A. Evidence 1: “Mr. McGuire’s execution, conducted with new and untested combination of drugs, took about 25 minutes from the time the drugs were started to the time the death was declared” (Goode A112).

i. Analysis of evidence: This information is significant because it proves that the drugs that are used to administer the execution are untested and took a significant amount of time until the person was pronounced dead.

ii. Additional analysis: This furthers my position by validating that it is a painful process and that the person has suffered when anyone is promised to a “un painful” execution.

B. Counterclaim: Thomas Madden, an assistant attorney general in Ohio, claims that “‘You’re not entitled to a pain-free execution”’(Goode A112).

i. This statement goes against the 8th amendment that stresses that cruel an unusual punishments should not be inflicted.

C: Evidence 2: “It will be harder still when Florida executes a cop-killer named

Alvin Ford. Ford has lost his mind during his years of death-row confinement, and now spends his days trembling, rocking back and fourth, and muttering unintelligible prayers”(Bruck 1).

i. Analysis of evidence: this furthers my position because the process of being on death-row caused people to become mentally unstable, therefore, furthering my point that the death penalty is cruel and unusual.

III. Body 2: Innocent people can be convicted and die.

A: Evidence 1: “Today, the debate has re-focused on substantive issues of guilt and innocence: DNA exoneration evidence, mistaken eyewitnesses, lying informants, and the real or perceived risk of executing