1. Lesson13 In Favor of Capital Punishment Jacques Barzun

2. 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

3. Special Difficulties  Identify and understand technical terms in this essay.

4. I. Background information about the author A brief introduction to the author, Jacques Barzun www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jpriestley.htm

6. II. Type of literature  a piece of argument http://teachnet-lab.org/santab/jeff/sbargue_index.htm http://homepages.iol.ie/~laoistec/LENGLISH/lpers.h tml

8. 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;

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. V. Style and language features  1) Smooth and polish  2) Convincing and formal  3) Use of many learned, and specialized terms  4) Rhetorical Devices

13.  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

14.  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