Portfolio Entry #16 - An Opinion Essay

Reading text : An opinion essay

Before reading 

Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).

1. D       harsh
2. A       a perpetrator
3. E      to deter someone from doing something
4. F       to re-offend
5. C       rehabilitative
6. B       empathy

a. someone who has committed a crime or a violent act
b. the ability to understand how other people feel
c. able to bring someone back to health or a normal life
d. strict; severe
e. to make someone avoid or stop doing something
f. to commit a crime again (not for the first time)

Post reading

Task 1

Are the sentences true or false?

1. The first paragraph should explain the question in your own words. TRUE

2. You shouldn’t give your opinion until the conclusion. FALSE

3. You must always give both sides of the argument. FALSE

4. Structures like One justification for … and The first thing to consider is … link ideas together, and help the reader follow your argument. TRUE

5. Modal verbs (e.g. may in Prison may not be an effective punishment) make sentences sound more certain. FALSE

6. If you think of an extra idea, mention it in the conclusion. FALSE

Task 2 

Complete the sentences with words and phrases from the box. 

However - One justification for - Owing to - The first thing to consider - In conclusion -It could be argued that - Personally - A further reason to 

1. THE FIRST THING TO CONSIDER is what the purpose of prison is. 

2. ONE JUSTIFICATION FOR harsh prison sentences is that they act as a deterrent. HOWEVER, there is very little evidence to support this claim. 

3. A FURTHER REASON TO justify putting people in prison is to keep them away from society. 

4. PERSONALLY, I believe that prison should aim to rehabilitate people and reform violent criminals so they are less likely to re-offend. 

5. IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT prison works mainly as a punishment. PERSONALLY overcrowded, cramped and sometimes violent conditions, prison is not a pleasant place to be. 

6. A FURTHER REASON TO prison may not do everything that we want it to do but it does serve as an unpleasant punishment.

 Task 3 

Tick the three sentences that are more tentative. 

1. Prison sentences are more effective in 29 per cent of cases. 

2. It seems that prison sentences are more effective.     

3. It might be argued that unpaid work exploits criminals. 

4. Unpaid work exploits criminals. 

5. This may suggest that the criminal is not a danger to others.     

6. These kinds of criminals are no danger to others.