Houston Community College System Application of Death Sentence Argumentative Essay

Format:

Like all essays in this class, this paper should use 12-point times new roman font and default page margins. It should be double-spaced.

Required length: 1000+ words

You are to write an essay that meets the following criteria:

Addresses the issue provided by your instructor

Summarizes and analyzes the views of two writers on the question

Shows how you have wrestled with different perspectives on the question and have synthesized these ideas to arrive at your own new view of the question

Readings:

The Death Penalty
“How the Death Penalty Saves Lives,” by David Muhlhausen, p. 526“What I Learned From Executing Two Men,” by Semon Frank Thompson p. 530

Structure:

Introductory paragraph/section that presents the focusing question and hooks the reader

A thesis that maps out your main analytical points and your main synthesis points

Summary/analysis of the first text

Summary/analysis of the second text

Synthesis section that develops your main synthesis points

Concluding paragraph that reiterates the values and limitations of the texts you have analyzed pulls together your new insights and leaves readers thinking about your views.

Papers must adhere to MLA formatting guidelines. For more information on documenting sources using this format, see chapter 3 in the Bedford Reader. You will need to properly document sources and provide a works cited page.