After six minutes

Let students talk about their opinions.

S3: I agree with the first letter. I think criminals should pay for what they have done. And they shouldn't be let off with fines. When a person has killed somebody, they don't deserve to live.

S4: I agree with the second one. I think every person is good by nature. And the primary goal of punishment should be to reform the person who has committed the crime. We need to help and reform criminals in order to make them into useful members of the community.

S5: Yes. We should give opportunities to those who would like to repent. And the death penalty is a cruel form of punishment which is against human dignity.

S6: I agree with the first one. If a drug dealer or robber can be out on the streets only a few weeks or months after committing their crimes, or even get let off with fines, they would be dangerous and our community would be at risk then.

S7: Yes, as a result, many people will lose faith in justice.

Step III Practice

T: Well, from the two letters, we know something about the crime and punishment in Britain and the USA. Next, let's do Ex 3 on Page 41. The sentences (1-8) are from a discursive essay, and they are not as personal as the opinions in the two letters. Now what you should do is to match the sentences with personal opinion in the two letters. You can work in pairs.

Check the answer by asking individual students to read out their answers.

Suggested answers:

1 I think we should bring back much harder sentences.

2 I totally agree with the American idea of "three strikes and out".

3 They have become like luxury hotels with televisions and gyms.

4 I also believe we should restore capital punishment in this country.

5 We also need to think about the wishes of the families and friends.

6 I am totally against harder sentences on principle.