I need some help concerning the death penalty for a debate on my english class.....?

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So in my english class we watched dead man walking. Now we must write a persuasive paper for or against the death penalty and use supporting facts from the movie. I have choosen to support the penalty. Although I am neither for nor against it. This essay is so hard, because i am a person with several opinions. right now this is my essay:
* The death penalty is a controversial topic in which many individuals support it and many do not. I choose to support it however.
Everyday you are alive is a gift. Imagine if someone you deeply cared for was brutally murdered. You would want to seek vengeance on the criminal by ensuring he does not have the beautiful gift of life ( ok so that last sentence needs some help!)*
So that was my introduction..still need a thesis..my only problem is i dont know what to talk about....should i just change the paper and write it for being against capital punishment?..i mean there is alot to write...on both subjects..i just dont know where to begin.
 
start with the fact that if somebody murders someone on purpose and feels no remorse that they do not deserve the life they were given...ok that sounds harsh...
 
It helps me to make a chart. On one side write down all the pros of the capital punishment and on the other side the cons, each including your opinions. Whichever column has the most content generally should be the side you chose, because you have more behind you to support the thesis. Unless the oposing side has stronger meaning to you. From there chose three big ideas for your thesis, decide on sub-thesises within each, yadda yadda yadda...
 
I think that you should say that the death penelty is in some cases only barely sufficent as some murderers put to death have killed tens of people! They have taken 10 or 20 lives, so shouldn't there be taken?

Why should they deserve to live when they have taken the priverlige away from an innocent person?
 
How about you argue, you support the punishment for the crime! Not death and taking someones life. Have you ever heard that saying "let the punishment fit the crime?" Well, argue that! Start your paragraph off with the 'everyday you are alive is a gift ...imagine if someone...you want vengeance...if murderer is caught and decision of death penalty is yours. What do you DO? The death penalty ...I choose to support it however, only because of crime committed. Then you could argue how it makes the decision easier, than thinking about the person's life at stake. You can still state both sides argument and maybe if people thought like this it wouldn't be so hard. Hope I help a litte.
 
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