Friday, June 8, 2007

Bring Back Flogging ..... It's a great idea!!!!

Title. The title of Jeff Jacoby’s “Bring Back Flogging” caught my attention and made me wonder what this was going to be about? Jacoby makes it quite clear with this title that he is going to attempt to persuade the reader to see his point of view on the subject. Some readers may find the title a little confusing as flogging is not common terminology these days.

Thesis. Jacoby’s thesis is that there needs be reform within the criminal justice system. He makes the point that flogging should be reintroduced as a form of corporal punishment to deter crime and that imprisonment for all offenses is ineffective.

Purpose. The purpose of Jacoby’s essay is clearly to persuade the reader that in some instances, public flogging for crime is a better for of punishment that prison. He points out the many crimes are nonviolent in and that imprisonment subjects the offender to an environment that is quite violent in nature and therefore an unjust and harmful punishment.

Method. Jeff Jacoby makes his argument by beginning with a short history lesson and then moving on to write about how we administer punishment today. He explains that in many cases, a quick and decisive administration of corporal punishment would be more effective than a lengthy prison stay. Jacoby goes on to explain some of the cost analysis of imprisonment and finishes up with the statement of “perhaps the Puritans were more enlightened than we think” (p.185). The entire point is designed to persuade the reader into agreeing with the writer’s opinion on corporal punishment.

Persona. The persona that Jacoby conveys is that of a prepared and well educated man that can relate facts and statistics to the average Joe. He does not go overboard with technical language and lays out the facts of his argument in clear easy to read writing.

Impression. My impression of “Bring Back Flogging” is that the author has done a great job at presenting his side of the argument in an attempt to persuade the reader. I rather agree with him that the current criminal justice system is in need of an overhaul and he has convinced me that this might be the route to go. I feel that Jacoby has done a good job with the use of statistics, facts and the use of an expert in an essay that doesn’t seem to bog down with too much information while you read it.

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