Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation of committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Law is needed to maintain the stability of a country, and
it is clear that
people
who break it should be punished.
However
, many
people
have debated whether each kind of criminal should be sentenced with fixed punishments or if it should be varied depending on the reasons and situation.
Nevertheless
, I would say that the punishments for each type of
crime
should be fixed for some reasons that are set out below. Some
people
argue that the circumstances of a
crime
and the criminal's motivation will influence the type of
punishment
.
For example
, stealing to survive is different from stealing for profit. It would be unfair if they get the same
punishment
.
Moreover
, policies which focus on the complexity of it are ineffective because criminals often do not know the sanctions for specific
crimes
.
While
there is probably some truth in
this
, I would argue that
this
way can reduce the urge to commit
crimes
.
On the other hand
, as far as I am concerned, fixed
punishment
can create a fair justice system. Whoever the criminals are, they will get the same
punishment
for certain
crimes
.
Besides
, it is understood that everyone can be aware of the
punishment
for each
crime
.
Also
, it may prevent
people
from committing a
crime
.
Furthermore
, it is generally accepted that it can be easy to classify offences and decide the consequences for them. Taking everything into consideration,
although
some
people
argue that the circumstances and the motivation of committing a
crime
should be considered when deciding on the
punishment
, fixed punishments are necessary in order to reduce the number of
crimes
and force
people
to live in a good way for following the rules.
Submitted by riani.the2 on

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

task achievement
Ensure a clear balance between both sides of the argument to enhance your discussion.
task achievement
Include more specific examples to strengthen your arguments and make them more persuasive.
coherence cohesion
Ensure your paragraphs are well-linked to maintain smooth transitions between ideas.
task achievement
The essay clearly presents both sides of the argument.
coherence cohesion
A clear and coherent introduction and conclusion are provided, effectively framing the argument.
coherence cohesion
Main points are logically organized, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Support ideas with relevant, specific examples

Examples make your writing easier to understand by illustrating points more effectively.

Examples, if used properly, not only help you get higher marks for ‘Task Response’ but also for ‘Coherence’.

When giving examples it is best to put them after your main idea or topic sentence. They can be used in the middle of supporting sentences or they can be used to start a new sentence. There is no rule for where exactly to give examples in essays, logically they would come after your main idea/topic sentence or just after a supporting sentence.

Linking words for giving examples:

  • for example
  • for instance
  • to illustrate this
  • to give a clear example
  • such as
  • namely
  • to illustrate
  • take, for example

Discover more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Get a Target Band Score of 7+ »— a book that's free for 🚀 Premium users.

Get your IELTS Essential Vocabulary List —
Topic Vocabulary:
  • fixed punishments
  • consistency
  • predictability
  • deter crime
  • potential offenders
  • streamline
  • judicial process
  • bias
  • corruption
  • complexity
  • human behavior
  • circumstances
  • justice system
  • intent
  • remorse
  • socio-economic background
  • rehabilitate offenders
  • recidivism rates
  • flexible punishment systems
  • inconsistencies
  • perceived injustices
  • public trust
What to do next:
Look at other essays: