Non-Fiction Response

1. In the news article it describes the drop rate of executions in the United States. Twenty
three people were executed in 2017, which was the second-lowest number of executions.
The execution number of prisoners have been dropping as well, since 1999 where 98
prisoners were executed. The number of people being sentenced to capital punishment
has also been dropping.
2. In this news article, I read that the number of executions have been dropping and in other
articles they would mention the excessive drop rate as well.
3. The author's purpose is to inform the reader of the drop- rate in executions.
a. The author wrote, “ The number of prisoners executed has been dropping…”
4. The audience is anyone who is against the death penalty.
a. I know this because the article shows polls and describes how the American approval of
the death penalty has been dropping.
b. The choice of audience affects the text by making it seem like the death penalty might be
gone soon.
5. The most relevant details the author uses to argue their position is the Gallup polls
percentages and references to previous polls.
6. Logos is the most prevalent in the writing.
a. The author states, “Gallup polls show that about 55 percent of Americans approve of the
use of capital punishment. The number has been generally been shrinking since 1994,
when it was 80 percent” (Fortin, 5). The author also writes, “The number of prisoners
executed has been dropping, save for a few small increases, since it reached a high point
of 98 in 1999” (Fortin, 2). The author includes, “ The projected total of people who will
have been sentenced to death this year is 39, one of the lowest annual totals since
1972…” (Fortin, 3).
b. The author exercises their credibility by using statistics from previous polls.
7. A possible theme for this text could be change happens unexpectedly.
a. The author states, “ Mr.Durham pointed to Harris county in Texas, which includes
Houston, as a place where attitudes appear to be changing” (Fortin, 7). The author also
includes a statement which reads, ‘“I think it symbolizes the change that’s been going on
in the United States because you have this one country that is known for heavy use of the
death penalty, and it has made a complete shift,” Mr.dunham said’ (Fortin, 8). The author
includes another statement, ‘“We don’t pursue the death penalty at nearly the same rate
as my predecessors, and that is a result of the changing times…”Mr.Ogg said’(Fortin,9).
8. The text helped me understand the topic addressed because in every statement the person
talking always uses the phrase “change” and “death penalty”
9. I would like to change the tone the author uses in this text.
a. If the author changes their tone the reader can feel that the change might happen sooner
than later.
10. The death penalty should be abolished because less people are being put to death. The
United States has had less executions. In the news article, “ U.S. Had 23 Executions in
2017, Second- Lowest Number in a Quarter-Century” the author states, “ The number of
prisoners executed has been dropping,[..], since it reached a high point of 98 in 1999”
(Fortin,2). The evidence shows that less people are being executed every year. The death
penalty should be abolished because less people are being executed yearly.