Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Module 1: The Keys to Persuasion

Module 1: The Keys to Persuasion

Welcome to ENG-123: English Composition II! In this course, you will uncover the foundations of persuasive writing and explore the research process through analysis and evaluation of various sources.

In this first module, you’ll start by introducing yourself on the course-long discussion boards. Next, you’ll explore problem solving and persuasion with your classmates. Finally, you’ll brainstorm and develop ideas for your persuasive essay (due in Module Seven) by submitting a journal entry to your instructor. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

1-1 Discussion: Class Mixer (UNGRADED) This assignment does not contain any printable content.

1-2 Reading: Problem Identification

Reading: Problem Identification

We encounter problems in every aspect of our lives. On a personal level, we are constantly working on such things as mending relationships with friends and family members, managing a hectic household, and addressing health concerns. In our professional lives, we also encounter problems on a daily basis, both on a small and a large scale. For example, if you are a teacher, you may spend one class period managing poor student behavior and then spend the next class period scrambling to figure out how to finish your lesson plan before the bell rings. There are also the larger-scale issues that you may deal with, particularly if you teach in a public school system, such as reconciling the tension between government-mandated initiatives and your own beliefs about what works well in the classroom. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

In response to these types of industry-specific problems, researchers are continually investigating ways to fix these issues. The results of such research will impact the types and availability of careers in various fields, while also impacting people’s personal lives. For example, in the fast food industry, many companies are responding to society’s ever-growing interest in “eating clean” and “being green.” Takeout containers are made with recycled materials, and many fast food chains are ceasing to use artificial colors and ingredients in their food. Individuals in the food industry now feel the pressure to join the “clean and green” movement in order to attract and maintain customers. And as with all change, debate follows. There will always be dissenters from every viewpoint.

Introduction to Persuasion

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In this course, you will practice the art of persuasion. You will think about a problem in your field of study/profession that has at least two clear arguable sides and compose a persuasive argument that clearly states your point of view on the issue. Your goal is to convince the audience to adopt your viewpoint. In order to do this, you will make a claim—an assertion with which your audience might disagree—and then support that assertion with evidence.

Argument in Everyday Life

The word “argument” has a negative connotation, or suggested meaning. When people hear the word argument, they often assume it is a hostile conversation about a topic. But argument can also simply mean a well-reasoned point being made about a topic, done so in a respectful, logical way. Arguments can occur between respectful parties who strongly disagree with one another’s argument, but it does not have to be hostile.

Let’s say you are sitting at Thanksgiving dinner, and you are a bit nervous because your uncle, who feels very differently about politics than you, will inevitably bring up the latest political hot topic. Knowing you have to be level-headed and reasoned in your conversation with him, in order to avoid any hostility, you choose an even tone, respectfully acknowledge what he is saying, but still hold your ground on your position toward the hot topic. Since it is different than his position, and you want to hold your own in this argument, you present him with reasons that are clear and logical. Although he may not agree with you, and you will likely not persuade him, he is more likely to at least listen to your point of view. Making sure you do not slip into insulting language, eye rolling, or walking away when he disagrees with you are all important to having an effective argument.

In all aspects of our lives, we present arguments to those around us: to car salespeople, to our children when they don’t want to do something we know is good for them, to our partners when they want to spend more money than we do, or to our grandparents when we try to get them to see the benefits of using video chats. Whether we are writing or talking to people who matter to us, argument is all about drawing people in and persuading them to at least see our point of view, if not to adopt it. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

The examples in the video show us how argument and persuasion can function successfully (or unsuccessfully) in everyday life. Although the examples provided are in the first person (since they are examples from everyday life), the premise in persuasive writing is the same:

be respectful of potentially opposing positions use logic to ground your stance be clear, concise, and precise in the presentation of your argument, using indicator words such as “must,” “should,” “support,” “because,” or “oppose” to present your core argument

Opposing Viewpoints

When making a persuasive argument, it is also important to factor in any counterarguments, or opposing viewpoints, and consider how to respond to them.

Most topics generate a variety of positions, not simply two positions that sit in direct opposition to each other. In fact, it is helpful to picture the potential positions on any given topic in a circular format rather than imagining two distinct points at opposite ends of a straight line. Few topics lend themselves to such an oversimplified black and white division. As most topics are complex and layered, some of the most potent arguments can be found in the grayer areas. The more complex issues give rise to multiple points of view along a continuum, something writers need to keep in mind.

Take, for example, the topic of sex education in public schools. One position on the topic is the “absolutely not” position held by some people due to their religious and/or moral ideologies. According to this position, sex education should never be taught in America’s public schools under any circumstances. Opposing the “absolutely not” position are a range of positions, not just one. Here are only four of the many possibilities:

Yes, sex education should be taught in public schools, depending on what material is covered. Yes, if it concentrates on abstinence.

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No, if it concentrates on abstinence. No, if it begins in elementary school.

If you are writing on sex education in public schools, you will have to be familiar with all of the positions on both sides of the argument. Additionally, you will need to understand the reasons people hold these positions. Refuting any opposing position is impossible if you are unfamiliar with the issue as a whole.

The first step in composing a persuasive argument is to do a little preliminary research and brainstorm topics for your written piece. The next few pages in the module will help you get started.

1-3 Discussion: Persuasion in Everyday Life (GRADED) This assignment does not contain any printable content.

1-4 Reading: Brainstorming Ideas

Reading: Brainstorming Ideas

This week, in your 1-6 Journal assignment, you’ll be asked to look at some issues related to your potential field or degree. Before you practice some brainstorming strategies, it might help to take a look at possible issues related to your field. In module two, we’ll take a closer look at conducting keyword searches and gathering sources, but for now, to prepare for brainstorming and constructing your Journal submission this week, you can take a look at the freewriting instruction steps previously outlined— with that idea as your starting point.

Remember that the most important part of freewriting is reflecting on your writing. So, after your loop, be sure to ask yourself the same reflective questions you asked during your initial freewrite. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Freewriting Questions

After you finish freewriting, read your writing carefully to decide which ideas are most worthy of exploration. As you read over your writing, ask yourself these questions:

Do I stay on topic in most of the writing, or do I shift to another topic? Am I more interested in my initial or my new topic? What words are repeated in my writing? Words that you repeat are likely to indicate an interest in that particular aspect of the topic? Which of my ideas can be backed up with research during the subsequent research process? Opinions can help point you toward an interest, but if your freewrite consists only of opinion, you may need to conduct another freewrite that focuses more on facts, you may want to conduct a preliminary search, or you may need to pick a new topic. Can I identify one or two questions that most of my freewrite responds to? If you can, you might have found yourself a research question.

If you’d like to compare a freewriting session against a looping session, compare the loops below to the freewrites from above.

Looping Example #1

Looping Example #1

Feeding America’s poor won’t be easy. Not with one out of seven of us living at the poverty level. It’s especially bad for kids. I mean, how can a kid concentrate on learning when he hasn’t eaten in two days? When you think about how much food goes to waste every single day in this country, you’d think there wouldn’t be a problem. Just think about the food fights that go on in cafeterias all over the country. With that wasted food alone we could probably feed all the poor people. And I know a lot of people let vegetables sit in their refrigerators until they rot and then they have to throw out all

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that food. Also, just think about all the restaurants that throw away food every single day. You’ve probably seen homeless people doing “dumpster digs.” I know I have. At least, they are getting some nourishment out of what’s being discarded, but who’d want to eat food that’s mixed with garbage? I think we should have more public service announcements to make people aware of what they are wasting. That would be a first step. Maybe parents could also be advised not to put so much food on their kids’ plates at suppertime. That would solve two problems–the food waste problem and the obesity problem. Then, we could use the money that is saved to help the hungry more than we do. It’s true that some celebrities like Sandra Lee have started a campaign, but not everybody watches her on the food network channel. I guess we need more celebrities getting the word out. I know the President and First Lady are working on this and that’s helping a lot. But there’s really a lot to do. There are food banks, of course. But we really need more than famous people getting the word out. We need the average Joe thinking twice about waste.

Follow-Up Questions

Do I stay on topic in most of the writing, or do I shift to another topic? Am I more interested in my initial or my new topic? ANSWER: I really did focus on the poor and how much food-waste there is in this country. I also talked about what famous people and ordinary people can do to solve the problem of people going hungry. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

What words are repeated in my writing? ANSWER: “Poor” (poverty), “food,” “waste,” “celebrities.”

Which of my ideas can be backed up with research during the subsequent research process? ANSWER: There has to be a lot of data about poverty in America and also wasted food. I could also learn more about Sandra Lee and what people like her are doing to help.

Can I identify one or two questions that most of my freewrite responds to? ANSWER: What are celebrities doing to help the poor? What can the average person do?

Research Question

Topic: Feeding the hungry

Research Question: What are the characteristics of an effective anti-hunger program?

Looping Example #2

Looping Example #2

What will I do to earn a living? Right now I’m studying liberal arts and there are a lot of possibilities in front of me, assuming I don’t change my major. There are a lot of things I know I wouldn’t do–no matter how much money I could make. Even if I was desperate, like Stephen King, I wouldn’t dig graves to earn money. I also wouldn’t do anything that would harm animals. And I would never steal from people the way Madoff did. But, as a liberal arts generalist, especially a generalist with some computer skills, I could probably enter any field I wanted to. There really are a lot of choices. Plus, I could always learn on the job. Most businesses have orientation and training programs that help new hires learn what they need in order to do a specific job. And, a lot of places will actually pay for employees to take additional college courses. Of course, I could pay for further education myself if I had to. I could get a Master’s Degree or some other degree that would help me get promotions once I’ve started working. Plus, there’s always stuff I could learn about on my own by doing research on the Internet or by taking some online courses. Things are changing so fast that I’d probably have to take additional courses anyway. Take electrical engineers, for example. I read that by the time they graduate, half their knowledge is obsolete. So maybe I shouldn’t worry too much about what I’m learning right now. Instead, I should concentrate on getting a good solid academic base, rather than a narrow or too-specific body of knowledge. Being able to communicate well is critical for career success, no matter what field I choose and I’ve always had A’s in my written and oral communications classes. Being a good problem-solver is important, too. I like challenges and have often been complimented on my analytical skills. Another thing that’s going to serve me well are my people skills. Everybody tells me I’m both a good leader and a great team player. So, I guess, now that I think about it, I won’t have to dig graves. I should be able to get any job I want…assuming the economy is better by the time I graduate. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Follow-Up Questions

Do I stay on topic in most of the writing, or do I shift to another topic? Am I more interested in my initial or my new topic? ANSWER: I did stay on the topic of my future–work I’d like to do and work I definitely wouldn’t do.

What words are repeated in my writing? ANSWER: “earn a living,” “money,” “job,” “learning”

Which of my ideas can be backed up with research during the subsequent research process? ANSWER: I should be

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able to research jobs in general, especially those available to liberal arts majors. I’d also have to find out what skills are required for entry-level jobs in certain industries.

Can I identify one or two questions that most of my freewrite responds to? ANSWER: What jobs does a liberal arts degree lead to? How soon does knowledge become obsolete?

Research Question

Topic: Job economy

Research Question: What can one do with a liberal arts degree?

Clustering

Clustering is another method of brainstorming ideas. You can use it by itself, or you can organize some of the ideas you discovered during your freewrite. Watch the following video to learn more about the clustering method.

1-5 Activity: Brainstorming Ideas (UNGRADED)

Activity: Brainstorming Ideas (UNGRADED)

Now it’s time to put into practice one of the brainstorming exercises discussed in the previous page. Please select one of the two UNGRADED brainstorming activities below.

You may want to choose a topic that is related to your career or degree, since you will be completing a journal assignment on the next page with that focus.

1-6 Journal: From Issue to Persuasion This assignment does not contain any printable content.

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Drug Abuse Date: 2019 From: Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection Publisher: Gale, a Cengage Company Document Type: Topic overview Length: 1,934 words Content Level: (Level 5) Lexile Measure: 1440L

Full Text: Drug abuse refers to a pattern of hazardous or harmful drug use for recreational or mood-altering purposes. It is a form of substance abuse, a term that encompasses the abuse of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, and other intoxicating substances. Illegal drugs are substances that have not been approved for medical use and are banned by law. Prescription drugs have been approved for medical use but must be prescribed by a licensed physician. Some professionals also use the term drug misuse to describe situations in which people consume prescription drugs for off-label purposes inconsistent with their approved medical applications. Drug misuse and abuse are major social problems in the United States, largely because these behaviors can lead to physical or psychological addiction, which is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a “chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain” and considered a complex brain disorder and mental illness. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

In the United States, commonly abused and misused drugs include opioids and other painkillers; illegal substances such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and hallucinogens; prescription stimulants and sedatives; marijuana; and alcohol. The distribution of marijuana is illegal under federal law. Distribution and use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes are subject to individual state laws and regulations. As of June 2019, thirty-four states and several territories permit medical marijuana use. Of those states, fourteen have passed laws that allow adults to purchase marijuana and use it recreationally. Alcohol is available for purchase in all fifty states to those who meet specified age and other legal requirements. The Controlled Substances Act (1970), which was last amended in 2017, serves as the primary piece of federal drug legislation. States and municipalities also maintain their own laws related to drug possession, distribution, use, and other related matters.

Despite continuous public awareness campaigns and stiff legal penalties, drug abuse and misuse remain common in the United States. According to data published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 134.7 million Americans over the age of twelve reported using illicit drugs at least once in their lives in a 2017 survey, including 51.8 million in the past year and 30.5 million in the past month. Marijuana was by far the most commonly used drug, followed by prescription painkillers, cocaine, and hallucinogens. Among survey respondents aged twelve to seventeen, 23.9 percent had used illegal drugs at least once, with 16.3 percent using within the past year and 7.9 percent within the past month. SAMHSA also reported that 2.8 percent of Americans over age twelve had an illicit drug use disorder in 2017, while 5.3 percent had alcohol dependence or an alcohol abuse disorder. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28,466 people in the United States died of a drug overdose caused by fentanyl or other synthetic narcotics (other than methadone) in 2017. The second leading cause of fatal drug overdoses was prescription opioids (17,029 deaths), followed by heroin (15,482) and cocaine (13,942). Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Main Ideas

Main Ideas

US law bans substances that produce significant physical or psychoactive effects but have few or no legitimate medical uses. Substances with legitimate uses that have high risks of misuse are prohibited unless prescribed by a physician. Drug abuse and drug misuse are types of substance abuse characterized by a pattern of hazardous, harmful, or off-label use of illicit substances for recreational, mood-altering, or other nontherapeutic purposes. Despite decades of awareness campaigns and harsh legal penalties, drug abuse remains a major problem. Commonly abused drugs include prescription painkillers, stimulants, and sedatives; heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines; marijuana; and alcohol. Drug abuse has significant negative effects on individuals and families. It can change a user’s brain chemistry and cause major organ damage, and it is associated with domestic violence, job loss, and arrest and imprisonment. Drug abuse also has negative effects on public health and safety. Prevention and treatment programs, high rates of hospital

visits, drug-impaired driving, and financial and compulsive crime all exert strain on public resources and services. The impact of drug abuse on the US economy—including productivity losses, hospitalization and treatment costs, and costs associated with enforcement and incarceration—was an estimated $1 trillion in 2017.

Risk Factors and Warning Signs

People use drugs for many different reasons, and drug abuse occurs in people of all ages, races and ethnicities, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. However, experts and government health agencies identify numerous risk factors that may make certain people more likely to abuse drugs. They include family dysfunction, trouble at work or school, a family history of substance abuse, an individual or family history of mental health problems, and normalized drug use in an individual’s social circles. The CDC also identifies youth high-risk substance use as a specific issue, defining it as an adolescent’s use of drugs that carries a high likelihood of causing negative health outcomes or other adverse consequences like dropping out of school, expulsion, or contact with the juvenile criminal justice system. Factors known to lead to high-risk substance abuse include a family history of drug or substance abuse, low parental involvement in the adolescent’s life, mental health problems, poor academic achievement, and disconnectedness from the school community. Teens who are the victims of previous sexual, emotional, physical, or psychological abuse are also at elevated risk, as are teens whose gender or sexual identities have been rejected by their parents or peers. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Warning signs of drug abuse cover clues and signals that a friend, family member, or loved one is using drugs. Experts frequently divide these signs into physical, behavioral, and psychological cues. Physical warning signs include bloodshot eyes; dilated pupils; changes in sleeping or eating patterns; a constant runny nose or sniffling; sudden changes in weight; and changes in speech, coordination, or balance. Behavioral signs include suspicious or secretive activity; poor performance at work or school; financial problems or a sudden need for money; run-ins with law enforcement; involvement in fights, accidents, or illegal activities; and driving under the influence. People who abuse drugs may also display an abrupt or dramatic change in friends or hobbies. Psychological cues cover warning signs such as paranoid behavior; sudden personality changes; an uncharacteristic lack of ambition or motivation; and mood swings or nervous or unstable behavior, especially when it occurs in spurts and is inconsistent with the individual’s usual disposition.

Individual and Social Impacts

Drug abuse is associated with many negative individual and familial impacts. Drug abuse can lead to long-term or permanent changes in brain chemistry as well as heart, lung, stomach, kidney, and liver problems. Intravenous drug users are also at significantly increased risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Drug use by pregnant women may cause harm to the fetus or lead to birth defects. Drug abuse is also associated with child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, household financial difficulties, job loss, and arrest and imprisonment. Families can also be affected in other, more complex ways. For example, non-using parents may develop overprotective or other unhealthy relationships with their children as they seek to compensate for the behavior of the other partner. Children in households affected by drug abuse may also compensate by taking on the role of parent to their younger siblings. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

On a broader societal level, drug abuse also has numerous public health, public safety, and economic impacts. The costs of drug prevention and treatment programs are high and put a significant strain on public resources. Drug abuse drains finances from the health care system, given the high rate of emergency room visits for problems associated with overdoses and adverse reactions to drugs. Drug-impaired driving persists as a major public safety issue. Law enforcement has observed a link between drug abuse and crime, noting that individuals may commit crimes because they are under the influence of drugs or are seeking money for drugs. Estimates from 2017 place the total impact of drug abuse on the American economy at $1 trillion, including productivity losses and costs associated with the hospitalization of drug abusers and the incarceration of drug offenders.

Critical Thinking Questions

Critical Thinking Questions

Do you agree that society views the use of some illegal or illicit substances as less problematic than the use of others? If so, what factors do you believe contribute to this? If you disagree, explain your reasoning. Which approach to individual treatment for drug misuse and addiction do you think would be most effective: harm reduction, abstinence, or maintenance? Why? In your opinion, are the problems of drug misuse and addiction more appropriately addressed through the criminal justice system or the health care system? Explain your answer.

Treatment, Prevention, and Policy

Approaches to treating drug abuse vary, and include measures that promote harm reduction, abstinence, and maintenance. Harm reduction endeavors to reduce or neutralize the individual health impacts of drug abuse and its broader effects on society. For example, a growing number of cities in Europe, Australia, and Canada offer safe injection sites where intravenous drug users can obtain clean needles and use drugs under the supervision of health professionals who can immediately react in the event of an overdose. Efforts to establish such sites in the United States have encountered significant pushback with federal prosecutors and others expressing concern that they would normalize drug use. Abstinence treatments aim to eliminate an individual’s drug use, either abruptly or by reducing it over time. Maintenance approaches seek to minimize unpleasant withdrawal symptoms associated with the discontinuation of addictive drugs, usually by substituting the drug of abuse with another, less harmful analog administered in controlled and carefully monitored doses. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Individuals who enter drug abuse treatment programs undergo initial case assessments that evaluate their level of addiction, the underlying causes of their drug abuse, and their medical history, personal history, family situation, employment history, academic performance, job performance, and other indicators related to past substance abuse, treatment efforts, and prognosis for recovery. Care planning also considers the individual’s frequency of drug use, level of addiction or dependence, and underlying health issues, among other factors.

Public agencies like SAMHSA offer many different types of programs meant to curtail drug abuse and provide users and addicted individuals with helpful, supportive information and resources. SAMHSA supports drug-free workplace programs, criminal and juvenile justice system services, early intervention programs for students and at-risk youth, first responder training, and extensive resource centers. Another noteworthy nationwide program is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the DEA, which gives people an opportunity to safely dispose of unneeded prescription drugs in an effort to prevent their misuse and abuse. Many states and municipalities offer a myriad of locally focused drug abuse prevention and treatment programs that address regional problems and trends.

The so-called War on Drugs, first declared by President Richard Nixon (1913–1994) in 1971 in response to the countercultural movements of the 1960s, persists as a major focus of federal policy. It involves a punitive approach to drug offenses, seeking to curtail drug abuse through deterrents and stiff legal penalties. Proponents of the War on Drugs also advocate the incarceration of drug offenders over addiction treatment and other behavioral interventions. Policy analysts and social justice activists widely characterize the War on Drugs as a failure, and lawmakers have moved to introduce new approaches after decades of limited results. Legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act (2016), Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (2016), and Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (2018) have begun to treat drug abuse more as a public health issue than a problem to be handled solely by law enforcement. Such policies emphasize treatment and recovery over incarceration and criminalization, which many experts believe to offer a more productive and positive path forward. Journal: From Issue to Persuasion

Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2019 Gale, a Cengage Company Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition) “Drug Abuse.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-

com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/apps/doc/PC3021900054/OVIC?u=nhc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=3e06dcda. Accessed 12 Jan. 2020. Gale Document Number: GALE|PC3021900054