Now that we’ve identified the components of argument, we’ll continue looking at both rhetorical choices as writers, and how to examine and unpack assumptions and warrants using the Toulmin method of analysis. Last week we argued both sides of an argument in order to fully understand opposing points of view. Now we will choose one side to argue, while acknowledging the other point of view in a fully fledged argument essay,
** Be sure to use Word documents; do not use “Pages” files or Google docs.
Download the Taking a Stand Essay Rubric
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to better understand how the essay is evaluated.
Take a look at the checklist on p. 92. The Taking a Stand Essay is derived from the Arguing Both Sides exercise. For that one, you only needed to provide a few organized paragraphs presenting BOTH sides of an issue. Now you will argue for ONE side while effectively acknowledging the other side using the language of concession and refutation.
- In addition, as it says on p. 92, to complete the assignment, include the following information at the TOP OF YOUR essay above your name:
(a) Your issue, question at issue, and thesis
(b) Your principal argument set out in a standard form (see Chapter 3)
Essay Guidelines:
- Proper MLA formatting of the essay (name, etc, double-spaced, etc)
- Informative Title that Hints at the Thesis – not bold or big, capitalized correctly
- Opening Hook to Engage the reader
- Background info and intro to lead the reader to the thesis
- Clear strong thesis that will be the single controlling idea of the paper
- A number of body paragraphs that have appropriate and controlling topic sentences, development, and transitions with correct in-text citations if sources are used.
- Some type of acknowledgement of the opposing points of view; either in one Rogerian type paragraph, or placed in each paragraph in response to a claim.
- A conclusion that revisits the thesis while wrapping up the paper without introducing new topics.
- MLA properly formatted Works Cited List if using any source.
Although sources are not required for this essay, if you choose to include information or ideas of others which need a source as evidence, you may use no more than THREE SOURCES, and they must be cited correctly, both in-text and on a correct MLA Works Cited List to avoid plagiarism. Refer to the
Documentation
(Links to an external site.)
page on my website. (Links to an external site.)
Note: Final essay grades are final; the essay you submit is not a draft, so you are graded by your final draft.
ALL essays required for course credit.
Anthony Flores
English 5
Professor Georgie Ziff
April 27th, 2020
Arguing Both Sides
Tobacco Products should be banned
According to TheHealthSite.com: “One of the number one reasons that smoking tobacco products is bad for your health is because it can lead to Cancer.” (TheHealthSite.com). Not only does it cause lung cancer but it also causes cancer of the mouth, nose, larynx (voice box), trachea, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, cervix, bone marrow and blood. A lot of the chemicals in the cigarette are known to be carcinogenic or cancer causing. When combining the chemicals with heat and smoke it can lead to mutations in your cells making them multiply in an uncontrollable manner causing cancer. Almost half a million Americans per year die from the use of cigarettes and we need to make a solution to this problem. Not only does it cause cancer but it just overall destroys your health and your body. It makes your bones brittle, it stains your teeth, causes bad breath and can even make you go blind.
Many adults are affected by the use of tobacco but I think the group that is in the most danger is the youth. The use of E-cigs has become quite popular to the youth. All these vape pens and devices are easy to obtain and they have a lot of fruity flavors to lure in youth. A strawberry vape pen sounds a lot more appealing than a pack of cigarettes. Even though this may be true the juul or vape device is probably worse for you due to the fact that you can continuously be hitting it and lose track of how long you hit it. I think that these devices are misleading because it gives you the illusion that you are being healthier but in reality, you are smoking the same or even more than you would if you were just smoking cigs.
Smoking should be banned because it causes disasters. According to History&Headlines: “Smokers are 7 times more likely to have a house fire than non-smokers. About 1000 Americans die each year from smoking related home fires. The NFPA says smoking causes 90,000 fires per year in the US, and that 90% of wildfires in the US are caused by smoking (History&Headlines). Also, a lot of people that smoke tend to toss their cigs on the ground. When I walk around I see so many cigs on the ground I can see why smokers are 7 times more likely to have a house fire.
Tobacco Products Shouldn’t Be Banned
According to History&Headlines: “46.6 million Americans smoke and that isn’t including the chewing tobacco” (History&Headlines). Millions of people use tobacco as an escape or as a stress reliever. You cannot just simply ban something that some many Americans already rely on because then there would be chaos. Society accepts that adults can decide whether or not to harm themselves to some extent, so long as they do not harm others. Passive smokers do choose to breathe in others smoke. If they don’t want to smoke passively, they do not need to go to places where smoking is allowed. There is no reason that smoking should be banned in public.
According to History&Headlines: “In 2013, the government collected $43.9 billion in tobacco tax revenue, and over half a trillion dollars since 1998 (History&Headlines). If we removed tabacco the tobacco users would not be supplying that money anymore meaning that it’s going to have to come from somewhere else or the government spending would be cut. If the government spending gets cut that will cause the amount of employment in the public to decrease. If we have away the tobacco industry, we will also be taking away people’s jobs. All the tobacco farmers will be out of a job. If we ban production, then people in other countries will take the hit.
We cannot just ban something that is used for religious purposes. History&Headlines says that, “Native Americans use tobacco in religious ceremonies. We would not want to limit the practice of their faith or stigmatize any part of it.” The government has to give the right freedom of religion and banning tobacco would be going against that.
Bibliography
Sampath, Pavitra. “10 Reasons Smoking Is Bad for You.” TheHealthSite.com, Thehealthsite, 31 May 2017, www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/10-reasons-smoking-is-bad-for-you-144092/.
Dan, Major. “10 Reasons Tobacco Should Be Banned Or Not Banned.” History and Headlines, 16 June 2016, www.historyandheadlines.com/10-reasons-tobacco-banned-banned/.