Practice

                                           Chapter 10: Argumentative Essay                                               

Part I. Choose the correct answer.

1)      The following option is a way to organize an argumentative essay:

a)      Sentences

b)      Paragraphs

c)       Block pattern

d)      Outlines

2)      What is the information that contains an introductory paragraph?

a)      The first argument

b)      The explanation of the issue

c)       The thesis statement

d)      Both, answer b and C

3)      “_____________states clearly which side you are for”. The word that complete that sentence, is:

a)      Introductory paragraph

b)      Supporting arguments

c)       Thesis  statement

d)      Conclusion

4)      The outline following show one possible pattern for an argumentative essay:

1. Introduction
2. Body: 

                                                                                      a. statement

b. statement

c. statement

                                                                              3. Conclusion

This pattern corresponds to:

a)      Block pattern

b)      Point by point

c)       Normal pattern

d)      Cause-effect pattern

5)      “______________is a (an) _________ in which you agree or disagree with an issue, using reasons to support your opinion”. The words that complete the sentence are:

a)      Thesis statement, sentence

b)      Argumentative essay, essay

c)       Argumentation, paragraph

d)      Introduction, paragraph

6)      What you have to do to make an argumentative essay?

a)      write your opinion about a point of view

b)      give reasons to support your point of view

c)       discuss the other side reasons and rebut them

d)      Both, B and C

Part II.  Order from 1 to 6 the steps that are required to planning an argumentative essay:

_____ Decide whether you will use block or point by point organization. Then develop the outline

______ Review your essay

______ Write a thesis statement.

______ Research the topic to get ideas and supporting reasons

______Write your first draft

______Clarify in your mind what are the two sides of the arguments and decide which side are you agree with.

Answer Key

Part I:  1.C, 2.D, 3.C, 4.B, 5.C, 6.D

Part II: From top to bottom:  4, 6, 2, 3, 5, 1. 

  by Brenes , Pamela and Maria Mena

Three reasons why we shouldn’t legalize Marihuana

          

Three reasons why we shouldn’t legalize Marihuana

        The marihuana is a common drug in Costa Rica and in the world. It is a psychoactive substance that is commonly consumed by inhalation (smoking), and also is possible to use oral. This drug is human-related since 2700 years ago in Yanghai, China (Libertad Digital, screm1). However it has created a lot of controversy in all these years about its legalization because it doesn’t cause a physical addiction as nicotine; but people become dependent in a psychological way.  The marihuana shouldn’t be legalized for three simple reasons: brings physical problems in the consumer, it affects badly the mental health in the person, and finally the consumption of drugs will continue affecting the society.

        The first reason not to legalize marihuana is because it brings physical problems in the consumer. Some immediate physical effects of marihuana include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat; besides that it reduces short-term memory, alter sense of time, reducing the ability to do things which require concentration, and coordination. The chronic use of marihuana brings repeated respiratory problems, sinusitis, and bronchitis and possible effects on the hormones, liver, immune system, and brain.

          The second reason is because the marihuana causes mental problems as depression, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Also can cause a lot of serious problems of motivation, and it can be hindrance to apprenticeship capacities. According to a study realized by the Royal College of Psychiatrists 1600 of school-children, aged 14 to 15 for seven years, found that while children who use cannabis regularly have a significantly higher risk of depression, the opposite was not the case - children who already suffered from depression were not more likely than anyone else to use cannabis. And Three major studies followed large numbers of people over several years and showed that those people who use cannabis have a higher than average risk of developing schizophrenia.

       The third reason is because the consumption of drugs will continue. The legalization will promote to smoke, and it will be normal the drug use "By characterizing the use of illegal drugs as quasi-legal, state-sanctioned, Saturday afternoon fun, legalizes destabilize the societal norm that drug use is dangerous. They undercut the goals of stopping the initiation of drug use to prevent addiction.... Children entering drug abuse treatment routinely report that they heard that 'pot is medicine' and, therefore, believed it to be good for them"(Andrea Barthwell, MD). So consumption of drugs will be as a normal behavior in the society instead of became healthier.

        To conclude, the consumption of Marijuana can cause a lot of serious problems, from physical to mental problems, the legalization is not the solution to perform the people behavior. The lack of comprehension from the people about this relation is undermining all the efforts of prevention, and it affects the young people, negatively. Reduce the consumption of Marijuana is essential to improve health of the nation and education.

Citations

Alcohol and Drug, Treatment Referrals. “Marijuana” http://www.alcohol-drug-treatment.net/marijuana.html

Andrea Barthwell ,Former Deputy Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Chicago Tribune editorial. Feb. 17, 2004 The E:\ingles\Top 10 Pros and Cons - Medical Marijuana - ProCon_org.mht

Libertad Digital (ed.): “Una momia china de 2700 años llevaba tres cuartos de kilo de marihuana” (2 de diciembre de 2008). «http://www.libertaddigital.com/sociedad/una-momia-china-de-2700-anos-llevaba-tres-cuartos-de-kilo-de-marihuana-1276345092/»

Dr Philip Timms. Royal College of Psychiatrists “Cannabis and mental health” « http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/alcoholanddrugs/cannabis.aspx» February 2009

SHOPAHOLISM IN CHRISTMAS

       Christmas is a beautiful season in the year, when families can share and receive love. But nowadays most people have lost the real meaning of Christmas and have become it in only shopping and spend money. This is the result from the publicity, the wish of have more things and low self-esteem in some people.

The first main cause is the publicity because it persuades the customer to consume more and more, with discounts, sales and others. Also show us that the more we give, more we are going to receive, provocating shopaholism in the entire society.

The second cause is due to the wish of having more, because in our society we are value for things that we have, and that’s why in Christmas with the “aguinaldo” people spends more for themselves, wishing having more than the others. 

Finally the third cause for shopaholism is the low self-esteem in some people. They shop and shop to fill the emptiness in their hearts with material things; however this is the time that more suicides came out.

To conclude we should not spend Christmas time buying unnecessary things, besides that we should be with our families and friends, bringing back our values of sharing and loving.

The Blind Side Trailer

Blind Side (The Michael Oher´s Life)

 

              The blind side is a movie that shows us the life of Michael Other. A person who suffers many critical experiences in his life and then by the help of a woman, he had a family; and he finally became a very important athlete in USA.

               Before he met that woman (Leigh Anne Roberts Touhy), Michael didn´t have a place to live because his mother was a drug addict, and the government took him and his brothers. Besides that, he didn´t have any academic education   , and the teachers of the school didn’t want to help him because of his bad grades. Also he was such a very shy person with low self esteem, he didn´t speak to anybody and always was alone. 

             After he met the mother of his unique friend in the school; she helped him and gave him a home. She gave a room, a bed, food cloth, and even a car; all this because she wants to make him part of the family, and of course the love became him a different person; in addition ,she hire a tutor in order to obtain better grades, in that way he could get a scholarship as a American soccer player in the Mississippi University.

           Finally his personality changes a lot. Michael became friendlier; he trusts himself and had a better self esteem. To conclude;  this movie that shows us the story of a poor and a lonely person without future, changes his life with love, compression, trust and help, to finally become in a successful athlete well known in the USA.