Inquiry Thesis and Research Review Handout

Transcription

1 Sample Inquiry A Opening Paragraphs: Shall it be Death? Controversy lies throughout the world for many different topics and arguments. But, some don t get as much attention as others and at times may be something that should be brought to more attention. One of these include whether or not someone should be put to death for committing a crime. There are many controversies when it comes to whether or not capital punishment should be used as punishment against criminals; such as one side arguing a criminal deserves the appropriate punishment and the other side arguing it is cruel and unusual. Usually when controversy comes about, it is because not everyone has the same opinion and no one knows where to draw the line in order for us to meet in the middle, this happens to be one of the more serious issues. There are a few arguments people have as to why or why not capital punishment serves justice to criminals, one of these being fairness. Those who support capital punishment would say they have committed a crime that deserves the ultimate punishment our world can propose; that being death. Enthusiasts in favor of the death penalty have no pity for such criminals no matter what made them do such a horrendous thing to land them on death row. 1. T/F The essay has an effective and interesting title. 2. T/F The opening clearly establishes the issue question for the reader. 3. T/F The thesis clearly presents the main arguments for both sides and articulates the reasons. In other words, it excels at the Quiz Test. Works Cited Messerli, Joe. "Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment?" BalancedPolitics.org. 8 Sept Web. 6 Sept White, Deborah. "Pros & Cons of the Death Penalty." About.com: US Liberal Topics. Web. 6 Sept T/F This paper has sufficient research for an effective inquiry into a controversial topic. 5. T/F This paper uses sources that are both credible and help establish the author s authority with the reader. 6. If this person was your partner for the group essay, you would: A) Be very excited because they have done all the necessary research and clearly presented the most important arguments for your side while correctly identifying the main arguments for the other side as well. B) Recognize that the thesis for your persuasive group essay will need to present the actual claims more effectively. C) Recognize that significant additional research would be necessary to have a thorough understanding of the complex issue and also that it is important to select sources that help establish the author s credibility with the reader (i.e. Wikipedia says versus according to a recent study conducted with the Harvard School of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, ) D) Both B and C 1

2 Sample Inquiry B The Question of Legalizing Marijuana in California In a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2007, it was stated that, almost two million Californians admitted to having used marijuana in the past month. Daily users of the substance constitute twenty percent of the state s pot-smoking population or approximately four-hundred-thousand Californians out of a population of thirty-eight million (Nanadiego). This is a fair amount of the California population and only some of the individuals who are currently pushing to pass a new bill which would allow the legalization of marijuana and the ability to legally produce and sell this drug. The question being posed to California legislators is whether or not California should legalize marijuana. Those who are in favor of California legalizing marijuana have argued that it will create revenue for state level governments and assist with medical care of patients as well as lower the crime rate. However, on the opposite side those who are opposed to the legalization of marijuana in California have argued that marijuana would cause addiction, increase stronger drug use, increase car accidents, and that marijuana today is stronger then it use to be. 7. T/F The essay has an effective and interesting title. 8. T/F The opening clearly establishes the issue question for the reader. 9. T/F The thesis clearly presents the main arguments for both sides and articulates the reasons. In other words, it excels at the Quiz Test. Works Cited Aveni, Tom. The High Cost of Marijuana Prohibition in U.S. The Police Policy Studies Council. 11 June Sept. 2009< California Traffic Crashes 2007 Car Crash.org 21 Aug Sept < Chapter Two: Crime and Drug Legalization Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. 5 Sept < Drug use and Addiction BBC Health. 9 Sept Sept < Earleywine, Mitch. "Marijuana Is Not a Gateway to Other Addictive Drugs." Opposing Viewpoints: Addiction. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. CCL Fullerton College. 21 Sep < =T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ &source=gale&srcprod =OVRC&userGroupName=full44847&version=1.0>. 2

3 Early Cannabis Abuse leads to heroin addiction Daily Mail. 5 July Sept < Gieringer, Dale. Marijuana Legalization Could Yield California Taxpayers Over $1.2 Billion Per Year California Normal Report Feb Sept < Harrison, Lana D., Michael Backenheimer et al. Marijuana Supply, Sale, and Seizures 17 July Sept < #pote>. Laino, Charlene. Withdrawal Symptoms From Smoking Pot? WebMD. 8 May Sept < Lawrence, Steve. California population nears 38 million, LA tops 4 million San Francisco Chronicle. 1 May Sept < Legal Pot Would Bring in $1.4 Billion for California CBS News US. 15 July Sept < Leung, Melisse. Marijuana American Medical Student Association. Nov Sept < Marijuana Facts for Teens National Institution on Drug Abuse Website. March Sept < Marijuana and DUI Laws: How Can We Best Guard Against Impaired Driving? Marijuana Policy Project. 27 August Sept < Marijuana Rehab, Marijuana Treatment, What is it and who really needs it? Saint Jude Retreat House. 13 Sept < Meserve, Jeanne. Marijuana Potency Surpasses Ten Percent, U.S. Says CNN Health. 14 May Sept < 3

4 /index.html>. Murray, Caryn. About Legalizing Marijuana: Pros & Cons ehow. 12 June Sept < Nanadiego, Frances, and Gina Giacopuzzi. Legalize Marijuana to Save California, Maybe San Diego News Network. 29 May Sept < 28/news/politics-city-county-government/legalize-marijuana-to-save-california-maybe>. National Study Shows "Gateway" Drugs Lead to Cocaine Use Columbia University Record 18 Nov Sept < vol20/vol20_iss10/record html>. State Board of Equalization Staff Legislative Bill Analysis Draft State Board of Equalization. Feb Sept < What can Drug Rehab do for you? California Rehab. August Sept < 10. T/F This paper has sufficient research for an effective inquiry into a controversial topic. 11. T/F This paper uses sources that are both credible and help establish the author s authority with the reader. 12. If this person was your partner for the group essay, you would: A) Be very excited because they have done all the necessary research and clearly presented the most important arguments for your side while correctly identifying the main arguments for the other side as well. B) Recognize that the thesis for your persuasive group essay will need to present the actual claims more effectively. C) Recognize that significant additional research would be necessary to have a thorough understanding of the complex issue and also that it is important to select sources that help establish the author s credibility with the reader (i.e. Wikipedia says versus according to a recent study conducted with the Harvard School of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, ) C) Both B and C 4

5 Works Cited Aveni, Tom. The High Cost of Marijuana Prohibition in U.S. The Police Policy Studies Council. 11 June Sept < California Traffic Crashes 2007 Car Crash.org 21 Aug Sept < Chapter Two: Crime and Drug Legalization Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. 5 Sept < Drug use and Addiction BBC Health. 9 Sept Sept < Earleywine, Mitch. "Marijuana Is Not a Gateway to Other Addictive Drugs." Opposing Viewpoints: Addiction. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. CCL Fullerton College. 21 Sep < =T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ &source=gale&srcprod =OVRC&userGroupName=full44847&version=1.0>. Early Cannabis Abuse leads to heroin addiction Daily Mail. 5 July Sept < Gieringer, Dale. Marijuana Legalization Could Yield California Taxpayers Over $1.2 Billion Per Year California Normal Report Feb Sept < 5

6 Harrison, Lana D., Michael Backenheimer et. al. Marijuana Supply, Sale, and Seizures 17 July Sept < #pote>. Laino, Charlene. Withdrawal Symptoms From Smoking Pot? WebMD. 8 May Sept < from-smoking-pot>. Lawrence, Steve. California population nears 38 million, LA tops 4 million San Francisco Chronicle. 1 May Sept < Legal Pot Would Bring in $1.4 Billion for California CBS News US. 15 July Sept < Leung, Melisse. Marijuana American Medical Student Association. Nov Sept < Marijuana Facts for Teens National Institution on Drug Abuse Website. March Sept < Marijuana and DUI Laws: How Can We Best Guard Against Impaired Driving? Marijuana Policy Project. 27 August Sept < Marijuana Rehab, Marijuana Treatment, What is it and who really needs it? Saint Jude Retreat House. 13 Sept < Meserve, Jeanne. Marijuana Potency Surpasses Ten Percent, U.S. Says CNN Health. 14 May Sept < 6

7 /index.html>. Murray, Caryn. About Legalizing Marijuana: Pros & Cons ehow. 12 June Sept < Nanadiego, Frances, and Gina Giacopuzzi. Legalize Marijuana to Save California Maybe San Diego News Network. 29 May Sept < National Study Shows "Gateway" Drugs Lead to Cocaine Use Columbia University Record 18 Nov Sept < vol20/vol20_iss10/record html>. State Board of Equalization Staff Legislative Bill Analysis Draft State Board of Equalization. Feb Sept < legdiv/pdf/ab0390-1dw.pdf>. What can Drug Rehab do for you? California Rehab. August Sept < Works Cited Health Care. Organizing for America. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sept < obama.com///>. Health Care Facts: Health Insurance Coverage. National Coalition on Health Care. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sept < 7

8 Messerli, Joe. Should the Government Provide Free Universal Health Care for All Americans? Balanced Politics. N.p., 7 Sept Web. 8 Sept < politics.org/_health_care.htm>. Obama, Barack. Address. Washington, DC. 9 Sept The White House - Health Care Reform. Web. Transcript. 28 Sept Wilson, Richard. Deceased Miami Student Remembered for her Passion. Dayton Daily News. N.p., 26 Sept Web. 28 Sept < 8