Reading response - Essay Example

September 10, Reading Response: “Locking People Up for Public Marijuana Smoking Is Not the Answer” The article entitled “Locking People Up for Public Marijuana Smoking Is Not the Answer” presented crucial information regarding the proposal for decriminalization of smoking marijuana in public places (Smith). The author affirmed that criminalizing offenders would be detrimental, not only to the perpetuator, but more so, to the overall well-being of society. One strongly agrees with Smith in the contention that the current criminal justice policy has not been effective in addressing this situation.

As such, one is convinced that the proposed imposition of civil sanctions through penalties and enhancing the awareness of the public through continued education on the matter would be more viable.Pathos: Emotion of the audience1. As an audience member, what emotions do you feel, and where in the essay do you feel them? The emotions that one feels as an audience include the following: (1) empathy: (“I do not want the public smoking of marijuana around my kid -- I do not” (Smith par. 1); (2) affirmation (“Threatening people who consume marijuana in public with arrest and a 60 day jail sentence will not deter this behavior” (Smith par. 3); and (3) distraught (“the criminalization of public smoking could perpetuate these same racial and class disparities in marijuana law enforcement” (Smith par. 5). 2.

Where does the author express his emotions? The author expressed his emotions in the following statements: (1) “It is a shame that Councilmembers appear ready…” (Smith par. 3); (2) “I want my daughter to grow up into a society…” (Smith par. 10); and (3) “We should discourage people from smoking marijuana in public areas…” (Smith par. 10). These statements affirm the convictions of the author and those that he wants to elicit from the readers.3. Emotion of language/diction. Notice the difference between saying “good” and “fantastic.

” Where does the author clearly use more emotional words to say a basic thing? The author used emotional words in the following statements: (1) “It is a shame that Councilmembers appear ready…” (Smith par. 3); (2) “Threatening people who consume marijuana…” (Smith par. 3); and (4) “Thousands of displaced and homeless residents who have no other choice but to survive in public spaces should not be punished more severely for smoking marijuana than their more affluent neighbors” (Smith par. 5). These words are emotionally packed that elicits the intended reaction and response from the target audience.

Work CitedSmith, Grant. "Locking People Up for Public Marijuana Smoking Is Not the Answer." 28 February 2014. Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grantsmith/locking-people-up-for-pub_b_4876164.html. 3 March 2014.