Smoking in Public Places - Assignment Example

Topic:

Most businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Many local governments have banned smoking in all public places. What is your position on such bans and why?

Prewriting for a Thesis:

A. In three to five sentences, describe one specific experience you’ve had that helped to produce your opinion.

One night I dined out with my brother in a sport bar. Although we sat in the non-smoking area, we could still smell the cigarette smoke. The cigarette stink was all over our clothes when we left the restaurant. The smell lingered inside the vehicle and wouldn’t go away for a few days after we drove home that night. I had a bad headache the whole night long.

B. List at least four reasons or specific examples in supporting of your belief about your issue.

1. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy a meal while inhaling someone else’s cigarette smoke.

2. I had the headache because I inhaled second hand smoke. The chemicals in a cigarette reduce the amount of Oxygen carried in my blood when I inhale the smoke.

3. It doesn’t really matter where we sit, because the cigarette smoke can come through the ventilation system and cover the whole restaurant.

4. No tobacco advertisements are allowed in public places because governments know smoking is hazardous to health.

5. Tobacco manufacturers put the statutory warning “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, And May Complicate Pregnancy” on each pack of cigarette. Obviously they admit smoking is hazardous to health.

6. Medical studies state that tobacco and its various components increase the risk of cancer.

7. For my understanding, all the components carried in a cigarette are toxic. Nothing is good for health.

C. Identify at least two opposing viewpoints on this issue (which person or groups might disagree with your position).

1. is a free country. People have the right to do anything they want as long as they are not harming others.

2. Commercial establishments will argue for the business lost.

3. Many chemicals other than cigarette smoke can kill people in a restaurant. Smoke from cooking out on a grill, overcooked meat, air fresheners, and even floor cleansers are all toxic.

D. List at least one reason to support each opposing viewpoint from C.

1. We have the freedom to make our own choice. Airports, restaurants, and public places have a designed area for smokers. That’s means smoking is not an illegal activity.

2. Businesses may think it will have a negative impact on their customers, especially in a bar or restaurant. Smoker will not go out for dinner because they are no longer allowed to smoke cigarettes in public places. Usually people don’t like to have any restriction while spending their money.

3. In any case, people are living in an air polluted atmosphere, we all inhale exhaust fumes every day.

4. There are so many reasons people die besides smoking. People can get killed in car accidents, hurricanes, volcano eruptions and robberies.

5. Many smokers live much longer than people who don’t smoke.

E. In two or three sentences write what you want your peers to do in response to your argument. What do you expect from them?

First, I will tell people smoking is not a crime, there is no rigid law to ban people from smoking so far, but I strongly believe that the government should ban smoking in all public places. Then I will explain to them why it is not a good idea to smoke, especially in public areas, and how it affects others. I am not expecting smokers to quit smoking but I am expecting them to be more considerate.

Thesis

This is murder - secondhand smoke can kill!

Plan of argument

• Smoking in public places is selfish. I feel people have the right to smoke but shouldn’t make others breathe their secondhand smoke.
• Ordinances against smoking in public can protect employees and customers from secondhand smoke exposure, which is associated with increased risks for heart attacks and lung cancer in adults and respiratory disease in children.
• People may start going to some public places like sport bars or clubs where they usually don’t, because they know there’s no more smoking allowed.

Support

1. Smoking in public places is selfish. I feel people have the right to smoke but shouldn’t make others breathe their secondhand smoke.

(Supporting evidence and explanation)

• My father is a smoker, but he still doesn’t like to inhale secondhand smoke.
• I cough a lot and feel pain or burning in my throat and lungs after I inhale cigarette smoke.

(Opposing claim to this point)

a. What happens if people are allergic to perfume? Should the government pass ordinances against wearing perfume as well?

(Supporting evidence reputing that opposing claim and explanation)

a. By law no cigarette advertisement are allowed in public places, because the government discourages people from smoking. But perfume advertisements are all over the place.

b. Smelling cigarette smoke can kill but not smelling perfume.

2. Ordinances banning smoking in public places can protect employees and customers from secondhand smoke exposure, which is associated with increased risks of heart attacks and lung cancer in adults and respiratory disease in children.

(Supporting evidence and explanation)

a. Over 438,000 Americans (18.1 % of all deaths) die because of smoking each year. Secondhand smoke kills about 50,000 of them.

b. Almost 60% of children (22 millions) aged 3-11 years old are exposed to secondhand smoke.

c. My grandfather was a smoker. He died of lung cancer, after great suffering.

(Opposing claim to this point)

a. There are many smokers who are healthier and live much longer than people who don’t smoke.

(Supporting evidence reputing that opposing claim and explanation)

• Tobacco manufacturers put “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart disease, And May Complicate Pregnancy” on each pack of cigarettes. This proves the manufacturers admit smoking is hazardous to health.

3. People may start going to some public places like sport bars or clubs where they usually don’t, because they know there’s no more smoking allowed.

(Supporting evidence and explanation)

• I will consider the quality of the food and service when I am choosing a restaurant; smoking is not the only consideration.
• It is a positive influence. Banning smoking in public would help restaurant get better business, because most customers like sitting at the bar chatting and eating, without somebody sitting next to them smoking.

(Opposing claim to this point)

• Smells from deep fried oil, smoking from the grills, overcooking meat, sanitary chemicals may also cause potential hazards to people.

(Supporting evidence refuting that opposing claim and explanation)

• Although air is polluted from the smell of cooking oil or burning meat, it still can’t compare with Nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive and highly toxic chemical.
• If we handle the cleaning chemicals in a proper way, it shouldn’t be harmful.

Conclusion

Restatement of thesis: (one sentence)

This is murder - secondhand smoke can kill!

Review of main points: (three to five sentences)

Ordinances banning smoking in public places can protect employees and customers from secondhand smoke exposure, which is associated with increased risks of heart attacks and lung cancer in adults and respiratory disease in children.

Final Statement:

In my opinion, smoking should be banned from all public places.