The blogs that I did in this class were very helpful to me. I think that the biggest help that it gave me was it helped me to stay organized. Instead of just having a bunch of random information, I was able to write them down in the form of a blog that enabled me to reference them in the future when I needed them for the paper I was writing. The blogs also helped to enhance my writing skills more than just simply writing an essay. Rather than having to be proper and formal in my writing all the time, it allowed me to write more personally and really get into the things I was writing about.
The entries for the final project are the ones that I am most proud of writing this year. I felt that I was able to utilize the blog to its full potential and use it the way it was designed to be used. It also showed me how using hyperlinks to bookmark the articles I need was important and how well it allowed me to be organized. I was able to simply go back to my blog and connect instantly to the website rather than having to look all over the place to find the exact article again. I think that the blogs could be more effective if students were giving a more specific rubric to follow when writing on them. It was hard for me to write when there was such a broad range to write about. Changing this would make the blogs more interesting and the effort to do them would be greater.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Introduction
In the United States, 1 out of every 3 people that drink is under the legal drinking age. This is a very serious issue that we as a nation are facing. If these drinking trends continue, the alcohol problem will only increase over time. The biggest concern with alcohol is that it is a gateway drug that can lead to the use of other drugs. However, there are different steps that can be taken by our government to at least lessen this problem, but they must be used soon. The most obvious idea to me would be to lower the drinking age down to 18 rather than the 21 age that it is now. Another solution would be to give a drinking “permit” to high school students to teach them how to drink responsibly. These resolutions can make a major impact on our culture and save it from becoming worse than it already is.
Should I put more specific details in the intro or does it give a good overall feel for the essay? Is the idea of putting both sides, whats the harm of alcohol and solutions to it, a good decision?
Should I put more specific details in the intro or does it give a good overall feel for the essay? Is the idea of putting both sides, whats the harm of alcohol and solutions to it, a good decision?
Friday, January 4, 2008
Solution to teen drinking problem?
When looking for ways to reduce the amount of teen drinking in the US, there are not very many options open. The regular punishments that are received by violators are doing little to nothing to deter the teen drinking. The lowering of the drinking age is still the best choice in my opinion, but other scientists have come up with a new "solution" to the problem.
Leading scientist Dr. Roderic B. Park has been researching a new method to stop the abuse of alcohol by underage kids. He believes that if teens were given a "liquor permit" it would keep them from overusing alcohol. He thinks that the reason for the abuse is that kids are not educated enough about the drastic effects that alcohol can have so they are unprepared for the consequences. The liquor permit would educate them on how to properly consume alcohol without endangering their own lives as well as the lives of others.
When this liquor permit was experimented with in Boulder, Colorado, there was a drastic change in behavior by the college students. Accidents and drinking violence dropped to less than half of the previous levels they had been at as well as the attitudes of the fraternities and sororities. Because these teens would introduced to and allowed to use the alcohol before they went off to college, they were much more aware of the consequences that they would face if they abused their alcohol privileges. They became safer drinkers rather than the inexperienced ones at most universities.
There are a few downsides to this proposal as in most cases. It is feared that advertising may use this new permit to their advantage and begin to target younger audiences in the alcohol ads. As serious as this is, it could be prevented if the advertising companies were simply censored or told they were not allowed to. Also, this permit would completely change our alcohol culture, which means it would take time before it became entirely effective, But I believe that it is a step in the right direction to getting teen drinking to a safe level.
Leading scientist Dr. Roderic B. Park has been researching a new method to stop the abuse of alcohol by underage kids. He believes that if teens were given a "liquor permit" it would keep them from overusing alcohol. He thinks that the reason for the abuse is that kids are not educated enough about the drastic effects that alcohol can have so they are unprepared for the consequences. The liquor permit would educate them on how to properly consume alcohol without endangering their own lives as well as the lives of others.
When this liquor permit was experimented with in Boulder, Colorado, there was a drastic change in behavior by the college students. Accidents and drinking violence dropped to less than half of the previous levels they had been at as well as the attitudes of the fraternities and sororities. Because these teens would introduced to and allowed to use the alcohol before they went off to college, they were much more aware of the consequences that they would face if they abused their alcohol privileges. They became safer drinkers rather than the inexperienced ones at most universities.
There are a few downsides to this proposal as in most cases. It is feared that advertising may use this new permit to their advantage and begin to target younger audiences in the alcohol ads. As serious as this is, it could be prevented if the advertising companies were simply censored or told they were not allowed to. Also, this permit would completely change our alcohol culture, which means it would take time before it became entirely effective, But I believe that it is a step in the right direction to getting teen drinking to a safe level.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Alcohol: Gateway Drug?
It is strongly believed by many people that alcohol is a gateway drug. It is said to be the first drug that is usually used by minors before they move on to more harmful drugs. If this is true, then it is a very serious problem because of all the teens that do in fact drink. It puts them at a very high risk of being exposed to more powerful drugs and messing up their lives.
The reason that alcohol is considered a gateway drug is because it is usually the most available. Because it is legal to own, most teens have some type of alcoholic beverages in their house that is their parents. They can be exposed to it at a very young age. When they do begin to start drinking, which is usually around high school, they don't really see it as something that is all that bad. This could lead them to think that other drugs aren't as bad so they may begin to experiment with those drugs as well. This can lead down a very bad road that many never come off of.
But is alcohol really a gateway drug, or are there other factors that contribute more to "harder" drug use. Alcohol is different from any other drug in that if you drink it responsibly, you won't do any damage to your body. For this reason, I do not believe that it could be put into the category of a gateway drug.
The reason that alcohol is considered a gateway drug is because it is usually the most available. Because it is legal to own, most teens have some type of alcoholic beverages in their house that is their parents. They can be exposed to it at a very young age. When they do begin to start drinking, which is usually around high school, they don't really see it as something that is all that bad. This could lead them to think that other drugs aren't as bad so they may begin to experiment with those drugs as well. This can lead down a very bad road that many never come off of.
But is alcohol really a gateway drug, or are there other factors that contribute more to "harder" drug use. Alcohol is different from any other drug in that if you drink it responsibly, you won't do any damage to your body. For this reason, I do not believe that it could be put into the category of a gateway drug.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Do age-laws deter drinking?
Although it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume an alcoholic beverage outside of their own home, this does nothing to deter the amount of teen drinkers. It seems to encourage more drinking rather than making it less. This poses the question, "Does having the drinking age be 21 actually stop or discourage underage drinking?"
In the United States, underage alcohol abuse is one of the biggest problems among the teens. This is a very serious problem that we face today. The statistic that over 32% of drinkers are underage is astounding. How are all of these teens gaining such easy access to all of this alcohol. The answer is simple, the laws are not be regulated strictly enough. But whose fault is this really? Police have been trying to crack down on it, but it is much to frequent to stop all of them. The parents are the ones that need to talk with their kids about it. But ultimately, it is the fault of the teens if they are drinking and they need to be responsible for their own actions.
Wit all of these underage drinkers getting away with drinking, it raises the question, "do these underage drinking laws actually work?" I would argue that they don't work, actually, it seems they almost encourage more drinking. The rebellious nature of teenagers makes them want to go against the law and do what they want. This means that drinking presents them with a risk that they want to take and will continue to keep taking. If the laws weren't there, would this many kids drink? Or would it not be as "exciting" anymore if they were allowed to and would less of them drink, or at least stop abusing alcohol?
In the United States, underage alcohol abuse is one of the biggest problems among the teens. This is a very serious problem that we face today. The statistic that over 32% of drinkers are underage is astounding. How are all of these teens gaining such easy access to all of this alcohol. The answer is simple, the laws are not be regulated strictly enough. But whose fault is this really? Police have been trying to crack down on it, but it is much to frequent to stop all of them. The parents are the ones that need to talk with their kids about it. But ultimately, it is the fault of the teens if they are drinking and they need to be responsible for their own actions.
Wit all of these underage drinkers getting away with drinking, it raises the question, "do these underage drinking laws actually work?" I would argue that they don't work, actually, it seems they almost encourage more drinking. The rebellious nature of teenagers makes them want to go against the law and do what they want. This means that drinking presents them with a risk that they want to take and will continue to keep taking. If the laws weren't there, would this many kids drink? Or would it not be as "exciting" anymore if they were allowed to and would less of them drink, or at least stop abusing alcohol?
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Drinking age and Accidents
The idea of switching the drinking age has both advantages and disadvantages. This issue has been debated for a long time and is still a hot topic throughout the country today, mainly on college campuses.
For those who wish to lower the drinking age down to 18, they claim that it will stop the alcohol abuse that is seen on many college campuses today. The reason for this is that the students are not allowed to go to bars and be socially accepted to drink, so they are forced to hide in their dorms and binge drink which cause much more harm. According to the Choose Responsibility group, if kids were exposed to drinking alcohol legally at a younger age, it would make them less likely to abuse it.
There are also many disadvantages that are prevalent in the drinking age being only 18. When some states used to have it at 18, the rate of highway deaths from drunk driving were very high. The inexperience of new drivers mixed with alcohol is a very bad thing to have. It was shown when the Drinking age was moved back up to 21, the number of these accidents decreased dramatically.
For those who wish to lower the drinking age down to 18, they claim that it will stop the alcohol abuse that is seen on many college campuses today. The reason for this is that the students are not allowed to go to bars and be socially accepted to drink, so they are forced to hide in their dorms and binge drink which cause much more harm. According to the Choose Responsibility group, if kids were exposed to drinking alcohol legally at a younger age, it would make them less likely to abuse it.
There are also many disadvantages that are prevalent in the drinking age being only 18. When some states used to have it at 18, the rate of highway deaths from drunk driving were very high. The inexperience of new drivers mixed with alcohol is a very bad thing to have. It was shown when the Drinking age was moved back up to 21, the number of these accidents decreased dramatically.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Mid Term Paper
When brainstorming topics to write about, I hit upon a few good ideas. The one that seemed to jump out at me the most was the drinking age. Although this topic is not debated very regularly anymore, I think it is a very important one. Seeing as I myself am almost 18, I think that the drinking age should be lowered to 18 rather than 21 as it is now. This may be viewed by some to be a very bad idea, but I strongly disagree with this and say that it is a good idea.
Some arguments that I think I will use will be that 18 years olds are now adults and should not be restricted in this way. They are able to die in war for their country, vote for the president and other officials, buy and sell real estate, and other things as well. According to the article on the drinking age, it states that 18 year olds, if given all of these other responsibilities and privileges, should not be denied the right to have a drink as well.
This topic is something that I fell pretty strongly about so it will be easier to defend. Also, I think that I will be able to find enough information to back up my views. Many other people that I have read express the same views as me, so I know that I am not standing alone on this issue.
Some arguments that I think I will use will be that 18 years olds are now adults and should not be restricted in this way. They are able to die in war for their country, vote for the president and other officials, buy and sell real estate, and other things as well. According to the article on the drinking age, it states that 18 year olds, if given all of these other responsibilities and privileges, should not be denied the right to have a drink as well.
This topic is something that I fell pretty strongly about so it will be easier to defend. Also, I think that I will be able to find enough information to back up my views. Many other people that I have read express the same views as me, so I know that I am not standing alone on this issue.
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