PLANNING AN ARGUMENT PAPERDrunk Driving

By Isabel DeFeo at Frederick Community College

Copyright ©2011

TOPICS ALREADY COVERED THROUGH PAST TWO PAPERS

Drunk Driving: The Extent

Effects of Drunk Driving: Beyond the Accident

POSSIBLE THESIS Drunk driving is wrong,

irresponsible, and wastes many lives.

In order to reduce drunk driving in the United States, we need tougher legislation, better enforcement, and a higher rate of conviction and incarceration.

Drunk driving rates will not decrease until there is cooperation between legislators, law enforcement, and judges.

THESIS WINNER

In order to reduce the rate of drunk driving in the United States, we need tougher legislation, better enforcement, and a higher rate of conviction and incarceration.

THESIS BUILDER

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OUTLINE – THE THREE MAIN POINTS

OUTLINE – THE SUPPORTING POINTS (1)

OUTLINE – THE SUPPORTING POINTS (2)

OUTLINE – THE SUPPORTING POINTS (3)

GOOD ARGUMENTS ARE BALANCED

What are possible objections to each of these main points of the outline?

1. Tougher legislation2. Better enforcement3. Judicial conviction

GOOD ARGUMENTS ARE BALANCED

Possible objection: One person wrote about the

inability of people to measure their own intoxication levels and that the strict law in California is too harsh because judging one’s level of intoxication is complex and difficult. (http://www.cockeyed.com/science/breathalyzer/breathalyser01.shtml)

How I would refute: Regardless of how complex measuring

intoxication levels are, people should practice reasonable drinking and adhere to the guidelines given out for time, amount, weight, and height. And when in doubt, just don’t drink and drive.

GOOD ARGUMENTS ARE BALANCEDObjection: Some people claim that the

breathalyzer is not accurate enough in judging one’s level of intoxication – blood samples are more reliable. (http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Drivingissues/1104284869.html ).

How I would refute: Law enforcement uses more

than just the results of a breathalyzer test in determining whether someone is too intoxicated to drive. A person will not be convicted simply on a breathalyzer test result.

GOOD ARGUMENTS ARE BALANCED

Objection: Some people claim that

harsh penalties like incarceration for the first offense is too harsh – it disrupts families and can result in people losing their sources of income. (http://www.blog.duiattorney.com/)

Refutation: Tougher penalties are

necessary. One time of driving drunk can result in the death of an innocent driver.

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