Weekly Writing Assignment #7

Part I:
For my issue that I have chosen for my Major Analysis Project--I am concerned with the debate surrounding lowering the drinking age to 18. I have done enough research to assume that this is not an easy process; this would take many years for such a grand-scale hypothetical plan such as this to even work. I will begin by demonstrating how my project will demonstrate Good Sense, Good Character and Good Will.

By implementing an after-school education program geared to students K-8; we can catch them at an early age and right before they enter high school. I think this has a lot of credible backing to it. Education is a tool that has never failed in the past. We can incorporate into their education like what we do for sex education. D.A.R.E. is a good program, but it doesn't begin to even touch the surface. The alcohol education program won't be against drinking, we understand that kids will drink no matter what (whether it is by being curious or peer pressure, they will drink no matter how hard we tell them not to), instead, we will study Europe's culture surrounding alcohol as well as other countries and study past cases to see what makes them get to the point of being drunk. These are characteristics of Good Sense and Good Will--I will be approaching this proposal from a rational point with the intention of not being an enemy of alcohol but instead, more of an activity to be taken cautiously. If sex education means passing out condoms for kids to be safe, my program would teach them the negative impacts of making bad decisions but allowing them to grow and come up with their own decisions (this demonstrates Good Character).


Part II:
The forum that I am reviewing on lowering the drinking age or not can be found here.

The online forum that I found was on CollegeNet.com. So far, most of the people debating are educators and those that have first-hand experience. One commentor wrote, "Teenagers need a slow introduction into big responsibilities. Drinking and driving are two of those responsibilities. A provisional drinking license could control the time, place, and amounts of alcohol a teenager can drink." He suggests that we find ways to control the amount that teenagers drink--by getting rid of underground drinking parties and allowing it to be in public with more control and supervision. While I personally thought that this was a great idea, there were those that weren't so much in favor. An educator whose original opinion was to lower the drinking age has changed her mind as she grows older and she becomes more experience as a teacher. She is grateful for the 21 age minimum--and that in the past drinking and driving was the number one killer among teens.

What makes these two posts effective was that it was articulate in their arguments--but it also did not contain any brashness. It was very logical and appealed to readers, especially parents, lawmakers and college students. There were many good posts on this forum which lead to a great discussion. I even found myself agreeing with those that were for keeping the drinking age the same, only because they were very rational and persuasive about it. This makes the arguments effective for those that are on the fence about this debate.