Argumentation/Persuasive Essay
MyDogAteMyHW
vaccines.docxKendrick 5
MLA format is an essay style guideline that is governed by the Modern Language Association and is commonly used in the field of Humanities, in subjects such as English and History; however, individual departments and instructors may also assign this formatting requirement for classes that fall under other departments. Common characteristics for the formatting technique include the following: a proper header, indented paragraphs, double spacing, other specific details that give credibility to the academic paper. Visit this website to see a sample paper you may find helpful: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090701095636_747.pdf The Writing Lab also has MLA style resources in the MLA and APA Hub, with helpful links and additional information regarding MLA format.]
Embrace the Use of Vaccines
According to the World Health Organization, a vaccine is a biological solution that is prepared and used to boost immunity for a given ailment (World Health Organization). [If the author is cited in the sentence, then do not repeat the author’s name again at the end.] Typically, a vaccine comprises an agent which is similar to a microorganism that causes a disease. It is made using a form of microbe that has been weakened or killed, its surface proteins, or toxins. A vaccine works by preparing the body's immune system to identify as foreign the agent against which it has been prepared, kill it, and recall it so that it can extinguish it or any other similar microorganisms in future (World Health Organization). [Don’t cite facts. No source owns facts. Just put facts in your own words (don’t quote facts) and use the facts. Only cite paraphrased opinions, statistics, or direct quotations.] The use of vaccines to prevent diseases, especially in children[, Use a comma before and after interrupting words in a sentence.] has been met with support and opposition in equal measure. Those against the use of vaccines argue that vaccines have adverse side effects on the body. However, these claims have not been scientifically proven. On the other hand, research has for a long time shown that vaccines protect children from creepy illnesses such as measles, smallpox, mumps. Thus, despite opposition from some factions, vaccines present great health benefits and should be embraced by all. Your introductory paragraph included a clear thesis statement here. This key tool empowers an academic essay by presenting the main purpose of your piece to the reader in a clear and direct way!
Vaccination in children is one of the undisputable ways of ensuring that they remain healthy and not exposed to diseases which would otherwise be prevented. Vaccines are usually administered through immunization programs which reach a wide range of people in the population (Schuchat 121).]This is a fact of what is usually done. People don’t debate how vaccines are administered.] The aggregate advantages of this combined public health and scientific effort are enormous. For instance, vaccination improves life expectancy, extinction of disturbing epidemics in the community, and economic savings from disability or diseases which have been prevented (Schuchat 121).[This is a good example of something that DOES need to be cited as others might debate whether or not it really has these benefits. Establish the credibility of a source the first time that source is used. Who is this? Why trust this source on this topic? You might mention the person's experience in the area or what the person wrote as a way to establish credibility. For example: John Smith, an economist for the World Health Organization, claims that… or John Smith in The Economist claims that… In either instance, John Smith's credibility about an economic topic is established. You should do the same the first time using a source as a way to show why your reader should trust the information, thus building your credibility and making your ideas more convincing to the reader.] People who are not vaccinated are at a high risk of developing complications such as limb paralysis, convulsions, loss of hearing, and brain damage among other disorders (Hinman, Orenstein, and Schuchat). Worse still, complications caused by lack of vaccination can lead to death.
Since its inception, the use of vaccines across the world had led to the elimination of smallpox and is almost eliminating polio. [The paragraph is not just about smallpox and polio. These are two examples. What benefits of vaccines are they examples of? The answer to that question is your topic sentence! The topic sentence (first sentence of the paragraph) must state the main point of the paragraph and cannot be source material. You want to think of your topic sentence as a “mini-thesis” for each paragraph, where you will inform your reader of what you are addressing in each specific body paragraph in the first line of that paragraph. This ensures quality organization of your document that your reader can effectively follow.] Also, diseases such as measles, rubella, diphtheria, and mumbles have been significantly reduced in the United States due to the widespread use of vaccines in the country (Hinman, Orenstein, and Schuchat). [How can you establish the credibility of this source?] Initially, vaccines were only used to prevent cases such as tetanus, smallpox, diphtheria, and pertussis which were administered on children in the United States from time to time. During this time, other diseases such as polio which did not have vaccinations presented a great health problem to the people. However, the situation changed immediately, vaccinations for them were invented and used for disease prevention. Presently, about sixteen diseases are prevented using vaccines (Hinman, Orenstein and Schuchat 16). [Don’t end a paragraph with research or an example. A paragraph should have (1) a topic sentence, (2) 2-3 sentences about 2-3 supporting ideas, and (3) a conclusion/transition sentence. As a general rule, you want to aim to produce paragraphs that are at least five (5) but usually not more than twelve (12) sentences in length. Additionally, you want to make sure each body paragraph has a specific and clear focus that ties back to the purpose of your essay.]
Before the commencement of the use of vaccines, measles was an epidemic that caused the deaths of many. [This is a fact. What is your opinion that the facts of this paragraph show to be true? The answer to that question is your topic sentence!} Records from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that deaths resulting from measles significantly reduced after measles vaccines were approved and started being used for the prevention of the condition in 1963 (CDC). The CDC has conducted research and discovered that countries where the vaccine is not used had increased occurrences of measles. Further, [the] CDC reports that cases of pertussis, a preventable disease, are relatively high in countries which decreased their use of the vaccine used to prevent the disease. Examples of such countries include Sweden, Japan, and Great Britain (CDC). The consequences resulting from abandoning the vaccine were immediate and distressing. For example, the cease in using pertussis vaccine led to an outbreak more than 10,000 cases of the disease and 40 fatalities (CDC). In Japan and Sweden, the trend was not any different. Which [To avoid a fragment, “which” must follow a comma after whatever it is that “which” refers to.] means that while vaccinations help prevent and eliminate diseases, ceasing to use vaccines could result in the reemergence of the disease.
Use of vaccines can also prevent the "importation/exportation" of diseases by travelers moving from countries where there is no vaccination for such diseases to destinations where there are vaccinations. Through vaccination, destination countries make sure nobody enters with an existing condition that can cause a deadly outbreak. This strategy is effective as opposed to placing restrictions on visitors. [See earlier comment about paragraph development. What research support can you provide here to develop this paragraph further to be a minimum of 6-12 sentences?]
While some groups of people oppose vaccines claiming that they have severe side effects, their use has continued to grow due to their defensive power. [You should have a counter argument paragraph before the conclusion to address these other arguments. In one paragraph, show the other side, and in that same paragraph refute and offer rebuttals to that other side. A counter argument paragraph is needed in an argument essay to show that you have fairly and objectively considered the issue from all perspectives. By refuting the reasons on the other side, you provide more support for why your side is the best possible one on the issue.] Through vaccination, severe and dangerous diseases such as measles, rubella, polio, diphtheria, smallpox, and many more are either significantly reduced or eliminated. Since no significant proof has been presented to oppose the use of vaccines, the practice should continue since it has shown to improve otherwise life-threatening conditions.
Center for Diseases Control. What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinations? 10 March 2017. Web. 6 March 2018.
Hinman, Alan R., Orenstein, Walter A., and Schuchat. Anne. [Only the first author’s name is put as Last, First for alphabetizing purposes. The other names are put in the usual order of First Last names.] "Vaccine-preventable Diseases, Immunizations, and the Epidemic Intelligence." American Journal of Epidemiology.” Vol. 174, No. 11 (2011): 16-22. Web. [Only italicize the title of the journal.]
World Health Organization. Vaccines. 2018. Web. 6 March 2018.
[These citations look closer to MLA 7th edition citation style, but the more recent 8th edition style should be used. Follow MLA style formatting for all of the citations on the works cited page. The Works Cited page is a complex part of the academic paper and is a key component of MLA formatting expectations when outside sources are used. In addition to double spacing all lines, alphabetizing entries, and using the hanging indent, MLA format requires one to include information about the complete source information following a specific format. Visit this website for specific examples you may find helpful: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/ The Writing Lab also has MLA style resources in the MLA and APA Hub, with helpful links and additional information regarding MLA format.]
