Need a research paper.

WR 121 Assignment Essay Three—Research Argument

1700-2100 Words

Basic Prompt

Select any topic of interest for this essay (except from the banned topic list that I will outline in class--topics like abortion, gun control, capital punishment, etc). After identifying a problematic and significant issue inside of that topic, build a thesis-driven, argumentative essay that is well supported with credible research and evidence.

Use at least eight sources, and be sure to take advantage of the research databases and other scholarly research resources. Also, be sure to keep in mind audience, discourse community, and the rhetorical situation as you build your essay.

You may pick consider one of the following approaches to this essay:

Take a position on a problematic and significant issue.

Present an issue to your intended audience, take a position, and develop a convincing, well-reasoned argument about that position (e.g. “Diners should avoid overfished species such as bluefin tuna and Chilean sea bass,” “The environmental benefits of genetically-modified crops outweigh their risks,” or “Hunting is a sound way to control deer overpopulation”).

Propose a solution to a problem

Present an problem and propose a convincing, well-reasoned solution to the problem, keeping in mind your intended audience (e.g. “Soft drinks should be taxed to help curb diabetes,” or “The government should raise reimbursement rates so the National School Lunch Program can provide more nutritious meals” or “The USDA should implement stricter inspections to detect E.coli and Salmonella contamination,”).

Key Elements of this essay

· use proper MLA formatting and style

· use appropriate in-text citation and create a MLA style works cited page.

· find, cite, and integrate credible scholarly sources

· develop a clear, focused, thesis statement which addresses a problematic and significant issue

· establish topic sentences and claims that support your thesis statement

· keep strong unity to your topic sentences and your thesis

· provide specific research and support for your claims and example

· use at least eight sources

· be sure to attribute, embed, and cite all sources

· use peer-reviewed sources whenever possible

· use summary, paraphrase, and/or direct quotation of sources to support your claims

· be sure to guide your reader through your argument by digesting the material and providing strong analysis to help them understand the topic, issue, and argument

· organize and delivery your essay in a way that is logical and effective

· use transitional phrases and ideas to help steer your argument

· address counter argument and opposing viewpoints as necessary

· build authority and credibility

· show competence with the fundamentals of sentence-level writing

· show the ability to think critically and develop you ideas clearly

· avoid distracting errors, which interrupt the flow of your essay

· proofread

Pick a topic you are generally interested in, and make sure you narrow your focus to effectively meet the needs of essay. This assignment can be a very entertaining, exciting one for you if you pick a topic which will keep you engaged throughout the writing process. Pick something you enjoy.

Student Example A—some citation and sentence level errors, but a solid presentation of information in most cases.

Media; Myths, and Misconceptions about Tourette’s Syndrome

What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the words Tourette’s syndrome? Do you envision someone jerking and twitching violently while spewing profanities or other socially unacceptable language? Do you equate this disorder with uncontrollable rage, or liken the sufferer to someone who is crazy, possessed, or dangerous? For most people this is a common misperception of what it is like to have Tourette‘s. Most of our exposure to Tourette’s syndrome has been through social media outlets such as television and cinema, and while there have been many positive and accurate depictions of this disorder, the vast majority of portrayals have focused on the rare and sensationalized aspects of this puzzling condition. Because my son and I both have Tourette’s syndrome, I know firsthand how the inaccurate media representation of Tourette’s affects those of us living with the disorder. The challenge of overcoming other’s ignorance and preconceived beliefs concerning Tourette’s syndrome is often the greatest struggle of all. The formidable stigmas attached to Tourette’s, perpetuated by the media, make it even more difficult to educate others about the true nature of this syndrome. The medical and scientific communities have made great strides in unraveling the mysteries and misconceptions surrounding Tourette’s syndrome, yet the media continues to paint a damaging, inaccurate picture of the disorder; the media has the power to dispel the myths and lessen the stigma associated with Tourette’s syndrome. When will they realize that Tourette’s syndrome is no laughing matter?

The misunderstanding of Tourette’s syndrome has endured despite the advances made concerning the physiological aspects of this disorder. Once considered a purely psychological affliction, linked to demon possession or insanity, we now know that Tourette’s is a hereditary neurological disorder that manifests itself in physical and oral actions known as tics (Buckser 257). Because no two cases of Tourette’s are the same in severity or presentation, it is a very difficult condition to understand. Tourette’s syndrome is not curable, but there are many medications and behavioral therapies available to help lessen the severity of these varied tics, which are often accompanied by ADHD and OCD (Lillienfeld & Arkowitz 64). One would argue that “knowledge is power”, yet due to the media’s continued exploitation of Tourette’s Syndrome, the myths and misinformation about this disorder prevail.

So why does the media continue to misrepresent such a vulnerable segment of society? Tourette’s has become an easy source of shock humor in all genres of popular media. From movies to talk shows, radio broadcasts to cartoons, the depiction of Tourette’s as the “cursing disease”(Zinner & Coffey 560) has made an indelible imprint on public perception. Movies, in particular, have painted the most common stereotype of Tourette’s. In the films “What about Bob”, and “Deuce Bigalow, Male Male Gigalo”, the sensationalized portrayal of the character’s swearing and uncontrolled physicality elicits laughs, but also reinforces the public’s misunderstanding of the true nature of this affliction. Despite its omnipresence in popular media’s depictions of Tourette’s, coprolalia and copropraxia, or the uncontrolled use of violent or obscene language and gestures respectively, occur for only about one in ten people with this disorder(Buckser 270). While these tics are extremely rare, their dramatic image plants itself firmly in the observer’s mind. In a survey of University of San Diego undergraduates by psychologists Annette Taylor and Patricia Kowalski, 65 percent of students endorsed the view that all Tourette’s sufferers shout profanities (Lillienfeld & Arkowitz 64). Given that people are more inclined to recall the disturbing and shocking facets of what they are exposed to, the media reinforces the public’s negative view of Tourette’s by portraying the condition in such an exaggerated and sensationalized manner.

The media’s damaging portrait of Tourette’s syndrome, and its effect on how the public views those with the disorder, has led to depression, anxiety, and social isolation for many people because of their acute consciousness of how they are perceived by others. This perception has been defined as an “illness of the observer”, in which the debilitating event occurs not in the body of the afflicted, but in the minds of the uncomprehending (Buckser 266). Andrew Buckser, a cultural anthropologist, analyzes the effects of having such a visible and misunderstood disorder:

Tourette’s syndrome resists incorporation into the standard conceptual frameworks through which Americans understand illness. Its symptoms seem to stand between the psychological and the neurological, between the uncontrolled physicality of movement disorders and the disordered intentionality of psychiatric conditions. The difficulties of translating these behaviors into a cultural discourse which cannot easily accommodate them amount to semantic symptoms, and are the primary burden of Tourette’s for its sufferers. (265)

When the media presents a negative stereotype of a group of people, as they have with

Tourette’s, it invokes prejudice and misunderstanding towards them. Those with Tourette’s syndrome are all too well aware of the public’s perception of them as being socially unacceptable and out of control. Because we tend to see ourselves through the eyes of others, our self image and self esteem is dependant on acceptance or rejection from those around us. This rejection and stigmatization causes many Tourette’s patients to live a life of social isolation, choosing depression and loneliness over confronting the world’s scrutiny of their disorder. Even those with mild expressions of the condition, like me, struggle with anxiety and self consciousness while attempting to make our tics socially invisible. We become masters of illusion, morphing our socially unacceptable tics into normal human behaviors, or holding them in until we are alone. While this can be effective in reducing the adverse reactions of others, it can be a tiring and all consuming task.

Another result of the media’s inaccurate portrayal of Tourette’s Syndrome is Social marginalization. Defined as “the process of relegating or confining a particular group into a lower social standing“(Leslie,Leslie & Murphy 168), social marginalization often results in a lower quality of life for the victim. This exclusion, resulting from discrimination, negative stereotyping, and ignorance, can have a drastic impact on the lives of Tourette‘s patients. People who are marginalized by society have relatively little control over their lives and the resources available to them. Their limited access to valued social resources such as education, health services, housing, income, leisure activities, and work often lead to low self esteem and self confidence (Kagan et al. 401). This unjust exclusion of a group of people, simply because their disorder has been so sensationalized and distorted , is a problem that I feel can only be remedied through advocacy and responsible media representation.

In addition to social marginalization, those with Tourette’s syndrome often face peer victimization from those around them. The media’s stereotypical portrayal of Tourette’s sufferers as wild, cursing freaks has made them an easy target for persecution. The resulting bullying, rejection, and ridicule can further stigmatize the sufferer and lead to “social discomfort, shame, self consciousness, demoralization and depression”(American Psychiatric Association 325). The American Psychiatric Association also reports that social, academic, and occupational functioning may be impaired because of rejection by others, or by anxiety about having tics in social situations (327). Children, in particular, are at great risk for being bullied and ostracized by their peers. Studies have shown children to have an increased likelihood of social rejection and isolation (Marcks et al. 60), and to be viewed as less socially acceptable as their tic-free peers (Boudjouk et al. 17). This early exposure to such harsh and unkind treatment affects not only their self esteem, but sets the child up for a lifetime of failure. Although the physical symptoms of Tourette’s usually diminish with age, these negative social outcomes often carry into adulthood causing depression and anxiety. This disorder does not shorten life, limit mobility, or impair cognitive or emotional function (Buckser 262), yet it is too often a completely debilitating ailment simply because of the way others perceive it. By changing the public’s perception of Tourette’s syndrome we can reduce the victimization endured by those who have so much to offer, yet are unable to reach their full potential because of society’s limitations.

The first step in changing the public’s perception of Tourette’s syndrome is for the media to represent the disorder in an accurate, compassionate way. Journalist Jeffrey Kramer equates the media’s exposure of Tourette’s to a “double edged sword” (160). On one hand it brings important information to the public, often helping to diagnose the condition. On the other hand, the symptoms are all too frequently exploited for sensationalism and easy laughs. If the media would focus on the factual and positive facets of this disorder, the day to day lives of those living with Tourette’s would be improved immeasurably. By offering a glimpse into the lives of real people living productively with this disorder, the media can bring normalcy and acceptance to those with Tourette’s.

When I look at my son, I worry about the challenges he will face because of his struggle with Tourette’s syndrome. Will he be defined by his intellectual gifts, witty sense of humor, and incredible kindness and compassion for others, or by his uncontrollable tics? Will he be judged on his own personal merits and character, or by society’s preconceived views of Tourette’s? I am optimistic that through accurate media portrayals of Tourette’s syndrome, resulting in increased public awareness of this disorder, his future will be bright.

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Works Cited Page

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Revised 4th ed. Washington, DC. (2000).

Boudjouk, P. J., D. W. Woods, R. G. Miltenberger, and E. S. Long. "Negative Peer Evaluation in Adolescents: Effects of Tic Disorders and Trichotillomania." Child and Family Behavior Therapy 22 (2000): 17-28.

Buckser, Andrew. "The Empty Gesture: Tourette Syndrome And The Semantic Dimension Of Illness." Ethnology 45.4 (2006): 255-274.

Kagan, Evans, Knowles, Sixmith, Burns, Burton, Crespo, & Lalueza. “Working With People Who Are Marginalized By the Social System: Challenges for Community Psychological Work.” European Community Psychology: Community, Power, Ethics and Values. Barcelona (2000): 400-412.

Kramer, Jeffrey. "Tourette's Syndrome Deserves TV Respect." Television Week 23.6 (2004): 9.

Leslie and Murphy. Inclusion by Design: The Challenge For Social Work in Workplace Accommodation for People with Disabilities. Emerging Perspectives on Antioppression. Toronto: Canadian Scholar’s Press (2000): 157-169.

Lilienfeld, Scott, and Hal Arkowitz. "What Do We Know About Tourette's?." Scientific American Mind 20.4 (2009): 64-65.

Marcks, Berlin, Woods, & Davies. "Impact of Tourette Syndrome: A Preliminary Investigation of the Effects of Disclosure on Peer Perceptions and Social Functioning." Psychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes 70.1 (2007): 59-67.

Zinner, & Coffey. “Developmental and Behavioral Disorders Grown Up: Tourette’s Syndrome.” Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 30.4 (2009): 560-573.