Persuasive Paper Part 1: A Problem Exists, Brilliant Answers

Characteristics of the audience for this research paper

1. The audience consists of the substance users and governments. These two are the core of the discussion, seeing as it is both their actions that determine the next step with regards to managing healthcare for substance abusers.

2. The audience can either agree or disagree with the findings of this research papers. Seeing as this research does not represent any form of legal documentation, the audience is at liberty to either support its findings or disagree with them.

3. Both audiences have a direct influence in the findings of this paper

Scope of the study

The study will explore the effect of taxation on alcohol and tobacco use, and how it reflects on the provision of medical services.

Outline

1. Introduction

2. Statement of the problem

3. Scope of the study

4. Research questions

5. Literature review

6. Analysis and discussion

7. Conclusion

Question to be answered

1. Should tax on alcohol and tobacco be increased to help pay for medical costs?

Answering this question will provide the much needed insight on the topic under study

Research Plan and organization

I. Topic: Taxation of Alcohol and Tobacco, and its Impact on Medical Costs

II. Investigator: <student’s name>

III. Hypothesis and research question

The overall goal of this study is to ascertain the impact of alcohol and tobacco taxation. The research question is:

Should tax on alcohol and tobacco be increased to help pay for medical costs?

IV. Research methods

a) Observational research

b) Secondary data.

Primary sources

i. Volume 14. Effectiveness of tax and price policies for tobacco control. In: IARC Handbooks of cancer prevention. Lyon: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2011.

ii. Cook, P. J. (2007). Paying the Tab: The costs and benefits of alcohol control. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

iii. Smith, D. E., & Mitry, D. J. (2006). Consumer sensitivity to changes in tax policy on consumption of alcohol. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 30(3), 247-255.

iv. Kostova et al. Prices and cigarette demand: evidence from youth tobacco use in developing countries. NBER Working Paper Series. Working Paper #15781. Cambridge MA: National Bureau of Economic Research; 2010.

Secondary sources