Joe Nocera Thesis

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In America, cigarette smoking is the number one cause of death that could be prevented. It leads to approximately half a million deaths per year according to the University of Michigan Health System. Cigarettes contain a stimulant drug called nicotine which is highly addictive. In the last decade, the United States government has been trying different ways to stop cigarette smoking. Most states have taken initiative and banned smoking in public places. Joe Nocera the author of “A Tobacco Tax to Save Lives’ argues that the United States government should tax cigarette products more than other nicotine containing products such as electronic cigarettes because cigarettes are much more detrimental to the users health and could potentially save lives. Throughout the article he provides statistics and data along with information from credible economic specialist in public health to successfully engage with the audience. As a result, the argument is effective. In Nocera’s article, he sets the stage by describing the history of Sweden’s tobacco regulations. He states that citizens in Sweden used snus (a tobacco product which…show more content…
He proposes a solution to try to get people away from cigarettes. To convince the target audience he shows statistics and data to prove how his idea has had success in Sweden. Nocera solution is convincing and feasible. He evaluates the solution while building credibility from experts in public health. Using rebuttal arguments he refutes possible problems. His article demonstrates a successful proposal argument. The context or exigence of the article was appropriate because cigarette smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. It’s important to publish writing at appropriate circumstances to be effective, which is what Nocera did. He took a big issue and brought up solutions and alternatives to the problem which is cigarette

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