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Toulmin Argument

Memphis Christie

ENGL 102-048

Toulmin Argument Essay

18 April 2013

It’s Mommy and Daddy’s Fault I’m Obese

            Child obesity is a very serious concern. “One out of every five children in the U. S. is overweight or obese, and this number is continuing to rise” (“Obesity in Children”). This staggering statistic leaves researchers and doctors everywhere faced with the difficult question of deciding, who is to blame for this continuing crisis? I believe parents should be held accountable for child obesity because as parents they have the most influence and control over the childhood habits that may result in obesity. Child obesity is preventable if mothers and fathers realize the dramatic effect obesity has on the child and their future in society. According to Sharron Dalton, author of Our Overweight Children: What Parents, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Control the Fatness Epidemic,

Fast paced lives and tough economic times have made of all incomes and backgrounds busier than ever, constantly pressed for time and struggling to meet the demands of work and family life. Harried parents often are unavailable, too tired, or simply lacking in interest and know-how to prepare healthy meals and play actively with their kids. For them, fast-food takeout or “heat-‘n’-eat” packaged meals are cheap and easy alternatives that prove irresistible. Parents grab food on the go and snack mindlessly while working or watching TV; their children follow suit. (“Our Overweight Children”)

Despite the fast pace of the world in which children are being raised today, parents need to realize the importance of taking a time-out and being there for the needs of the family. This may include having to lose out on time in other areas in order to be home to cook a well prepared meal a few times a week, or missing out on the latest episode of “Desperate Housewives” because the children should come first. The adults serve as role-models for the children, if the parents enforce the importance of eating healthy, and getting sufficient exercise, then the child will mimic this example.

A common mistake often made by parents is in forcing a child to eat all of their food. “Children whose parents exert an excessive degree over what and how much their children eat are more likely to be unable to regulate their food intake in a healthy manner” (“Our Overweight Children”). Forcing a child to eat before being allowed to have dessert or leave the dinner table can unknowingly have negative effects on that child’s health. It unknowingly sets the tone of healthy foods as something required or demanded of the parents, turning off any desire for the item, and unhealthy foods a source of reward and appeal. In the same light, “when parents require their children to eat everything on the plate, kids then lose the ability to use their own feelings of hunger and fullness to decide how much to eat (“Childhood Obesity”). This habit can stay with a child for their entire lifespan; instead they should be urged to eat until they are full. Overeating is a top benefactor in the existence of obesity and a hard habit to break especially when it begins at such a tender age. Instead of enforcing serving sizes parents should be enforcing exercise routines and adequate meals. It is not how much is eaten that will make the difference, but of what nutritious value is in the food being consumed.

Most of a child’s meals are prepared at home so how is it that, “children eat only two or three servings of the five recommended vegetables and fruits daily, and one serving is likely to be fried potatoes or potato chips”(“Our Overweight Children”). Parents need to be asking themselves, how are they allowing this to occur? Well to answer this question, a child will only eat what is made available to them so if when they pull open the snack cabinet and are greeted by Dorito chips and packaged brownies then this is what they will eat.  A parent may argue that there are also healthy options available in the house, in which the child chooses to pick between the chips and brownies when in actuality that parent is still at fault. “Parents should promote healthful food choices among toddlers and young children by making a variety of nutritious, low-energy-dense foods, such as fruits and vegetables, available to them” (“Preventing Childhood Obesity”). Do not put the child in a position where they will be subjected to unhealthy snacking instead, eliminate the bad choices and give them the ultimatum of deciding between an apple and an orange. The book, “Preventing Childhood Obesity” supports the idea that the more a parent exposes their child to healthy food options, the more likely that child will be to eat their fruits and vegetables even without the reinforcement of mom or dad. These habits will stay with the child into adulthood because of such a healthy foundation growing up that limited bad choices. Too often parents are afraid to tell the child no, although they may seem be upset at the time, they will appreciate the authority down the road as healthy adults.

Parents should also be held responsible for child obesity levels because of the activities they allow their children to engage in opposed to physical activity. According to “The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,” children spend an average of seven and a half hours engaging in some form of media, from video games, computers and above all television use. “TV viewing is a contributing factor to childhood obesity because it may take away from the time children spend in physical activities; lead to increased energy intake through snacking and eating meals in front of the TV; and, influence children to make unhealthy food choices through exposure to food advertisements” (“Overweight and Obesity”). Engaging with the media may seem like a good way to occupy the children’s time while the adults busy themselves with household chores but it also makes them vulnerable to laziness, bad eating habits, and increases the desire for unhealthy foods. Television can have a negative influence on kids; however, parents need to realize that they have even more influence. Kids are not getting active because television use plays such a heavy role in their lives. Parents have the control to minimize the amount of time a child spends on the couch but choose not to. Just think if for two out of those seven and a half hours were instead spent at the park engaging in physical activity, obesity levels amongst the youth would decrease tremendously.

 Fig. 1 Illustrates an active way of having fun (“NY Metro”).

Amongst all reasons that child obesity should be blamed on the parents, the rush for instant gratification that has such a heavy influence in American households is by far the most alarming. Parents are not taking into account the effects this lifestyle poses to their children in regards to health. Parents would rather pop a meal in the microwave for two minutes then to take the time to prepare a well cooked, nutritious meal for their family. It is easier to stop at a fast food chain such as Burger King on the way home from work then to take the time to find a better option. “Research studies have shown that most eating and physical activity habits are exclusively established in childhood where parents have the highest level of influence over the child” (Families in Crisis). If a parent takes their family to McDonald’s for dinner every night it implies to the child that McDonalds is an acceptable diet. Obesity amongst children would not be such a huge issue if parents began to stress and demonstrate a healthier lifestyle and influence over their youngsters. There are healthy meal options available at the same low cost as one at a food chain such as McDonalds. All it takes is a little extra time to ensure a healthy future for a child.

 Fig. 2 Illustrates a family eating a healthy meal opposed to a fast food alternative (“My Street Grocery”).

“Eating frequently with the family at home has a positive effect on overall diet quality, according to a study of nine-to fourteen-year-old children. The kids who ate dinner at home four or more times a week ate more fruits and vegetables and less fried foods…”(“Our Overweight Children”). Parents often do not realize how beneficial it is growing up to eat dinner together as a family. Fewer and fewer children are sitting down and eating meals in traditional ways in return never being granted the opportunity to develop eating behaviors and food preferences. Parents can argue that between work and responsibilities that they do not have the time to prepare a meal at home but even with this said; shouldn’t the child’s health be a first priority? In today’s fast-paced lifestyles it is important to set aside the time, a recommended four times a week to have a nutritious family meal.

Just as important it is in understanding how parental influence plays a role child obesity, it is just as important in knowing that sometimes despite a parent’s effort to ensure healthy eating habits for the child, the child may still suffer from obesity. Parental influence may have the strongest impact on a child’s weight; however there are other factors that may also be causing obesity such as medical disorders, medications, stress and depression. The best thing any parent can do is in paying attention to their family. Make sure that they are visiting the doctors routinely, engaging in physical activity, eating right, and most essentially are happy. Despite even the greatest parent’s efforts, children are going to make their own decisions when it comes to health habits just as they will in every other aspects of their life. None-the-less every child looks up to their mom and dad as a role-model. Parents that make the effort to ensure the health and overall quality of their kids are the ones that will make the biggest difference in a child’s life.

Work Cited

"Childhood Obesity: Are Parents to Blame?" Yahoo! Shine. Yahoo! Contributor Network, 4 Jan. 2013. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Collins, Harper. "Obesity In Children And Teens." Obesity In Children And Teens | American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Dalton, Sharron. Our Overweight Children: What Parents, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Control the Fatness Epidemic. Berkeley: University of California, 2004. Print.

Google Image. Digital image. My Street Grocery. N.p., 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.

Google Image. Digital image. NY Metro Parents. NY Metro Parents Magazine, 22 Aug. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.

Gunn, Sandra. "Families in Crisis; Childhood Obesity." Peek-A-Boo Parenting. N.p., 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Iannelli, Vincent, M.D. "Childhood Obesity: Who's to Blame?" About.com Pediatrics. The New York Times Company, 26 Jan. 2008. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Koplan, Jeffrey, Catharyn T. Liverman, and Vivica I. Kraak. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. Washington, D.C.: National Academies, 2005. Print.

Moran, Barbara. "Solving the Childhood Obesity Puzzle, One Piece at a Time." BU Today. Boston University, 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

"Obesity In Children." Preventing Obesity in Children, Causes of Child Obesity, and More. Ed. Roy Benaroch. WebMD, 11 July 2011. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

"Overweight and Obesity for Professionals: Childhood: Problem." CDC.gov. Ed. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2013.

"Parents Blamed for Childhood Obesity." Live Science. Tech Media Network, 09 Feb. 2009. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Ryan, Joey M. "Parental Stress Linked to Children's Obesity, Fast Food Use and Reduced Physical Activity." Parental Stress Linked to Childrens Obesity The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia RSS. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Practical Argument: Exercises

"Violent Media is Good for Kids" 

Exercise 2.1

Identifying the Elements of Argument

1.      Thesis: Violent media can have positive effects on children; allowing them an outlet to deal with the loneliness and inferiority of childhood.

2.      Evidence:

-          Superhero stories helps kids negotiate the conflicts between the inner self and public self as they work through the early stages of socialization.

-          Identification with a rebellious, even destructive, hero helps children learn to push back against a modern culture that cultivates fear and teaches dependency.

-          Gives children a tool to master their rage

3.      Counter Arguments:

-          He states the viewpoint that violent media contributes to violence in society.

-          He easily refutes this argument by then stating that it has just as well helped hundreds of people for everyone its hurt, and that it can help far more if we learn to use it well.

4.      Conclusion: In an attempt to shelter our children from the violence within the media, we are taking away their power and selfhood, instead it should be encouraged.

Exercise 2.8

-                According to Gerald Jones, violent media can actually have positive effects on young people because it gives them an outlet in dealing with the loneliness and inferiority of childhood. Jones also believes that violent media are a positive influence on children because of the role superhero and villain stories play in helping kids deal with inner conflict and fear. Jones makes some good points. For example he says that Identification with a rebellious, even destructive, hero helps children learn to push back against a modern culture that cultivates fear and teaches dependency. However, violent media does have the power to contribute to violence in society if not used well. All in all, instead of sheltering our children from the media, we should instead show them the positivity that can derive from its exposure.

 "The Wife-Beater"

 Exercise 12.1

Identifying the Elements of an Argument by Definition

1.       The popular clothing item- the wife beater is an offensive term in aspect of origin and definition.

2.      Stereotypes of men wearing this style shirt as wife-beaters, teaches the wrong thing about men, associated with gay and gang subcultures and rap music, it is unsure the origin of the name.

3.      Smith gives dictionary definitions to get a bigger perspective on the term to the audience.

4.      The author refutes his definition by stating; “the term was not to spousal abuse per se but to popular-culture figures…”   Yes it was refuted convincingly because it stated why the position was valid however giving reason to why the term is still a problem.

5.      Yes; it visually explains what the author is emphasizing in the essay. It shows male dominance and edge- many associations linked to the term wife-beater. 

Prostitution is a Choice Not a Crime: Make It Legal in Massachusetts

Memphis Christie

ENGL 102-048

Rogerian Argument Essay

3 March 2013

Prostitution is a Choice Not a Crime: Make It Legal Everywhere in the U.S

            Americans are given the freedom of choice in making their own decisions. However, in the matter of prostitution there is no freedom of choice. Within many states in the United States, prostitution is viewed as wrong without scope for debate. According to state prostitution laws: “any person who engages, agrees to engage, or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee… may be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction…”(“Should Prostitution Be Legal?”). Prostitution needs not be banned but supported in a way that can help women and young girls that are trapped in the lifestyle. Criminalization only helps in developing the fear that they will be punished for wanting help when their safety is jeopardized. What makes prostitution such a hideous crime that it requires punishment by law? Why is an individual not allowed to make decisions when it comes to matters of their own body? Prostitution should be legalized, not to commend the activity or justify its nature but because it abolishes the American right to freedom of choice.

 Fig. 1. (“My Body”)

            Those individuals who argue against prostitution do not feel as though it should be in the realms of, a right to choice as individuals usually “choose” prostitution for economic reasons. For example, Hughes states, “Surely no one can argue that this is free choice any more than the cattle in the squeeze chute choose to go to their death (“Legalizing Prostitution”).” Anti-supporters believe that a women’s body should never become a commodity for sale, and by permitting such behavior, it is making a statement that it is okay for women to be inferior to men. Instead, they argue that people in this predicament should be given alternative options. This argument is true in the sense that women should be given alternative options but ignores the fact that for some women this is the option they choose. Many women do not see the harm in making a living out of something that they already engage in regularly. These women should have the right to make that choice as a consenting adult without punishment by law.

            It is not hard to understand such an opinion; economic hardship is a factor that plays a strong role in the lifestyle choice of prostitution and to some degree this activity may cause women to be viewed as less than men according to Donna M. Hughes. In common opinion with this understanding, Valor Segura, Francisca Exposito, and Miguel Moya all state, “Sexism serves to justify and reinforce gender inequality, and has traditionally degraded women by expounding that it is convenient to exercise some dominance over them… (“Attitudes toward Prostitution”)” But the truth in this statement only exists because prostitution is in higher demand by men, causing these feelings of inferiority in women. There are many occupations that cater to one sex; the only difference in this situation is the nature of the work sparks more controversy than that of nursing or construction. Prostitution should never be a goal any person strives towards, and to a high degree should be frowned upon because it is belittling to woman and can lead into a slippery slope of self-destructive behaviors. It is also important to clarify that just because it may seem like an extreme form of gender discrimination for a female to offer themselves as a commodity, it does not warrant that the female gender as an entirety is going to be summoned under man.

However, the fact still remains that women should have the right to do as they please with their own bodies. They are given free discretion in regards to an abortion, a right protected by law, therefore, where do the boundaries cross between legally being able to kill a child, and the exchange of sex for money? Which crime seems worse, the one defended by law or the one banned according to laws? An argument of whether or not the choice is morally and ethically correct is one that can be debated for years without closure; the real issue for discussion is why it is not a women’s choice to be able to prostitute her body. Kelly expresses this idea well by saying, “Yes, prostitution hurts women, but so does abortion. So what’s the difference?” (“Pro-Choice vs. Prostitution”).  It is hypocritical that government laws protect a woman’s rights to her body in regards to taking the life of an innocent child, but have a no tolerance attitude for that same women’s choice to sell her body.

 A person can attempt to state that it is not a choice if the decision was poverty induced, but so are many other decisions. Without a need to provide for their family, some people may choose not to work altogether; if this notion were allowed to dictate everyone’s life, poverty would have to be abolished in whole. Yes, there are other jobs out there, but it is the individual’s right to choose whether she will select such employment. People often forget to take into account that most cases of prostitution are results of coercion and trafficking where the women are the victims. A certain mindset is associated with anyone who becomes a prostitute. Hughes says, “Most existing laws concerning prostitution were formulated on the assumption that prostitution is immoral activity, with women being the most immoral participants. Therefore, laws that ban prostitution usually criminalize the women” (“Making the Harm Visible”). If prostitution were legalized women who are really at risk and in the need of help would be more prone to getting this aid without the fear of punishment. Legalization will also help to ensure that the actual criminals- pimps, traffickers, and brothel owners- are held responsible for their crime. It is only in these cases that are surrounded in coercion in which a woman has lost her right to choice where an action needs to be taken. Kathleen Paratis, in this regard, states, “One need not romanticize prostitution to distinguish between prostitution as coercion or slavery and prostitution as an economic choice” (“Is Prostitution a freely”).

Legalizing prostitution will not encourage individuals to involve themselves in such an unjust lifestyle, but legalization will provide a sense of security to those already stuck in this hardship, especially in that they no longer have to fear the help and support of authorities when placed in vulnerable situations that may arise in such a profession. As the law stands, these individuals are viewed as unworthy outcasts in society instead of being given an equal opportunity to see the other options available to them. “If we, as a society, really care about women, we will not only provide them with equal rights and opportunity, but we will stop turning some of them into criminals merely because they have chosen to exchange sex for money. Women, who, for whatever reason, choose to engage in prostitution, do not need to be incarcerated for their own good” (“Is Prostitution a freely”). It is time that society stopped making it hard on the women who have chosen to engage in prostitution but instead help them Legalizing prostitution in all parts of the United States will not only give Americans back their right to such choice but can give women the option and opportunity to speak out against this lifestyle without ridicule, in ways that can potentially help women in girls everywhere. 

Works Cited

"Google." My Body My Choice. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.

Hughes, Donna M. "Legalizing Prostitution Will Not Stop the Harm."Making the Harm Visible, GlobalSexual Exploitation of Women and Girls, Speaking Out and Providing Services.

Kelly, Ian. "“Pro-Choice” vs. Prostitution." Bound4LIFE ProChoice vs Prostitution Comments. Bound4Life Blog, 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.

Paratis, Kathleen. "Is Prostitution a Freely Chosen Profession?" ProCon- Prostitution. N.p., 17 July 2000. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.

Post, Diane. Legalizing Prostitution: A Systematic Rebuttal. N.p.: Off Our Backs, 1999. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.

ProCon.org. "Should prostitution be legal?" Prostitution.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.

Valor-Segura, Inmaculada, Francisca Expósito, and Miguel Moya. "Attitudes Toward Prostitution: is it an Ideological Issue?" The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context 3.2 (2011): n. pag. 25 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

Hw. 1 Water

Memphis Christie

English 102-048

Dr. Carreiro

Homework #1: Tap Water Articles

28 January 2013

In Praise of Tap Water Article: The Structure of Argument

1.      Consuming water is important to maintaining health and therefore it is encouraged that we drink plenty of it but it is just as important to preserve our planets health. So why not stop wasting four billion gallons of water a year in individual-sized bottles and turn on the tap which has the same nutrients at not only a fraction of the cost but a fraction of the damage.

2.      Cost: you are spending 1,400 annually on bottled water, it takes about 1.5 million barrels of oil to make per year equivalent to fueling 100,000 cars, only 23% of these bottles are recycled, there is a substantial amount of fuel in transporting water, this country has some of the best water supplies in the world.

3.      “The real change, though, will come when millions of ordinary consumers realize that they can save money, and save the planet, by turning in their water bottles and turning on the tap.”

4.      Bottled water is safer. Refute: The chances of your water being hazardous is tremendously smaller than the risk it is taking on our planet.

Bottled water is more convenient on the go. Refute: You can spend 1.00 on a reusable drinking container which can limit all the unrecycled water bottles.

5.      Paragraph fives purpose is to state what is currently being done for the cause so that the reader understands just how important the cause is and be more motivated to see that something needs to be done.

Poland Spring Water

1.      Water bottles are killing our environment because they are too often tossed and not reused or recycled.

2.      Smaller label means less paper used in advertisement equaling less paper wastes.

3.      Less plastic equals more for the environment so it cuts down on environmental harm

4.      Easy to carry, tap often involves open ended cups and so forth which is a big hassle on the go

5.      Flexible and easy to recycle which ensures that more bottles will be recycled than previous designs.

Pure Water 2Go  

1.      Summarize the argument:

Filtered bottles are just as convenient as water bottles yet you can use them with tap water saving thousands in comparison to the amount spent on water bottles yearly. It also means less waste as they are reusable whereas water bottles typically are 1 time use. Imagine all the plastic that would be saved if we used water filters and not water bottles. This image shows a clear example of what we could stop subjecting our planet to with one simple switch. 

Casual Argument Essay

Memphis Christie

ENGL 102-048

Casual Argument Essay

04 February 2013

The Media and the Redefinition of Beauty

Does it surprise anyone to hear that only four percent of women around the world consider themselves to be beautiful (“Surprising Self Esteem Statistics on Dove”)? No matter what the answer to this question may be, I am sure people are wondering where this low self-esteem is coming from and the answer to this question is that it is coming from the media. The media has created such high standards for what it believes “beautiful” is that ninety-six percent of women will not look in the mirror at themselves and see a beautiful reflection, according to Dove Research (“The Real Truth About Beauty: Revisited”). The media, along with its unrealistic standards about meeting the criteria of the ideal beautiful image is continuing to cause low self-esteem, especially amongst women and young adults.

Fig.1 The image above demonstrates how the media can change the way one views his or her reflection (“Beauty and the Body Image”).

The media influences lives every day from its use of television to billboards and to the magazines a person picks up when waiting at a doctor’s appointment, thus subjecting Americans everywhere to self-destructing messages about their self-image. When a person flips open these magazines the only thing visible to the eye is spray painted, size two, blemish free, perfect models who are setting an unrealistic standard that, unless a person looks like the illusions on the page, she believes she is not beautiful. “The idealization and pursuit of thinness are seen as the main drivers of body dissatisfaction, with the media primarily setting thin body ideals” (Hill, 2006). What happens when the girl holding the magazine then walks over to the mirror and does not see this same representation starring back at her? It causes low self-esteem, the main contributor in other serious conditions, such as eating disorders, unhealthy-weight control behaviors, depression, and suicidal thoughts. According to the article, “Low Self-Esteem at Crisis Levels for Girls,” if the media did not have such a strong influence on today’s generation, then low self-esteem would not be in its highest percentile than all past decades.

Fig. 2. This image is a representation of the media’s portrayal of beauty demonstrating how an image has the power to hide the truth as being something that is unseen (Google image).

Representation of women in the media has become a form of false objectification that rarely portrays the truth to the world of an individual’s inner significance. “Objectification of the female body teaches girls and women that they are valued primarily for their looks, reinforcing the need to pursue attractiveness” (Moradi et al., 2005). This type of representation causes young women to yearn for physical attention and gratification and when this is not obtained insecurity develops in them. It is only natural to turn on the television and wish to trade places with whomever appears to be the “picture” of perfection after all, this perception is what the media desires; it thrives off the unattainable wants of America.

In the documentary, “America the Beautiful (2007),” the impact the media has on self-esteem is examined, especially in a scene where a group of students were asked how the media influences the way that they feel about themselves. A twelve-year-old girl admitted, “Sometimes I can feel sort of insecure and it affects me a lot” (America the Beautiful). Another classmate then stated that the media causes her to feel ugly, and when asked if she really felt this way about herself, she did not have an answer. Here we have two beautiful twelve-year-old girls already dealing with low self-esteem inflicted by the media and their biased portrayal of beauty.  

Some might ask why a person even cares what the media thinks, and why would a person allow what she sees posted on a billboard effect how she feels about herself? These are two valid questions, however, the media has more influence than one may want to admit to in such a case. In this particular issue the fact that the media’s influence surrounds America in almost every aspect of everyday routine makes it practically impossible to ignore. For instance, imagine holding a green balloon in front of a child and constantly telling him or her that the balloon is red. Eventually that child will begin to believe that the balloon is indeed red, regardless of previous perspectives the child holds about it. This same concept can be applied in regards to the media’s influence; eventually its message will appear as the truth. Once it has, the individual is then faced with lowered self-esteem and a drive to find beauty, which can then lead to more self-destructive behaviors. The media should, instead, portray to the world the importance about loving oneself for who they are as a unique individual. Not everyone is a size two, with perfect hair, a perfect smile, and perfect skin, so why make it appear that way? The sooner the media redefines what is considered beautiful, the sooner twelve-year-old girls will know without question or hesitation that they, too, are beautiful.

The media also controls a person’s self-esteem in the value she holds about herself that is outside of the physical appearance. It manipulates the perception of happiness, according to Patel, who writes about the Solace Counseling and Treatment Center, which works directly with patients who have had their self-esteem tarnished in response to the media’s influence. “The media shows an unrealistic view of the world. Movie and TV characters are often privileged, witty, and happy without any real effort. It can cause a sort of sadness or loneliness for people when they realize life isn’t like it is in the media (“how the media affects”).” Reality is not as it appears on television; the truth most people experience is that there will be obstacles and hard times facing them, especially when there is no wealth to compensate of the pains. But it is the longing for the type of happiness that the media depicts that drives individuals to pity their own lives, and to want the falsehood that the media presents before them.

Realistically, the media will always hold a level of influence over an individual, but at what cost? This type of negative influence is causing people to lose their sense of happiness, values, and self-worth, all of which are defined within self-esteem. It is time the citizens of the world reclaimed their self-esteem and take that power back from the media. People should smile at their reflection and take pride in everything that contributes in defining who they are. One should not be misled by perfection; nothing should be allowed to dictate one’s worth but oneself. The media can only take as much control as it is allowed only if given the opportunity to do so.

Works Cited

America the Beautiful. Dir. Darryl Roberts. By Darryl Roberts. Prod. Micheal Beach. Perf. Ted Casablanca, Eve Ensler, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson. First Independent Pictures, 2007. DVD.

Beauty and the Body Image. Digital image. Beauty and the Body Image: The Media and Its Negative Effect on Body Image. Eva Chernoff, 17 Nov. 2009. Web. 03 Mar. 2013. <Beauty and the Body image: The Media and its Negative Effect on Body Image>.

"Get the Facts." AboutFace. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"Google." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. (http://www.womenslifelink.com/beauty-and-the-media-the-truth/)

"Low Self-Esteem at Crisis Levels for Girls." Crosswalk. Ed. Jim Liebelt. PRNewsWire, 09 Oct. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Patel. "How the Media Affects Self-Esteem." Solace Counseling. N.p., 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"Protect Our Girls and Pass the Media and Public Health Act." N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Schelegal, Amanda. "How the Media Affects the Self Esteem and Body Image of Young Girls." - DivineCaroline. N.p., Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"Surprising Self-Esteem Statistics on Dove."  Dove Corporation, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

5 Argumentative Essay Topics

1. Should fathers have a say so in a mothers right to abortion?

2. Prostitution should be a choice not a crime

3. Cigarettes kill, marijuana doesn't, if cigarettes are legal so should marijuana EVERYWHERE!

4. College books should be free, school is expensive enough!

5. Parents should not be allowed to have children unless they are emotionally and financially stable enough to raise a child.