Convincing Q? Essay example -- Argumentative Persuasive Papers

Convincing Q? Voting on a proposition banning genetic engineering seemed odd to me, but to the voters in the county of San Luis Obispo (SLO) on 2 November 2004 it was just another proposal on the ballot. This proposition, known as Measure Q shall make it â€Å"unlawful for any person or entity to propagate, cultivate, raise, or grow genetically engineered organisms in San Luis Obispo County.† This law was proposed after the proponents for Measure Q claimed that â€Å"the people of San Luis Obispo County wish to protect the county’s agriculture, environment, economy, and private property from genetic pollution by genetically engineered organisms until all the risks associated with these organisms are fully understood.† The only exemptions in the measure allow â€Å"a fully accredited college or university to engage in scientific research or education using genetically engineered organisms† and do not prevent health care professionals from providing â€Å"any diagnosis, care, or treatment to any patient.† On the sample ballot was a section entitled â€Å"Argument In Favor Of Measure Q-04.† This argument makes a good case, but it lacks the clarity to be convincing. â€Å"Argument In Favor Of Measure Q-04† emphasizes the negative effects of genetic engineering on the agriculture in SLO County. The claim of this argument is that genetically engineered (GE) crops are bad for the agriculture of SLO County. The first reason given in support of the claim of â€Å"Argument In Favor Of Measure Q-04† is â€Å"keeping SLO County free of genetically engineered (GE) crops maintains our [SLO County’s] strong agricultural economy.† This reason is supported by evidence pertaining to the agricultural economy of SLO County. The argument states... ... might be convincing. However, it emphasized the line of evidence that GE crops can contaminate â€Å"pure† crops stating neither how the conventional crops were contaminated nor what was meant by the term â€Å"contaminated.† Due to this uncertainty, this main support of the argument lacked the clarity to be convincing. Therefore, I am still undecided on Measure Q[SM1] . Nice job for your first draft. The use of terminology and the division of topics and paragraphs clarifies the elements of the argument. Your critique of the word contaminates is original and compelling. In addition to the specific corrections noted, it would be worthwhile for you to look at the supports and evidence in light of the critiques and counters offered by the opponents on their ballot argument and elsewhere and compare them with the rebuttals of those critiques offered by defenders.