Research Paper Working Bibliographic Information

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4.) http://0-proquest.umi.com.novacat.nova.edu/pqdweb?did=1451061341&sid=16&Fmt=6&clientId=17038&RQT=309&VName=PQD

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8.) http://0-proquest.umi.com.novacat.nova.edu/pqdweb?did=993001051&sid=21&Fmt=6&clientId=17038&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Research Paper Proposal

COMP 2000 - Research Proposal

Working Title: Creativity/Healing in Writing of Recovering Alcoholics
Submitted By: Heather Higbee
Research Question: How does writing help heal recovering alcoholics? What styles do recovering alcoholics use in their writing? Writing as a therapy for addictions? (tentative)

Introduction
For my research paper, I will be studying the journals, letters, and writings of recovering alcohol addicts. Through reading these first-hand accounts, I will be able to see how writing aids in psychotherapy and recovery. Moreover, I will be able to see how alcoholics cope with the disease through means of writing and the styles they write in. I am interested in this topic since alcoholism is a prominent feature in both the maternal and paternal sides of my family. As well, it has affected my life a great deal and pushed me to write about my experiences as a mode of relief from the alcoholism in my family. This topic is significant to address in this class because it deals with the use of writing and the creativity in an alcoholic’s writing, using discourse of first-hand accounts to examine the topic. On another hand, I may look at a few different addictions and how writing is used similarly as a therapy for each of these addictions. While this topic is tentative, I will research and see which branch of these topics would work best within our class requirements and be most interesting.

Research Method
I will originally research (via the Internet) different ways I could take the topic of alcoholism, including: How does writing help heal recovering alcoholics? What styles do recovering alcoholics use in their writing? I will research different media I can use, mainly including the first-hand accounts of letters, essays, or stories that alcoholics have written. I will also see what accounts are written by others about the styles alcoholics have used in their writing. After finding sources, I will print out the articles found online. As well, I will find any books that may be helpful on this subject in the library. After printing out the articles, I will highlight the important parts. While reading the books and the articles, I will put facts I find on index cards. I will read through all these facts and cards, sorting them into piles according to similar subjects. Then, I will sort through and put all of the subjects in an order I feel makes the best sense. After this, I will begin composing my Reasearch Paper. After the first composition of the paper, I will re-read and correct any mistakes, emitting or adding any facts where necessary. I will continue working and editing my paper until it is due.

Journal - 10

Rhetoric and Composition – How do students use research to find topics that are of interest to them for papers?

English Education – If we use complete classic literature in English courses, are we learning all we can?

Cultural Studies – How does music help add to our learning of Literature?

Discourse Analysis – How helpful is it to use information found on the general web?

5 Topics I Could Research and Write On

1. Analysis of Classic Literature
2. Helpfulness of Student's Leisure Reading
3. High School Classes effects on College Courses
4. Musical Effects on Literature
5. How to Improve Student's Creative Abilities

Comp. 2000 Library Assignment

* * Thank you for filling out: COMP Online Library Assignment
* * See Your WWW Form Submission Below * *

Submitted by : (heather_higbee@hotmail.com)
         on : Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 13:46:51
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 :
STUDENT AND COURSE INFO :
Student name : Heather Higbee
Email Address    : heather_higbee@hotmail.com
Instructor : Professor Mason
Topic : Effects of Functional Alcoholism on Children
 :
RESOURCE ONE :
Database used : ProQuest
Title of periodical or book : Listen
Title of article : My Mother Is an Alcoholic
Author : Cortney Philip
Full text available : yes
Bibliography : no
Citation from bibliography : 
 :
RESOURCE TWO :
Database used : ProQuest
Title of periodical or book : Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Title of article:
Parental alcoholism and co-occurring antisocial behavior: Prospective
relationships to externalizing behavior problems in their young sons

Author:
 Alexandra Loukas,  Hiram E Fitzgerald,  Robert A Zucker,  Alexander von
Eye

Full text available : yes
Bibliography : yes
Citation from bibliography:
Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and
1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of
Psychiatry.

 :
RESOURCE THREE :
Database used : ProQuest Psychology
Title of periodical or book : Adolescence
Title of article:
Children of alcoholics and adolescence: Individuation, development, and
family systems

Author  : Tony D Crespi,  Ronald M Sabatelli
Full text available : yes
Bibliography : yes
Citation from bibliography:
Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason
Aronson.

 :
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Journal - 9

Through the research she conducts, the author, Katrina Powell, wants to understand the self-representation process of college students in their writings. As well, she is trying to understand how students define themselves through the restrictions they are placed under in their schooling. In doing so, Powell has divided the students’ self-representation into three different stages, 1) reproducing dominant discourses, 2) resisting dominant discourses, and 3) negotiating the tension.

To collect data, Powell conducts three different case studies, thus giving her a good overview of how students defined themselves within the limitations of each situation. Moreover, she conducted small studies in religiously-affiliated, liberal arts colleges and studied different catholic schools also..

I feel that my peers use “self-representation” by basing who they are on the environment we are in and through the actions of the people and friends we are around. Some people will represent themselves in a different manner according to the people they are currently around. Also, in our day and age a big part of “self-representation”, I believe, is based on what kind of music we listen to and what activities we are involved in, as well as a few other factors. I would base how I represent myself on: A) My religion, B) My music, C) My friends, D) My sport- rowing, E) The area I grew up in.

Cell Phone Use While Driving - Paper 2

Heather Higbee
Composition 2000
Dr. Eric Mason
3 February 2009

Analysis Draft: Cell Phone Use While Driving

Using a cell phone while driving is argued to be extremely dangerous, putting both the driver’s life and the lives of those travelling around him or her at a great risk for accidents, injuries, and even possible death. While analyzing two different articles on this topic, it was found that different methods of argumentation were used to present and support this topic. The first article, entitled “Cell Phone Use While Driving Increases Crash Risk” was found on www.webmd.com. The second article, entitled “Cellphones and Driving” was found on www.iii.org (the website of the Insurance Information Institute).

The claim of the article published on the WebMD website is that there is “growing evidence that use of cell phones increases crash risk”. The assumption, or warrant, is that people will care about putting themselves and others around them in danger, which is a reasonable argument for everyone on the road. This article uses a claim of policy to try and assert the argument to the reader – it says that “There is mounting evidence that talking on a cell phone while driving contributes to increased car accidents and fatalities…Motorists may want to pull over or use hands-free technology, and should avoid emotional or stressful conversations.” The claim of the Insurance Information Institute Article, however, is a claim of fact, as it states, “Increased reliance on cellphones has led to a rise in the number of people who use the devices while driving. There are two dangers associated with driving use, including text messaging.” The assumption, or warrant, of this article is that people, as stated before, will care about putting both themselves and others around them in danger on the roads.

The backing of the WebMD article’s argument contains factual information as well as a personally-recalled account of a mother in a situation where cell phone use killed her child. The article begins by describing different bills and ordinances that were passed to ban cell phone use while driving. Yet, “As similar legislation is proposed nationwide, the cell phone industry has launched a public education campaign.” The first ordinance passed was in Brooklyn, Ohio, “…banning cell phone use while driving”. This article, written back in 2000, talks about similar pending legislation to ban cell phone use in eight states. Another type of backing to support the warrant and claim is the story of the mother who lost her child. As she said, “’I watched my daughter die’… [she] was killed in her car seat when the car in which she was riding was struck by a motorist using a cell phone”. This evidence would appeal to an audience mainly of parents with children of any age. Bringing out the idea that cell phone usage while driving could cause death of someone’s child lets one parent empathize with another and possibly predict themselves in a similar situation, causing them to reconsider use of cell phones while driving. Moreover, Vice President of Communications of the Insurance Information Institute says, “’Cell phones are an excellent safety device on the open road, but they’re strongly linked with serious accidents in industry research’”. With this factual information and a personal account, the article leads the reader almost without a doubt into the belief that driving while using a cell phone is extremely dangerous.

The rebuttal presented in this article is that daily, “’…there are 100,000 calls to 911 from cell phones… And these calls are saving lives by decreasing emergency response times’”. Anyone who has needed a cell phone for use in an emergency situation would argue that cell phone use while driving is necessary under certain circumstances, so this subject is presented as a rebuttal. In all, it seems this piece is trying to persuade parents and people who can empathize with parents. Through use of the story of Patricia Pena and the death of her two-year-old, Morgan Lee, a strong ethical case is presented which draws the reader’s attention and could cause drivers to rethink using their cell phones while driving.

The backing of the Insurance Information Institutes’ argument is built with facts. The first few bullet-points of the article contain “studies about cell phone use while driving…” which “…have focused on several different aspects of the problem”. As the article continues to say, “Some [studies] have looked at its prevalence as the leading cause of driver distraction. Others have looked at the different risks associated with hand-held and hands-free devices”. Along with the studies presented, the article contains information about state and federal initiatives, such as the fact that “About 17 states have passed laws banning or restricting young drivers from using cell phones”; how businesses are involved in disallowing workers to use cell phones “…while driving to conduct business”; and even a court’s decision about a woman who won “$5.2 million settlement” from the International Paper Company, just because one of it’s workers rear-ended her car while talking on a cell phone”. Anyone who has been involved in an accident of any caliber which involved cell phone use would agree with this presented information. As well, it shows the monetary damage that could come from using cell phones while driving. In society today with our falling economy, people need to hold on to all the money they make – if using a cell phone while driving could cause such great monetary damages, it could make people rethink the value.

The rebuttal to this argument is presented in the first few sentences of the background information given. “Cellphones play an integral role in our society. However, the convenience they offer must be judged against the hazards they pose. Inattentive driving accounted for 6.4 percent of crash fatalities in 2003 – the latest data available…” They know that cell phones are important to people in our society and admit this is true to the reader, but then try to drag the reader’s attention back to the fact that they are very dangerous. This argument leaves very little room for rebuttal. Using information such as statistics, court cases, and cell phone studies, this article provides all the factual details needed to convince a reader that using a cell phone while driving is a poor choice. Anyone who would not be convinced by hearing stories of people affected by the dangers may be convinced, perhaps, by actual information studied and gathered from legitimate sources.

Cell Phone Use While Driving - Paper

Heather Higbee

Composition 2000

Dr. Eric Mason

3 February 2009

Analysis Draft: Cell Phone Use While Driving

Using a cell phone while driving is argued to be extremely dangerous, putting both the driver’s life and the lives of those travelling around him or her at a great risk for accidents, injuries, and even possible death. While analyzing two different articles on this topic, it was found that different methods of argumentation were used to present and support this topic. The first article, entitled “Cell Phone Use While Driving Increases Crash Risk” was found on www.webmd.com. The second article, entitled “Cellphones and Driving” was found on www.iii.org (the website of the Insurance Information Institute).

The claim of the article published on the WebMD website is that there is “growing evidence that use of cell phones increases crash risk”. The assumption, or warrant, is that people will care about putting themselves and others around them in danger, which is a reasonable argument for everyone on the road. This article uses a claim of policy to try and assert the argument to the reader – it says that “There is mounting evidence that talking on a cell phone while driving contributes to increased car accidents and fatalities…Motorists may want to pull over or use hands-free technology, and should avoid emotional or stressful conversations.” The claim of the Insurance Information Institute Article, however, is a claim of fact, as it states, “Increased reliance on cellphones has led to a rise in the number of people who use the devices while driving. There are two dangers associated with driving use, including text messaging.” The assumption, or warrant, of this article is that people, as stated before, will care about putting both themselves and others around them in danger on the roads.

The backing of the WebMD article’s argument contains factual information as well as a personally-recalled account of a mother in a situation where cell phone use killed her child. The article begins by describing different bills and ordinances that were passed to ban cell phone use while driving. Yet, “As similar legislation is proposed nationwide, the cell phone industry has launched a public education campaign.” The first ordinance passed was in Brooklyn, Ohio, “…banning cell phone use while driving”. This article, written back in 2000, talks about similar pending legislation to ban cell phone use in eight states. Another type of backing to support the warrant and claim is the story of the mother who lost her child. As she said, “’I watched my daughter die’… [she] was killed in her car seat when the car in which she was riding was struck by a motorist using a cell phone”. Moreover, Vice President of Communications of the Insurance Information Institute says, “’Cell phones are an excellent safety device on the open road, but they’re strongly linked with serious accidents in industry research’”. With this factual information and a personal account, the article leads the reader almost without a doubt into the belief that driving while using a cell phone is extremely dangerous. The rebuttal presented in this article is that daily, “’…there are 100,000 calls to 911 from cell phones… And these calls are saving lives by decreasing emergency response times’”.

The backing of the Insurance Information Institutes’ argument is built with facts. The first few bullet-points of the article contain “studies about cell phone use while driving…” which “…have focused on several different aspects of the problem”. As the article continues to say, “Some [studies] have looked at its prevalence as the leading cause of driver distraction. Others have looked at the different risks associated with hand-held and hands-free devices”. Along with the studies presented, the article contains information about state and federal initiatives, such as the fact that “About 17 states have passed laws banning or restricting young drivers from using cell phones”; how businesses are involved in disallowing workers to use cell phones “…while driving to conduct business”; and even a court’s decision about a woman who won “$5.2 million settlement” from the International Paper Company, just because one of it’s workers rear-ended her car while talking on a cell phone”. The rebuttal to this argument is presented in the first few sentences of the background information given. “Cellphones play an integral role in our society. However, the convenience they offer must be judged against the hazards they pose. Inattentive driving accounted for 6.4 percent of crash fatalities in 2003 – the latest data available…” They know that cell phones are important to people in our society and admit this is true to the reader, but then try to drag the reader’s attention back to the fact that they are very dangerous.

Journal - 8

The writer is trying, through research, to decide what makes a rock band “genuine” or “authentic”. As well, he is trying to figure out how exactly they establish their authenticity or originality.

The texts and sources the author quotes from to build his argument includes books from authors who have also written on the same subject. David Pattie, the author, also uses examples of other rock bands and popular rock songs that are established and either viewed of as “fake” or “authentic”. Moreover, he refers to the attitudes, behaviors and techniques used by bands that are viewed of as authentic rock bands.

Authenticity in our world is a treasured trait, as people are always trying to create their own personal image. People in our world create an authentic image for themselves by choosing an area of interest and focusing on it. For example, if someone wanted to be an authentic musician today, he/she would have to start a band and have a lot of knowledge about bands. However, they would also have to figure out what kind of music their bland will be playing, and research on that specific genre. Those who take the time to establish authenticity in what they do are usually put off by people who will claim to (but truly do not) know a great deal of information of a certain area. With all the information we have about all kinds of areas of interests today, it takes a great deal of time and passion for a subject to try to prove authenticity in this certain area.

Journal - 7

The author of this article , Jocelyn Bisaillon, is trying to figure out how editors actually improve the pieces they work on. In this article, the author describes the process used to revise and edit text. In her writing, she asks some basic questions - "how do people edit works?" and "how to professional editors do their job?"

Usually for research, the article says that researchers will create practice tasks by using a text they have either created themselves or have previously edited themselves. Then, the researcher will give this text to participants to edit, and collect the edited texts to obtain the results of the study. In editing, it is hard to study because there are many factors that contribute to how a person edits, including time and the target audience. These factors will alter how editors will revise a certain text.

Students generally will have to read to grasp the entire context of the document before any editing can occur. However, professional editors do not have to read or understand the concept of the work to be able to edit. Usually, professional editors will receive the concept of the text by word of mouth of the author of the text, the editor's client. The idea of an editor's job is not to search for correct information in terms of validation of material; but, their job is to read, comprehend, evaluate, solve problems, and make checks within the writing.

Journal - 6

A "rhetorical situation", according to Bitzer, is not an idle one. As well, he does not believe that "a rhetorical discourse must be embedded in historic context...". Some people felt that studying "rhetoric and composition" from the past should focus on the works of Sophists, such as Plato and Aristotle. However, others feel that looking at the works of women and minorities should be studied to find new perspectives on the field. Today, the field of rhetoric focuses on: "whether writing constructs or only transmits knowledge, whether writing is social or individual, what the province of rhetoric is, who can be a writer or rhetor, and what the relative importance of ethos, pathos, adn logos today."

When Blitzer speaks of a "rhetorical situation", he wants to know how the speaker or writer is creating rhetoric in his or her work. If a writer or speaker is using rhetoric in his or her work, then there must be a "rhetorical situation". There can be a rhetorical situation if the rhetorical content comes as a comment or response to a situation; if a speech is given with significance to the use of rhetoric in the work; if there is any sign of "rhetorical discrouse" apparent in a given situation; as well, the situation can control the use of or need for rhetoric, leaving the possibility of any situation becoming a "rhetorical" one.

As Bitzer says, "...there are three constituents of any rhetorical situation: the first is the exigence; the second and third are elements of the complex, namely the audience to be constrained in decision and action, and the constraints which influence the rhetor and can be brought to bear upon the audience. Any exigence is an imperfection marked by urgency; it is a defect, an obstacle, something waiting to be done, a thing which is other than it should be." He tells us that exigence is when there is a glitch in the author's speech or writing, some information that is wrongly presented due to the author's lack of time spent writing or creating his or her work. For example, if someone is teaching a math problem and accidentally tries to multiply two numbers in his/her head quickly, creating a wrong answer, we would have an example of exigence. The teacher, in trying to get through the minute steps of a problem quickly, has given wrong information.

Journal - 5

While reading English Studies: An Introduction to the Discipline(s), I came across an argument I found interesting: the debate over the problem of specialization. While some scholars feel that it is more important to have people specialize in and gain a great deal of knowledge of certain areas, others feel that it detracts from the general learning of subjects. David Easton, author of "The Division, Transfer, and Integration of Knowledge", disagrees with such specialization in subject. He feels that "...today the basic disciplines have not only clearly identified themselves but have subdivided internally into many subfields; and often, even with these, specialization continues apace."

Some of the problems of specialization are categorized under the name of "the Humpty Dumpty problem". Used as a metaphor, Easton says that our world of knowledge is becoming like Humpty Dumpty - we keep breaking down learning into all these little pieces and subfields, but we can't take all the pieces and make them one whole piece of knowledge again. Easton claims that we are losing part of our knowledge base b studying specific subjects, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I agree that we may not be getting as much of a knowledge base only because we focus on it in the early years of education, and switch to specialization in the later years. On the other hand, I still insist that people who can become extremely familiar with one specific area of interest they choose are extremely useful to society. Think about a doctor who specializes in neurosurgery. Since there is so much to learn about that one specific part of the body, it makes sense to let a student study entirely on that one subject until he or she becomes fully knowledgeable in the area.

The authors go on to argue that breaking up literature and English into small subjects does not help. The book explains that specialization can create many different problems. These problems are listed as: (1) specialization ruins the "coverage model" for English curriculum; (2) "unbalanced structure causes logistical problems"; (3) if a department focuses on one area of literature specialization, it will only give a narrowed scope of different works through a certain viewpoint; (4) when people focus specifically on one section, they are unable to present it in terms of a broader view to share with other scholars and teachers; (5) new areas of specialization are branching out every year, making it hard to pinpoint what to focus on; (6) the more focused we are on an area of specialization, the less we are in-tune with the entire academic world; and, (7) when we become so engrossed in our areas of specialization, we can no longer speak with peers or other scholars in terms of what we are learning, because we all speak with different terms about different areas of specialization. With all that said, I still personally believe that it can help give students a greater understanding of the subject they are interested in. The only thing we need to do is constantly update and refresh our general knowledges of the subject, as well as knowledge of the subdivisions of each subject.

Journal - 4

In the Introduction to They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates designed for student's use right away to structure his/her writing; to generate writing; to help the writer successfully enter the world of academic thinking and writing, of civic discourse and work; to help put abstract models principles of writing into practice; to give the writer an immediate sense of how to engage in these kinds of critical thinking required at a college-level and beyond; and to represent simple, but crucial, writing moves.

Specifically, Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates they offer help present the writer's ideas as a response to some other person or group. As the authors themselves put it, “Broadly speaking, academic writing is argumentative writing, and we believe that to argue well you need to do more than assert your own ideas. You need to enter a conversation, using what others say (or might say) as a launching pad or sounding board for your own ideas.” Although some people believe "...in order to succeed academically you need to play it safe and avoid controversy in your writing, making statements that nobody can possibly disagree with", Graff and Birkenstein insist that this type of writing "... is actually a recipe for flat, lifeless writing, and for writing that fails to answer what we call the 'so what?' and 'who cares?' questions." In sum, hen, their view is that a writer needs to mix a little bit of argument in with their writing, something that not everyone can agree with, to make their writing interesting. As well, they feel that the writer needs to speak not only their own viewpoints, but use points from other's arguments and works as a base for the writer's own work.

I agree with the authors. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend would work well for for almost all pieces, though I have already used numerous templates they suggested for my writing. For instance, "I've always believed that..." is a template that I know I have used in different essays throughout my educational career thus far. The authors give these templates, though some of them seem to be common sense. Perhaps I just had the luck of going to a public school with an excellent Literature and English Department. In addition, some of the templates in their "Templates for Introducing 'Standard Views'" section seem to be common sense as well. Some might object, of course, on the grounds that templates are very straightforward and they have problems recognizing that the templates can be formed to be used in almost any writing situation necessary. Yet I would argue that, with a little bit of though put into the process, a student can store these templates in their memory as a guideline for whenever they need to be used. Overall, then, I believe Graff and Birkenstein have created a book that will make it easier for students to write well-presented arguments and more interesting papers—an important point to make, given that our Composition 2000 class is based on writing argumentative and interesting pieces.

Journal - 3

They have to adapt their styles of writing and reading for the areas of academic interest according to each different University. A student needs to be able to change their work styles according to the area they are working within. A student in a Liberal Arts University will have a different environment than a student working in a Sciences University. Students need to be able change their style of writing according to the University and type of material they are learning. You have to know the history of the field and know people to be able to fake knowing information about certain academic areas, and have know the right “lingo” used and the different ways people act in certain areas of expertise. The students also have to realize that they are understanding material, not being original in gaining knowledge of each different field. You have to act like you know the material well and present your audience with a sense of ease and comfort in the subject.
The football player feels that his creativity is shown through wearing white socks instead of black socks. As well, he feels that everyone else follows him in changing their sock color and that the creativity of wearing white socks instead of black should be credited to the person who changed first - him. The musician seems to be a bit more creative and energetic in the way she told about her musical experiences. Personally, it seems incredibly more unique and creative to me that this girl composed her own music pieces despite how people may have reacted to her. It is a lot easier for someone to change the color of their socks rather than creating a musical composition. Moreover, the boy with the white socks only give one meek definition of "creativity", while the musician girl gives a complex, various definition of the same word.

Articles About Cell Phone Usage While Driving

http://www.webmd.com/news/20000224/cell-phone-use-while-driving-increases-crash-risk

http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/

http://mobileoffice.about.com/cs/traveladvice/qt/usingcellphone.htm

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

Workshop 1 - Expertise and Interests

Expertise in:

• Rowing
• Exercising/Working Out
• Reading
• Cooking
• Driving
• Music - Singing
• Piano
• Restaurants
• Fishing
• Making String Bracelets
• Painting Nails
• Spanish
• Beachgoing
• Camping

Interested in:

• Music
• Working
• Psychology
• The Holocaust
• Animals
• Books
• Surfing
• Skating

Toulmin Analysis of an Argument

The Case Against the Death Penalty - Hugo Adam Bedau

CLAIM: the death penalty is wrong

DATA: executions cost more than life in prison, does not make crime rates decrease, violates international human rights laws

WARRANT: innocent people may be wrongly accused, against some religions, killing is wrong, not practiced in many sophisticated societies, promotes killing as an OK solution to difficult problems, death sentences are not handled in a fair manner

GROUNDS: many death-row inmates do not have proper lawyers, inmates may be found innocent after death

BACKING: same as above (certain statistics provided on website, as well as factual information to back up the grounds and warrant)

QUALIFIER: none given

CONDITIONS OF REBUTTAL: factual information, statistics, and court cases are all referred to, giving the argument a stronger background against rebuttal; different cases are given where people who had extreme mental illnesses or were already dying received the death penalty, as opposed to other cases where people openly admitted to killing many people and still only received life in prison; this page lists all the reasons why people should be against the death penalty

http://www.antideathpenalty.org/reasons.html

Journal Entry - 1

The claim of this argument is that gay and lesbian couples should not be able to marry. This claim, presented by author Eddie Thompson, is a claim of value. As a claim of value, it expresses disapproval of the idea of gay and lesbian marriage as well as the author's opinion that this type of marriage is wrong.
Evidence used to support this claim includes opinions mixed with facts. Thompson uses the idea that there are restrictions on marriage for everyone - polygamy, incest, age restrictions, etc. He uses this to support his point that restrictions on marriage do not accommodate everyone and are put in place for a reason. Moreover, Thompson says that gay and lesbian couple have exactly the same rights as everyone else, due to the fact that they have the same opportunity to marry a person of the opposite sex. If they are granted the right to marry each other, he says that they are earning extra rights over everyone else. He also says that the idea of marriage of same-sex couples is wrong in all religions, in the eyes of almost all of society, and in the evolutionary course of nature itself.
While there are a few more "facts" that Eddie Thompson uses to support his claim that same-sex couples should not be allowed the right to marry. The evidence used to support the claim does not seem to be the strongest, however. Many of the points that Thompson used could be argued very easily, or seem to be based on opinion with a small amount of factual information.

http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=23&id=13199