To: Ms.

Diaz
From: Kelsey Dorsett
Date: March 21st, 2015
Subject: MWA 2 Cover Letter

Rhetorical Situation
My title, Changing Nonviolent Drug Possession To a Misdemeanor Will Productively Help
Drug Addicts perfectly explains what my argument is about. I chose this title because now my
readers will know exactly what they are about to read and they wont have to guess at all
throughout my paper. As I was researching my topic I came across the stories of former drug
criminals being rebooked for small crimes. I knew that those would be perfect examples for my
harsh probation rules point so I chose them.
My audience was a company that wanted to hear an argument for something I care about.
Because of that I chose this issue that really stood out to me. I learned about the issue in
sociology one day and all of the points just made sense to me. In order to sound sincere for my
audience I didnt just search for any random popular argument to write about, this one came
from the heart. For my rhetorical situation I thought it would be great to add questions in the
beginning to make my audience think about how they felt themselves. I learned that from
watching a ted talk in class.
My purpose was to sound credible and convincing when writing an argument for a company. In
order to do that I had to talk about opposing views the issue. By doing that I didnt sound as

biased and I also sounded like I knew what I was talking about because I gave a lot of
information from different viewpoints.
Areas of Interest
This paper was challenging for me because being an argument I felt like I had to get more into
character then usual. At times I felt cheesy and dramatic but I think my tone was appropriate.
Will you look at my tone?
I also think I did a really good job on the beginning when I asked questions and gave a little bit
of background information. I also think my thesis was well done. Check out my conclusion I
think it is very strong.
SLO Progression
SLO D is how we get better at understanding and using the English language when we write. I
worked towards this slo when we watched a ted talk and then answered a questioner in class. The
questioner asked how the speaker got the audiences attention. My group wrote on our questioner,
he did well by asking rhetorical questions so for my argument paper I asked rhetorical
questions that grab my readers attention like this, Do you think its fair to get life in prison over
stealing a pair of socks? Have you heard about the time a father got 25 years for stealing
popcorn?
SLO H is how we gain creditability by not being biased and including different viewpoints in our
writing. I did this when I talked about my arguments cons. This may seem weird to do for an
argument paper but it gave me credibility. I talked about how I agreed with other viewpoints but
in the end my viewpoints made more sense like this, Although these all seem like reasons to
keep the drug possession a felony, it is worth it to more productively spend the governments
money and focus on the citizens quality of life.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:39 PM

Comment [1]: Good specific examples!

SLO I is how we use scholarly sources to form ideas for arguments and write our papers. We
worked towards this when we went to the library and learned how to find scholarly articles. We
worked towards this slo again when we learned how to do an annotated bibliography of our
sources for our LSAs. Our papers wouldnt have been done without doing research, heres an
example of how I used an article for my argument, Probation rules for drug using felons are
very harsh. If a drug felon gets out of prison and steals something as little as a pair of socks they
can go back to prison for life.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:39 PM

Comment [2]: You gave specific
examples on all three! Great job!

Kelsey Dorsett
March 18th, 2015
English 120
Taylor Diaz
Changing Nonviolent Drug Possession To a Misdemeanor Will Productively Help Drug Addicts
Do you think its fair to get life in prison over stealing a pair of socks? Have you heard
about the time a father got 25 years for stealing popcorn? These unlucky incidents are true and
more common than you would expect. Wilkerson and many others have had prior non violent
drug convictions all the way back from 1981 that they served their full time for and now because
of petty crime will be revisiting the cells again. Is it really worth our tax money to lock up sock

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:41 PM

Comment [3]: But theft isnt a drug
violation?
Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:41 PM
Comment [4]: Who is Wilkerson?
Introduce him.

thieves? Is it worth our safety to let police focus on popcorn crimes instead of rapes? We can put
a stop to this nonsense and promise the livelihood of families and our financial stability in the
U.S. by changing a simple law. The legal punishment for nonviolent drug crimes should be
changed from a felony charge to a misdemeanor in the U.S. because of overcrowding in jails,
harsh probation rules, and the high cost of prosecution.
When I speak about drugs I do not mean just marijuana, I mean hard drugs like cocaine,
heroin, and meth. If someone has possession of any drug and is not doing any kind of violence
they should not have to go to prison for life. I understand that changing this law may make very
hard drugs seem soft since there are such little consequences but it is much more productive to
offer consequences that can actually help drug addicts get their lives back, such as rehab.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:42 PM

Comment [5]: Very concise thesis!

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:43 PM

Comment [6]: Violence act

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:43 PM

Comment [7]: Clarify what you mean
by softnot something to worry about?

One of the biggest concerns for changing the possession of drugs from a felony to a
misdemeanor is the fact that it makes it seem more okay. Hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and
meth will seem softer if the punishment is not as harsh. When hearing that you will not go to

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:43 PM

Comment [8]: The end of this sentence
is a little clunky.

prison and that you will simply be fined for possession, it seems as if using drugs is almost legal.
This is especially concerning for the youth. When the youth does not see the consequences of
spending your life in jail they may feel as if it is not a big deal to try hard drugs.
Another opposition is that felons that are already in prison for such crimes would be
released. This makes for potentially dangerous inmates to be freed. Some drug users may not
have committed a violent crime yet but that does not mean that never will. Drugs are a mind
altering substance meaning that the actions of users can be very unpredictable. Rehab.com states
that addiction presents dangers to the user such as the threat of violence, exposure to crime, and
self destruction. Not only is this ruining the drug users lives personally but this challenges the
safety of our society. Releasing drug users from prison may save money at first but after having
to potentially solve rapes and murders, money will be spent all over again. Being a drug user,
one would know where to obtain drugs.
My last opposition is that date rape drugs will be a less serious crime. Being that all drugs
would be a misdemeanor, date rape drugs would also be considered a misdemeanor. This is a
problem because the amount of rapes and sexual assaults would increase. The law change is

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:45 PM

Comment [9]: Not sure what function
this sentence servesmaybe it would be
better elsewhere?
Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:45 PM
Comment [10]: Is it YOUR opposition
or what the opposition says?

dangerous because people may think that its more okay to to use date rape drugs. This threatens
the safety of women and the piece of mind they may have when going out. However, giving
them to someone without consent is still very much illegal as well as rape and those do not fall
under the misdemeanor category.
Although these all seem like reasons to keep the drug possession a felony, it is worth it to
more productively spend the governments money more productively and focus on the citizens
quality of life. As for the youth drug use concern, there can be educational programs to prevent it

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:46 PM

Comment [11]: Valid counter point

which is better than dealing with them as adults. Drug use will be seen more as a health issue,
and no one wants a health issue. The youth can see that and will be influenced to back off.
Regarding safety after releasing inmates, I agree that potentially dangerous inmates being
released is a huge concern as well, but after rehab and counseling, these inmates will be

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:47 PM

Comment [12]: I think Portugal did this:
they completely decriminalized all drugs
and began seeing it as a health issue, not
a deviance.

successful citizens. Its been shown that drug use can alter personality traits, but evidence has
also shown rehab changes people. Most drug users just need guidance.
The date rape concern is legitimate and although possession of these drugs would be a

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:48 PM

Comment [13]: Citation of success of
rehab?

misdemeanor, poisoning someone and raping them would still be a felony. Any drug that can
alter judgement can be considered a date rape drug because it puts the user at risk for rape. Many
people use alcohol casually because it is legal and easy to obtain, but alcohol can be considered a
date rape drug too. I understand that date rape drugs would be perceived as more of a social
norm but due to the many benefits of this law reform it would be worth it.
We should consider some how changing drug abuse to a misdemeanor would positively
impact our use of government money, family livelihood, government welfare savings,
overcrowding, harsh probation rules, police productivity. This law change is an easy fix to
current issues we face. Overall, tt will improve the lives of the citizens and the way we
productively function as a society.
The united states would benefit financially from changing this law. Prosecution can range
from $3000-$13,000 and that is out of the states pocket. Im not saying that this money will be
saved, Im saying that it can be used to better help those with drug issues. Throwing drug users
in jail does not help them get off of drugs, it does not help them get back on their feet, it
basically pays for them to be unproductively locked up. This money can be more productively
used towards programs like counseling and rehab. Time would be better spent doing life skills

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:51 PM

Comment [14]: Citation?

classes and learning how to be a productive citizen. Education can be a focus for post-drug users
who may have just never had the opportunity. Felons have many limitations: you cant get a job
anywhere. With this law change they wont be felons and will be able to attend programs that
will help them get jobs. These people with jobs can then provide for their families which will
save a bundle for the governments welfare.
Putting drug users in rehab facilities can benefit not only their own lives but their families
lives. Families suffer financially and emotionally when they have a mom or a dad in

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:52 PM

Comment [15]: Not necessarily true,
although most avenues of employment are
out of reach.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:53 PM

Comment [16]: Familys

prison.When a family is missing a main provider they must turn to the government for money
which is another cost. With this situation the government is now paying for the felon to live as
well as the family. When with this solution the main provider can attend rehab, get a job, and
provide for their family costing the government very little. By giving drug users the opportunity
to get jobs and support their families on their own the government will save money and wont
need to provide welfare.
Overcrowding in prisons is a serious issue in America. The majority of prisoners are in
for nonviolent drug crimes. The main concern here is the lack of space and inhumane
environments prisoners are forced to live in. By the change of this law all of the drug users will

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:53 PM

Comment [17]: Citation?

be out of prison and in better facilities. Not having as many prisons can save funding for rehab
facilities. The leftover prisons will have plenty of room for rapists and murderers. Real criminals
will be locked up to keep the U.S. safe and people with drug problems will get the help they
need.
Probation rules for drug using felons are very harsh. If a drug felon gets out of prison and
steals something as little as a pair of socks they can go back to prison for life. As I mentioned
earlier that is what happened to Wilkerson. With a drug possession conviction from over 20

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:54 PM

Comment [18]: This is an interesting
story and a great illustrator, but it might
have been better served closer to the
beginning.

years before, he was just waiting for his wife to get her hair done when he saw a pair of tube
socks. After buying a couple of items he slipped a pair of socks into his bag and proceeded to
leaving the store. He didnt make it out of the store without being confronted and then escorted
by two security guards. He was sentenced 25 years to life based on the 3 strike law in California.
Wilkerson is not battling these unfair probation rules alone, I could go on forever listing those
who suffer the same. The point is instead of spending our money paying for Wilkerson here to
live in a prison and his wife to be on welfare because she no longer has a provider we can
productively spend our money providing programs that will better our citizens and society as a
whole in the long run.
Busting someone with drugs is a lot easier to do for police than solving a murder.
Because of this police spend all of their time trying to do drug busts in order to get paid. This
leaves rapists and murder cases open for years and real criminals on the loose. With this new law
reform police can focus on solving murders rather than stalking drug users. Putting real criminals
in jail is a productive way for our tax dollars to be spent paying the police.
Financially the U.S. can really use the money we are wasting on prosecuting people with
drug addictions. Money is being pulled in all different directions here, if it isnt prosecution its
welfare for the family of the felon, and if it isnt that its tax payers dollars employing police
who only arrest people with drugs. Im not saying we will have all this extra money by changing
a law. I am saying that it is a waste to use it on those things when we can productively spend it
on promoting the quality of life for all citizens. Drug users will actually benefit from rehab and
programs and their families will too. Not only will this be a better use of money for the U.S. but
it will also improve the livelihood of citizens.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:54 PM

Comment [19]: Your tone gets a little
too informal at times, such as here.
Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:55 PM
Comment [20]: Is this a new sentence?

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:56 PM

Comment [21]: Your argument jumps
around a bitsome of the like info should
be consolidated.

"Cruel and Unusual Punishment: The Shame of Three Strikes Laws." Rolling Stone. 27 Mar.
2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/cruel-and-unusualpunishment-the-shame-of-three-strikes-laws-20130327>.

"California Proposition 47, Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014)." - Ballotpedia.
Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
<http://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_47,_Reduced_Penalties_for_Some_Crimes_Initia
tive_(2014)#Opposition>

"California Bill Would Make Drug Possession A Misdemeanor." Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Weekly 24.13 (2012): 7-8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.

"Proposal To Make Possession Of Cocaine, Meth A Misdemeanor." Proposal To Make

Possession Of Cocaine, Meth A Misdemeanor. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
<http://kplu.org/post/proposal-make-possession-cocaine-meth-misdemeanor>.

"Dangers of Drug Add"Dangers of Drug Addiction." Dangers of Drug Addiction. Web. 19 Mar.
2015. <http://luxury.rehabs.com/drug-addiction/dangers-of-drug-addiction/>.iction." Dangers of
Drug Addiction. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <http://luxury.rehabs.com/drug-addiction/dangers-of-drugaddiction/>.

Content
Area
Argument

Description of An Exemplary Position Paper

Points

The introduction presents an overview of different stances on the issue, _34_/35

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 5:40 PM

Comment [22]: First line isnt indented,
but the second and beyond would be
indented. Also, worked cited should be at
the top in the center.

demonstrating an understanding of these views and contains a main

claim statement. The writers main claim is clearly defined and the
writer refers back to this claim throughout the paper. The writer
presents an opposing viewpoint (acknowledges a counter argument)
and successfully argues against that view. The writer uses at least two
scholarly articles or book chapters with opposing viewpoints to situate
his or her own argument. The writer has a clear understanding of these
articles and uses the research to enhance the writers own argument.
Analysis

The writer uses secondary sources (articles or book chapters) in their

__22/25
paper to create an effective dialogue with the opinions of other writers.
The writers critical thinking skills enhance their analysis helping the
writer to present his or her own stance on the issue as an extension of
another writers argument or as a synthesis of two opposing arguments.

Organization

The paper is organized in a logical manner that enhances the flow of the _12_/15
writers argument. The writer has included an introduction and forward
thinking conclusion. Body paragraphs have topic/point sentences that
show the reader the paragraphs relationship to the argument and
concluding sentences. The writer has used transitions between ideas
and paragraphs to add to his/her ideas clarity.

Presentation
& Format

The report is free of

distracting errors of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The report
meets the page length requirement. The writer has used Times/Times
New Roman 12 point font; the document in double spaced, and uses 1
inch margins.

Style

The writer uses an economic style meaning that the language is concise, __5/5
not repetitive or overly wordy. Sentence structure and meaning is clear.

Cover Letter

The writer has supplied a cover letter that discusses the rhetorical
situation for their document (3 points), overview of
strengths/weaknesses (2 points), a request for specific feedback (1
point), and a reflection on the required SLOs (4 points).

Total: 93/100

__10/10

_10_/10