POSITION PAPER SAMPLE #2: DO ANTI-SMOKING AD CAMPAIGNS REALLY HELP?

Yes, we have all seen those scary ads that warn people about horrible consequences smoking can bring.
However, according to the official sources, more than fifteen of every 100 people in the United States
aged 18 and older smoke today.

They, too, see those ads. But they simply do not stop them from this dreadful habit. Or do they?

Many politicians and public activists state that anti-smoking ads are effective. And I believe so too. And
here is why.

First of all, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the number of smokers dropped
significantly in the recent years. “Current smoking has declined from 20.9% (nearly 21 of every 100
adults) in 2005 to 15.5% (more than 15 of every 100 adults) in 2016,” they report. And these figures are
vivid enough for us to believe that antismoking campaigns really work. Active work in this area has
helped many people quit this habit and go back to life with no smoking-related diseases.

A lot of smokers oppose such claims and state that ad campaigns against smoking are inefficient. All they
do, in their opinion, is scare both smokers and non-smokers and persuade only a small percentage of
people with this habit to quit. Is it really worth all the money and time invested in them?

I believe so. If even a small number of people can be cured of this habit by trivial ads showing the real
consequences of this choice), then it is worth every penny.

Another reason why I believe that antismoking ads are effective is that a lot of people did not start
smoking despite the peer pressure, stress (which allegedly is relieved by smoking) or any other aspects.

When we look at the numbers dropping, we only think of people that quit, and we often forget to take
into account those who never started smoking. Seeing ads showing the reality of smoking with the all
the negative effect it can have on the body of the one smoking is a powerful tool that can motivate a lot
of people to think twice before taking their first puff.
Finally, parents that see such ads get to quit to realizing how dangerous passive smoking is for their kids.
And this is a real victory, I believe. Growing up in families with smokers not only gives you the idea that
smoking is totally normal but also exposes you to the hazardous effects of smoking at a very young age.

To save younger generations from that, antismoking activists create a special sort of campaigns to target
this layer of society. And it does work given the dropping numbers of smokers out there.

As you see such ads indeed are effective. And even though there still are people who oppose the ideas
described in them willing to keep their dangerous habit, I hope that the meaning and hazards of smoking
will one day become more obvious to them too.

Another great example of a position paper that presents an idea that one can either agree with or
oppose to. The writer did a very good job in presenting a thesis in the very beginning of his essay and
then supporting this thesis with several points further on in the text. The text sounds logical, and the
writer uses arguments to persuade the readers in his point.

The downside of this essay is that it is missing Works Cited page. Probably it was not required, but it’s
always better to have it in place. The same refers to the previous essay.

In other words, he is using all the essential techniques to make his essay stand out.