Practice making arguments

Going to the grocery store is important, because …

Why?

Why?

Why?

Therefore …

Decriminalizing drugs

Arguments for and against

FOR

Statement: If we decriminalize drugs, a drug addiction could be seen as an illness and not as a crime.

Why is it better if a drug addiction is seen as an illness and not as a crime?

Who will benefit from this different definition of drug use?

In what way will these people benefit?

Write out your argument:

If we decriminalize drugs, a drug addiction could be seen as an illness and not as a crime. This
would be good for …………………….., because …. [Write five sentences! You’re last sentence should
be a “therefore” sentence!]
AGAINST

Statement: If we legalize drugs, more people will use them.

Why will more people use them?

Which types of people (age group, station in society, level of education ) would be more likely to use
drugs?

Why would these groups be more likely to use drugs?

How would society change if more people used drugs? In what way would it be worse?

Write out your argument:

If we legalize drugs, more people would use them, because …. . For example … . This is a problem
because …. Therefore …..
FOR

Statement: If we decriminalize drugs, the government will have more control over drug users, not
less.

How will the government have more control?

Why is this good?

In what way will society improve?

Write out your argument: If we decriminalize drugs, the government will have more control over
drug users, not less, because …. [4 or 5 sentences ending with “therefore”]
Against

Statement: If drugs are legal, drug users will become more aggressive and dangerous.

Why?

In what way will they become more aggressive and dangerous? What will they do?

How ill their actions have a negative etrgffect on society?

Write out your argument: : If drugs are legal, drug users will become more aggressive and
dangerous, because … [4 or 5 sentences ending with “therefore”]