Key Idea: Mr Treeton endorses a ban on smoking in the home.
Argument strategy: (Appealing to health and well-being concerns) The author uses a real-life example of a typical asthma-stricken child (who is a victim of passive-smoking) and statistics from the WHO to underpin his view that a ban is necessary to protect the health of children. (also appeals/comparisons)
Quotes:
- (real-life example of a child) Sabina is “hospitalized”/ Claire was not “aware of how smoking could affect”;
- (repetition/rhetorical questions/attack/mocking tone) Don’t they read… Don’t they see…;“Such parents are irresponsible.” (The use of repetition draws attention to the irresponsible and self-centred attitude of such parents.)
- (attack and hip-pocket nerve appeals/emotive language) “these children become an unnecessary burden on the health system”; (arouses anger/anxiety with regards to the waste of precious health resources)
- (comparison) there are other bans: building regulations also state what people can and cannot do in the home; (there are many regulations that are required in order to protect people’s health)
Metalanguage: endorses/advocates/recommends/approves of/ suggests
Attack: discredit, condemns, decries; purpose: shame and isolate parents like Clare because they are harming their children ; arousing anger among parents and policy makers because of the “burden” that results on the health system because of such irresponsible people; by exposing the irresponsible attitude of such parents, who disobeying family members’ rights to a clean environment, Mr Treeton expects that members of the public will heed his call for a ban on smoking in the home.
Attack/appeals: emotive language: “burden” which draws attention to the drain on taxpayers’ money; wasting resources; unfairly using up resources that may be required for other well-meaning patients;
Cf: he compares X with Y; he juxtaposes X with Y; to prove? ; prepare the public to recognise that the government does intervene in family life/homes when it is absolutely necessary to do so – to protect their health/life/ justification/ to justify
Mr Treeton sets up a comparison between smoking regulations in the home and building regulations. He uses this juxtaposition associated with government regulations to predispose members of the public to recognise that government intrusion into family life can be justified if it protects someone’s health and wellbeing. As a result/Accordingly, he hopes that parents will not see this as government interference, but as important assistance.
(Sentence practice/tone) Adopting an assertive/forthright/resolute tone as well as the high moral ground, Mr Treeton implores the government to implement a ban on smoking in the home.
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