For this assignment, students must identify a critical issue related to substance use and convincingly demonstrate its importance within the field. They should analyze its impact on individuals, communities, and society at large, providing evidence from reputable sources to support their claims. By highlighting the issue’s wide-ranging consequences and urgency, students can effectively persuade readers of its significance. Use examples and be persuasive. Remember, information alone is not enough; one must sell their case, defend, justify, rationalize for “why”. Some topic examples are: to argue the impact of substance use on public health, the importance of prevention programs aimed to reduce substance use initiation, family dynamics that contribute and mitigate substance use issues, the economic costs associated with substance use, promoting harm reduction strategies, the importance of substance use education in schools/communities, etc. Persuasion papers are to contain (1) a cover page, (2) a 150-250 word abstract, (3) a three-page paper (minimum), and (4) a reference sheet. Each paper must have at least three references, all cited within the text. No references older than 2020 are accepted, unless for historical context. IMPORTANT: When submitting your paper to Dr. Donnelly, submit it as ONE word document file (.doc/.docx). NOTE: All citations must appear in the reference sheet “and” all references must appear in the body of the research paper! *** Be sure all citations in the body of the paper include “both” the author name/source “and” year of reference. For example, “According to Donnelly (2022), depression impacts the adolescent population in many aspects of daily living.” Again, please submit all of these in one file, and NOT multiple files, as it is much easier to read/grade.
