Week 5 Discussion

Identifying Misleading Information in an Argument” Please respond to the following:Consider the following argument: There are many arguments for the elimination or modification of current U. S. drug laws, but oneof the most persuasive involves what negative effects drug laws are having on society in comparison with the effects of the drugsthemselves. In the past ten years, most forms of drug use have dropped significantly, especially among teens. Despite this, non-violentdrug offenders accounted for 21.1 percent of the federal prison population. First time drug offenders serve, on average, a sentencethree months longer than kidnappers, nine months longer than burglars, and thirty-three months longer than sex abusers. In 1992, theaverage cost of keeping an inmate in either state or federal prison was about $20,000 per prisoner per year. The United States has thehighest incarceration rate in the world, with 455 prisoners per 100,000 population. It is maintaining these prisoners at great expensein an environment where they are unlikely to develop a socially constructive attitude. Perhaps it is time that we reconsider ourattitudes toward those who choose to use drugs; failure to do so may cost society even more than it already has.Identify the argument: what is the main claim (the argument’s conclusion) that the above passage is trying to make? What reasons arebeing provided in support of the conclusion?Present the argument in the form:Conclusion:….Premise 1: …Premise 2:…Determine whether or not the argument uses any deceptive statistics. Give your opinion on whether or not the argument has persuadedyou. Explain why or why not.