Crack in the Box
Essay by Pete Hamill
To summarize the essay, Crack in the Box, you have to understand the writer and what he is saying, or the point he is trying to make. In the article Crack in the Box The writer Pete Hammil compares the difference between Television and the common street drug known as Crack Cocaine. The essay starts with a story of a young lady hooked on drugs and living in poverty with a couple of children. The children are almost hypnotized by the television as Hamill is interviewing her. As Pete Hammil is walking back to his office he is thinking about all the drug problems in the world and how there affecting society today and comes to a claim which is a claim of cause. Hamill?s claim is actually a whole paragraph when he is thinking about the drug problem and the 60,s to the present and concludes that there was one major difference between that time and this, ?Television?.
The claim that is made in the essay Crack in the Box is simple, which is a claim of cause along with sub claims of facts. The claims of cause is stated by relating the 60?s to today when the drug movement started. The facts with that claim are that in the 60?s the drug problem was small and insignificant, now the drug problem is huge. Pete Hammil states a fact that The united States represents only 2 percent of the world?s population, yet, it consumes 65 percent of the world?s supply of hard drugs. Now Pete Hammil also questions politics and the George Bush presidential campaign, How Bush offers the traditional American excuse ?it is someone else?s fault?. Bush never asks why so many Americans demand the drugs. There is nothing to back those statements up in the paragraph.
There is allot of comparison to back up the claim such as The increased sales of televisions from the 1960?s to the present. In the 60?s there were 31,700,000 television sets in the country, which has doubled 6 times over to an amazing 184 million T.V. sets . Now the comparison of Crack and Television comes more into play when Pete Hammil suggests that people ?embraced it, were diverted by it, perhaps even loved it, but they weren?t formed by it.? That is a good sub claim to link television and Crack cocaine together because when people do crack they become addicts, or want more and more, which seems to be the same thing television is doing. Another claim of fact is that in the 60?s there were only 1,234 drug arrests which climbed to a staggering 43,901 drug arrests in the 80?s. The amounts confiscated by law enforcement has increased. In the 60s there were 97 ounces of cocaine confiscated in one year . Now it?s increased to hundreds of pounds a year.
The support of the main claim of cause is that there are disturbing similarities as stated in the essay by Pete Hammil. How Mr. Hammil states that ?Television itself is a consciousness altering instrument.? That says that you can escape reality with the touch of a button, which, is something you can do with Crack Cocaine. In the essay Pete Hammil states that he has interviewed many people with drug problems and that none of them know why they do it they just give him a look like ?it makes me happy.?
The essay was very informative I thought, but I fail to see where the writer effectively sets forth ethos, pathos, and logos. There was not enough evidence to back the story up to make it believable. It was more of an opinion paper that might convince people that are looking for something to believe about the drug problem and why it exists. Although there is a connection between the two. Television is an escape from reality as are drugs. But I don?t think that they can be linked to each other because they are 2 different world?s. The facts that are stated throughout the essay are a good way to apply ethos, pathos, and logos, although , they are not convincing enough to make a believer out of everyone who reads the paper. Hamill?s claim is inferred in my opinion, it is in the middle of the paragraph and it is Hamill thinking and he then comes to a conclusion that seems to be the claim. Now ethos is applied when Hamill is telling the story in the beginning about the woman on drugs. The story supports Ethos and makes it emotionally appealing for the reader, so the reader will be interested right away. The warrants are stated as facts throughout the essay, by stating facts when analyzing TV and drugs. The end of the story also has a sub claim of policy, by asking the question ?what can be done? referring to the drug problem and TV addiction. The sub claim of policy is backed up by suggesting ways to better people?s understanding on TV and it?s effect?s ,the drug problem , and taking action on the issue?s that Hamill presents. The end of the story has a sub claim of policy as stated earlier. Which is a stated claim when Hamill states ?for years the defenders of television have argued that the networks are only giving people what they want. That might be true. But so is the Medellin Cartel.
Hamill, Pete ?Crack in the Box? in Perspectives in Argument. Nancy. V .Wood.
2nd edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall , 1998. pg. 599-603
Другие работы по теме:
An Ethic Dies With Gang Chief Essay
, Research Paper How has the Crips Street Gang evolved since the 1960’s? Gone are the days when battles were over community control, when loyalty meant self- determination, not self destruction. In the 1980’s crack cocaine became a major source of income for many African – American gang members in Los Angeles.
Romeo An Juliet Essay Research Paper hi
Romeo An Juliet Essay, Research Paper hi i need an essay about a character in romeo and juliet that demonsrtated maturity. in a well developed multi pagraph essay and say why you think the character’s maturity was greater than the other characters in the play.
The American Revolution Essay Research Paper The
The American Revolution Essay, Research Paper The colonists living in America had enjoyed relative freedom from England since they arrived. They came to the New World, after all, to escape England, for whatever reasons they may have had?religious, economic, or social. So when England decided in the eighteenth century that they were going to crack down on the colonies, the announcement was not met with open arms.
A Stroll Essay Research Paper 802 am
A Stroll Essay, Research Paper 8:02 a.m. Saturday. It’s still dark, as usual, on these cold, winterdays. Everybody else is still sleeping and enjoying the comfprting heat oftheir beds. I crack open the locked window by my bed, an act some deemeddownright idiotic. I strip off my pj’s, throw on my robe, and head for theshower.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Hamlet Character Essay Research Paper In the
Hamlet Character Essay, Research Paper In the pay "Hamlet", the main character is a man who wants revenge. He wants it so bad that he becomes obsessed with the idea until it ultimately kills
Pettiness In Gulliver
’s Travel Essay, Research Paper Petty is defined as something having little importance. The act of being petty could be described as making a big deal out of a matter that contains little importance. The idea of pettiness is discussed as well as corruption in political situations through out the selections of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.
Technology Factor Analysis Essay Research Paper The
Technology Factor Analysis Essay, Research Paper The main function of my project is to provide a means by which I can measure progress.? It will therefore have to provide resistance when it is used, and have an indicator,
Children Requiring A Karing Community Crack Essay
, Research Paper CRACK CRACK, Children Requiring a Caring Kommunity, is a program that was established to sterilize drug addicts. Barbara Harris started this program because she was frustrated by the politicians unwillingness to do anything about the rising number of babies being born addicted to drugs, in particular crack cocaine.
Crack Babies Essay Research Paper David HesterIris
Crack Babies Essay, Research Paper David Hester Iris Barbour English 111 June 23, 2000 Mothers are Responsible for Crack Babies Drugs have been a lasting problem for the American society. Not just teenagers, but also pregnant women use drugs heavily. To unborn children mothers taking drugs are harmful.
Coke Facts Essay Research Paper Crack
Coke Facts Essay, Research Paper Crack Crack is actually a less pure sort of free-base cocaine. Unlike old-fashioned free-base, however, its production doesn’t involve any flammable solvents.
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Athena Essay Research Paper Athena the goddess
Athena Essay, Research Paper Athena the goddess of wisdom, war, and useful arts, and the helper of heroes and inspiration for soldiers. She was the daughter of Zeus and the protector of cities and states. She was never easy to anger, she believed using wisdom was better to settle differences than fighting.
Marijuana Legalization Essay Research Paper I personally
Marijuana Legalization Essay, Research Paper I personally don?t smoke marijuana I?ll admit I tried it once but quickly rethought my decision after having the feelings that my lungs were going to collapse and my throat was on fire. However I have more friends that partake is smoking marijuana than not, in truth at least 75% of my friends are smokers.
Jesus Loves U Essay Research Paper In
Jesus Loves U Essay, Research Paper In His Memories I remember the hour before my graduation ceremony like it was yesterday. The most memorable day of my life came to an abrupt stop as m y grandfather hit the ground at the bottom of the steps. All I heard was a thump and then a crack. Because of my grandpa’s death, I have learned to enjoy every day that I am alive.
MtSaint Helens Essay Research Paper Mount Saint
Mt.Saint Helens Essay, Research Paper Mount Saint Helens Mount Saint Helens, A volcanic peak in the Cascade Range, Mount St. Helens is situated in southwestern Washington State. Dormant since 1857, it erupted on May
BUbonic PLague Essay Research Paper The CIA
BUbonic PLague Essay, Research Paper The CIA says it has not found any record of a relationship between itself and Nicaraguan drug dealers or others who allegedly operated a 1980s cocaine ring in California and funneled the profits to a CIA-run guerrilla army.
Poem She Sat Essay Research Paper She
Poem: She Sat Essay, Research Paper She sat… helpless in her room praying to whatever god there may be to let her call to him. could god ignore such a painful cry?
Drugs And AIDS Essay Research Paper Hopkins
Drugs And AIDS Essay, Research Paper Hopkins University. In the U.S gay men still make up the primary risk group,although 750,000 to 1 milliondrug addicts are believed to be at risk to AIDS nationally. The problem here is thesharing of needles, which is causing the spread of AIDS. IV drug abusers arekilling our nation at an amazingly fast speed.
Personal Experience Essay Research Paper 802 am
Personal Experience Essay, Research Paper 8:02 a.m. Saturday. It’s still dark, as usual, on these cold, winter days. Everybody else is still sleeping and enjoying the comfprting heat of their beds. I crack open the locked window by my bed, an act some deemed downright idiotic. I strip off my pj’s, throw on my robe, and head for the shower.
Personal Mission Statement Essay Research Paper I
Personal Mission Statement Essay, Research Paper I believe that the following statements are very true for my personal mission statement. Hear both sides before judging. This statement most people should remember. So often people judge and say what they are thinking at the spur of the moment before really thinking the situation over and hear other sides before speaking.
Juvenile Justice Essay Research Paper There are
Juvenile Justice Essay, Research Paper There are many theories of why juveniles become delinquent. Some theories that relate to Gloria are the Biosocial, Choice, Psychological, Social Structure Theories. The first theory that can apply to Gloria is neurological a Biosocial theory. This states that juveniles become delinquent due to learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder.
Abortion ProChoice Essay Research Paper An abortion
Abortion: Pro-Choice Essay, Research Paper An abortion is a medical procedure that should be offered in every Hospital. I myself am pro-choice, there are several reasons that contribute to that and those will be discussed in this essay. My first reason, is that it is the woman?s body, and she can do with it what she pleases.
Ode To Boys Essay Research Paper We
Ode To Boys Essay, Research Paper We like them But do they like us The ones we do never fuss They don’t stop in And we wonder why We stress, we bitch We sometimes cry
Clara Hale Essay Research Paper Black History
Clara Hale Essay, Research Paper Black History Month is a great time to celebrate out history, achievements, and accomplishments. February should not be the only time but it is certainly a good time to start. Many blacks have done extraordinary things. I admired Clara McBride Hale. She works with crack-addicted and HIV-positive babies.
Is Emily Dickinson On Drugs Essay Research
Paper 4/26/98Is Emily Dickinson on Drugs? Emily Dickinson’s poems often make me ponder her mental stability. Sometimes I wonder if she was psychotic or on some kind of mind-altering drugs. In Dickinson’s poems “I felt a funeral in my brain,” “My life closed twice before its close,” and “Because I could not stop for Death,” we shall see whether or not Mr.