Assignment 3: Respond to the essay "As They Say, Drugs Kill"

English 21

Assignment 3

Mr. Tompkins

October 25, 2014

The purpose of assignment 3 is to test your ability to analyze and respond to a text. In this case, you will read the essay “As They Say, Drugs Kill,” by Laura Rowley (page 480 in Stepping Stones). It’s a raw, painful story about watching a young man die from a reaction to recreational drugs. 

Drugs are everywhere in daily life. Doctors prescribe drugs to us when we’re sick, when we’re depressed, when we’re anxious, and when we want to ward off illness. Children are sometimes prescribed powerful drugs to shape behavior. Weightlifters and some athletes take anabolic steroids and HGH to improve their performances and recover from injuries. Drugs are given to animals who become the food we eat. There are a multitude of recreational drugs - some legal some not - that people take, ostensibly to enhance the pleasure. There are also strong, addictive drugs that are against the law but nevertheless are easily found. 

Discuss what your opinion is about recreational drugs and those who take them. Things to think about: Why do people take such drugs? Is there enough information available about the dangers of using drugs? Have you known anyone who’s taken an overdose or had an adverse reaction to drugs?Did the author and people at that party do enough to save the life of the boy who died? How would you have handled it? Why are some drugs subject to so many laws and restrictions and some are not? 

You will read Rowley’s essay and write a response to it,. You must consider both her thoughts and your own about the questions asked in the last paragraph. You must refer to her essay in yours, but the bulk of yours will be to explain your opinions and the reasons you have them. If they are based on experiences you’ve had or people you’ve known have had, then write about them. But you don’t have had personal experience to have opinions about the matter. Drug usage is a question that is important for everyone to think about and have an opinion on. 

Your essay will be roughly 300 words long. 

The outline for assignment 3 is due on Thursday, October 30, 

The rough draft is due on Tuesday, Nov. 4. 

The final draft is due Tuesday, Nov. 11.