Visual and Rhetorical Analysis
When you hear any debate starting with the topic of drugs, most people automatically think of illegal drugs. Drugs such as weed, alcohol, heroine, cocaine, and many others are heavy used today in America. However, the issue of prescription drug abuse has become a much bigger deal believe it or not, and the numbers are rising higher than illegal drugs themselves. Just because it it “legal”, doesn’t give any one the right to abuse it. When it comes down to it, the big question is who is to blame?
The author of the article “Prescription drugs are easier to get” is by a journalist from Florida by the name of Jane Akre. She is the news editor of National News week and has written many articles regarding health issues and has been a part of news since 1978. She is best known for her and her husbands “Whistleblower lawsuit”. The case, too, having to do with the Food and Drug Administration. Overall she is very knowledgeable in the articles she writes, and the facts and statistics she bases her writing on. Throughout the article she is pushing the blame on parents of teens having easier access to prescription drugs. Her debate’s credibility is both increasing and decreasing in how she is blaming the parents. The reason for it decreasing is because she is only focusing the attention of parents, she hasn’t considered the other communities involved in access or addiction of prescription drugs. Readers might argue on the basis of students themselves, medical physicians, or influences pressuring teenagers. However, the credibility is also increased through the statistics she uses through the article and her reputation as a journalist. Her writing might be useful and helpful to people who are not well informed of the issue.
The significance of the visual image of the article is that it is not part of a major organization or agency, yet it says so much of the idea of teenagers and the common use of drugs throughout their school years. It has such a high credibility for reflecting easy drug access on everyday school life of teenagers. It is a reminder that teenagers go through everyday temptation and pressure of the use of prescription pills, illegal drugs, illegal injections, and cigarettes. As soon as you see the picture you think of students in school being around drugs all the time(automatically thinking of teenagers). Drugs are always available throughout a certain area of any educational environment if not carefully watched. This picture is so simple yet brings up so many topics and debates about both school and the use drugs.
The authors article is mostly a facts based reading. She draws the readers attention by emotionally emphasizing the drastic change in the statistics from past research compared to present. She is not trying to relate to the teens who are abusing drugs but yet firmly blaming the parents in how easy teens are getting access to the the drugs in their own household. She is not trying to bring sadness from the facts she states or to bring anger, the article is just trying to get out how important the issue is becoming and how it is strongly rising. The writers tone throughout the reading is firm and to the point.
The visual text of the school supplies and the drugs is catching to the eye. It is striking just because we don’t realize how school has nothing but everything to do with drugs. The picture itself is emotionally appealing to any audience and what ever message readers take from it, it is very clear and not a confusing visual to figure out. It very well supports the argument of teenagers having easy access to any types of drugs these days. However in the text it was the parents being the blame for this issue, and the picture is suggesting another blame on school. Either way, it generally supports the idea that drugs are becoming way to common to be a part of any students life.
The way the author draws the attention to the audience of how important the topic is on the access to prescription drugs, is by giving out percentages, facts, and statistics. She also compares her facts from past research to present research which proves a drastic change and why the issue is so much of importance and increases the quality of her evidence. The article states facts based on actual reports and incidents which makes it more persuasive when arguing the fact that prescription drugs are a much easier access now a days. She also brings up a deathly incident of a popular well known actor. By using the name of someone well known, it sends a message that any huge consequences can occur no matter who you are. Her argument against prescription drugs is well debated with all the facts that come into play. Another sub-argument she has is concerning the parents fault for easy access of drugs, which is also supported through some of the statistics of student activity and comparison to past lifestyles of how things were done at home. The comparisons are the only weaknesses because without statistics they can only be declared as opinions. Overall, the logic of the argument is well rounded.
As it was stated before, the visual representation is simple yet to the point. It is something anyone can easily understand and can start the growth of many arguments. It is constructed in the way where it represents two topics that come into play with each other; school and drugs. The main perspective anyone can take from it, no matter what side of the argument, is how drugs and school are a common issue in many teens today.
The visual and text very well compliment each other in a matter of different ways as well as many debates. The text is a more specific detailed debate whereas the visual can possibly bring up a different debate in which the article is arguing. Without the visual, readers would not be as open minded to their argument and relate their opinions to different perspectives.
The argument of who is to blame is endless. The facts and opinions behind the abuse of prescription drugs can spark up a debate. The focus should not be who to blame, but what we can do to drop the numbers again.Akre, J. (2008). National News Desk. Retrieved September 20, 2010 from Teens: Prescription Drugs easier to get than beer: http://g:english 1311teens prescription drugs easier to get than beer.mht.
