Essay, Research Paper: Violence - Social Problem

Speech Class
Violence
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that violence is on the increase.
Central Idea: Violence should be viewed as a social problem for everyone in our society.
Introduction
I. Violence has increased in our schools. Within the last four years, thirty or more teachers and students have been killed.
II. On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris (18) and Dylan Klebold (17) killed one teacher and twelve students and wounded twenty- three other individuals. Thomas Solomon (15) wounded six students in his high school. On March 24, 1998 Andrew Holden (11) and Mitchell Hogson (13) killed a total of five people and wounded ten in Westside Middle School. This information is all from Time Magazine’s May 31, 1999’s issue. There are many problems that cause violence. Drugs, gangs, guns, and television programs are all problems the students have that are linked to violence.
Transition: lets us now view the problems with drugs.
Body
I. Substance abuse has been a probable cause of violence.
A. Drug related incidents have increased in schools causing students to act violently toward each other.
1. Students are competing with each other trying to make more money by selling drugs.
2. If someone takes away someone’s customer, dealers will tend to fight against each other.
B. Students are also coming to school under the influence.
Five percent of students in school attend counseling because they were caught under the influence during school hours.
Transition: gangs also affect our students
II. Membership in a gang causes violence.
A. Today, gangs exist in large urban and small suburban, public and private schools.
B. Gangs encourage and reward violent acts.
C. Gangs are powerful and violence occurs over issues of status, reputation, and turf.
They also offer guns to their members.
Kids have access to hand guns in school, streets, and in their parents homes.
Transition: television programs also cause violence.
III. All children see violent acts committed on television programs, films, rock videos, news broadcasts, and cartoons.
A. Many children imitate the violent they see on television.
B. A child who watches “The Power Rangers” will act violently since the characters are always fighting.
C. On the other hand, a child who watches “Barney and Friends” will not act violently since there is no fighting involved in the cartoon.
D. Children that view characters on television using violence acts to solve problems will use similar violent acts to solve their problems.
Transition: in conclusion
Conclusion
I. Violence is viewed as a social problem for the law enforcement and court system. It should also be viewed as a social problem for teacher, parents, principals, counselors, coaches, and everyone else in our society. As I said before, the use and distribution of controlled substances is one of the main factors. Student’s minds are being affected. The expansion of gangs in our communities and the amount of guns that are available to our students will only increase school violence. It will not decrease.
II. There are many ways schools and parents can reduce school violence. Schools can add gang prevention and drug prevention programs, after school activities, and maybe even extend school hours. To offer a safe community, schools should also enforce identification cars. This will help faculty members keep individuals who don’t belong in a school away form it. Schools should remind students the consequences if violent acts are committed such as, suspension, detention, not being able to be involved in school activities or even being expelled from school. Remember, violence is a behavior that is learned. Therefore, violence is a behavior that is learned. Therefore, violence in our schools can came to an end if we all contribute to preventing it.


Word Count: 618