Sunday, February 6, 2011
Definition Proposal
For my definition paper, I would like to define the word drug. I think that I would stick to the existing definition of anything that alters a person’s mind, but I would propose changing what a drug stands for. The definition is too broad and leads to something like crystal meth being classified in the same category as caffeine. The word drug is very prevalent in today’s society and I believe that “drug” should either be subcategorized or split into two separate things. The purpose of my paper will be to define what I think a drug really is with an emphasis on clarification between “good” and bad drugs. The audience for my paper could be anyone but specifically people who use the word “drug” with a negative connotation.
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Ok so my concern here is a matter of breadth. What exactly is your problem with the word "drug?" Is it a legal thing? A social thing(why do we say "drugs and alcohol" when alcohol is a drug too)? Do you want to focus in on "drugs" like caffeine (in which case, what really makes something a drug? If it is something which alters your mind then there are a ton of foods that do this, even sugar).
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm concerned here is that you have ventured into the realm of "good" and "bad" which is more of a evaluation activity rather than a definitional. We'll do that in the next section. Rather, perhaps what you want to do is specify something about the term "drug" that indicates a particular thing that makes something like caffeine not a drug.
So think about that for a bit then post a response clarifying what you'll focus on.
I think it would be a combination of clarifying what a drug is (like why we say drugs and alcohol and how I think things like caffeine shouldn't be included because of how society views the word drug) and explaining my view of drugs and what should be a "drug" or not. Is that better?
ReplyDeleteI suppose that will work. As long as you have in mind how it will come together and it doesn't wander too much. It should make a coherent whole.
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