Review the media piece “Peer Review Using Rubrics.” 

Follow the directions outlined in the media piece to complete this learning activity which is designed to provide practice using a rubric when peer reviewing a paper.

yours in the Peer Review forum. 

Complete the Peer Review Worksheet for the first draft you reviewed.

Review the criteria at the bottom of the Peer Review Worksheet to ensure successful completion of this assignment.

Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized

Drugs use has recently spiked within the last decade as a long-time prohibited drug, marijuana, has recently been legalized and used in addition to other intoxicating substances contributing to the drug use epidemic. As this recreational drug becomes frequently used throughout the United States the new generation of children will now also face the temptation of this drug along with other legalized drugs. With the current epidemic of drug use and health issues the legalization of marijuana should be reviewed on thorough health level as other drugs are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. Marijuana use and respiratory issues, increased traffic accidents, increased drug use among teenagers. Marijuana should remain illegal because it brings on long-term health problems, increased traffic accident due cognitive impairment and its use can lead to addictive drug behaviors among teenagers.

Lung disease and cancer have taken the lives of many Americans, recent studies have now included the use of marijuana linked to these life terminating health issues, therefore marijuana should be illegal. Some of the recent studies that have been done by Academic Medical Centers around the country including clinical oncology trials on long term health problems include lung cancer and related respiratory issues. Studies conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, “showed, overexpression in marijuana users of Ki-67 (a cell proliferation marker), epidermal growth factor receptor, and p53 a gene suggesting a biologic basis for increased risk of lung cancer” (Weiss, P. A. 2008). Since studies found that heavy marijuana use throughout early adulthood leads to harmful health concerns. Also, with recreational marijuana legalization, this can cause more worry to individuals who use marijuana at an early age increasing their risk for mental and physical health problems such as anxiety, depression, and over all substance abuse. Unlike cigarettes which contain nicotine, the addictive substance in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The smoke produced by burnt marijuana contains many substances which are also present in cigarette smoke (Grzywa-Celińska1, 2019). With the addictive behavior now seen frequently within teenagers, recent surveys of traffic accidents have been connected with teenagers being under the influence of marijuana.

Marijuana in addition to carrying 50 percent more benzoprene and 75 percent more benzanthracene than an actual cigarette may have increased the chances for lung cancer within the adult years, the contents within marijuana have impaired judgment of young drivers. Being under the influence of marijuana affects the reactive parts of the brain therefore the reaction time of a human can be up to 90 seconds delayed, this significant within a person that is conducting a vehicle. Recently the state of Washington and Colorado released a High Patrol reporting stating the following, “subsequent changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates in the first 3 years after recreational marijuana legalization” (Aydelotte, J. D., Brown, 2017). In addition to delayed reaction on a person on the under the influence of marijuana the cognitive behavior also demonstrates the sedative effect on the body where it can lead to falling asleep behind the wheel of an automobile leading to deadly accidents. Legalization of marijuana has affected the toll numbers of car crashes throughout the last five years adding an additional 12% to the total crash accidents under the influence of any type of drug. Furthermore, as legalization of marijuana continues throughout the United States many issues as described with car crashes will be seen as some of these events have already been seen and analyzed for root causes.

The amount of marijuana is now easily accessible to teens just as alcohol has been for many years creating a drug addiction epidemic. As the teenage lung develops, the exposure to marijuana smoke and use of marijuana has shown inflammation within the airway of the lungs.

The reports from the FDA have also connected several marijuana vaping teenagers to recent deaths, however the addictive behavior has now been seen with middle school students that have used vaping tools to help mask the smell of marijuana on campus. Teenagers addictive behaviors with the legalization of marijuana also have led to the exposure of other drugs with similar psychedelic affects leading to adulthood problems. In addition, as stated within an Epidemiology article, “With the addictive behavior now seen frequently within teenagers, recent surveys of traffic accidents have been connected with teenagers being under the influence of marijuana” ( Novak, 2015).

Although many debate over the legalization of marijuana within the United States many have failed to research the facts and details of this recreational drug. Smoking marijuana has led to lung cancer, Teenagers have increased their drug abuse due to marijuana, and more importantly Marijuana effects have impaired those conducting vehicles leading to increase in car crashes. As other drugs are legal within the United States, the country already faces a strong drug addiction epidemic, and with the legalization of highly abused drug, the known effects of the drug continue to affect and take lives away every year. Therefore the legalization of Marijuana should not be implemented within the United States.

References

Anna Grzywa-Celińska, Izabella Drogoń, Justyna Emeryk-Maksymiuk, Izabela Chmielewska, & Janusz Milanowski. (2019). Not only cigarettes – other culprits of lung cancer. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 4, 661. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.26444/aaem/109688

Aydelotte, J. D., Brown, L. H., Luftman, K. M., Mardock, A. L., Teixeira, P. G. R., Coopwood, B., & Brown, C. V. R. (2017). Crash Fatality Rates After Recreational Marijuana Legalization in Washington and Colorado. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8), 1329–1331.

https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303848

Novak, S. P., Peiper, N. C., & Zarkin, G. A. (2016). Nonmedical prescription pain reliever and alcohol consumption among cannabis users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 159, 101–108. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.039

Weiss, P. A. (2008). Does Smoking Marijuana Contribute to the Risk of Developing Lung Cancer? Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(3), 517–519.

https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1188/08.CJON.517-519

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Persuasive Essay: Peer Review Worksheet

Part of your responsibility as a student in this course is to provide quality feedback to your peers to help them improve their writing skills. This worksheet will assist you in providing that feedback. Submit this review as an attachment to both your instructor within the assignment bin and into your reply to your peer’s post containing the assigned draft.

Name of the Draft’s Author:

Name of the Peer Reviewer:

Summary

After reading through the draft one time, write a summary (3–5 sentences) of the paper. This should include the stance and the three sub-topics used to support the position within the essay. Do not place your own critique of the essay within this space.

Evaluate the Essay

After a second, closer reading of the draft, evaluate the essay using the Persuasive Essay: Final Draft rubric below. Determine the level of achievement appropriate for each assignment criteria. (Level of achievement ranges from Unsatisfactory to Excellent and are found at the top of the rubric. Assignment criteria are found in the left column of the rubric.). Please use the highlighting tool to score your peer within each criteria. Then use the right hand side of the rubric to include a rationale with evidence and examples for the score.

Topic 7 Rubric: Persuasive Essay: Final Draft

Criteria

1
Unsatisfactory

2
Less Than Satisfactory

3
Satisfactory

4
Good

5
Excellent

Why was this score determined for your peer’s essay? What evidence/examples do you have for this score?

% Scaling

0%

65%

75%

85%

100%

Content – 70%

Objective Perspective and Position

Addresses a single source or view of the argument and fails to clarify presented position relative to one’s own.

Appropriately identifies one’s own position on the topic. Vague explanation of the position is given. Little reference to specific issues related to the topic is made. Position completely appeals to emotion instead of reason.

Appropriately identifies one’s position on the topic. Explains the position taken in a coherent way. Sound reference to specific issues related to the topic is made. Position mostly appeals to emotion instead of reason.

Formulates a clear and precise point of view of the topic. Clearly explains the position taken. Sound and detailed reference to specific issues related to the topic is made. Position appeals mostly to reason.

Formulates a clear and precise point of view of the topic. Comprehensively explains the position taken. Specific issues related to the topic are fully presented in great detail. Position appeals to reason.

Rationale for score:

Word Count

Word count is less than half the minimum or more than double the maximum.

Body of essay is more than 100 words over or under the word count.

Body of essay is more than 50 but less than 100 words over or under the word count.

Body of essay is over or under the word count by 50 words or less.

Within the appropriate word count.

Rationale for score:

Argues to persuade

No real persuasive argument is made. No outside sources are used.

Presents a vague argument relative to the topic and presents no evidence to support the argument. Fewer than three outside sources are used. No Peer Reviewed sources used.

Presents an argument relative to the topic and presents minimal evidence to support the argument. Not all evidence is relevant to the argument. At least three outside sources are used with at least one peer-reviewed journal article.

Presents an argument relative to the topic and presents key evidence to support the argument through a synthesis of paraphrased and quoted material. Three sources are used. At least two peer reviewed journal articles are used.

Presents an argument relative to the topic and presents key evidence to support the argument through a synthesis of paraphrased research. Identifies not only the main issues, but also the embedded, implicit, or unspoken aspects of the topic. At least three peer reviewed journal articles are used. Direct quotes are minimal.

Rationale for score:

Adheres to principles of critical thinking
Manage emotions and avoid fallacies.
Logical reasoning is used within arguments
Upholds persuasive tone rather than manipulative
Acknowledge other perspectives and evaluate assumptions about the topic.

Fails to adhere to almost all principles of critical thinking.

Adheres to few principles of critical thinking.

Adheres to some principles of critical thinking on a surface level.

Adheres to many principles of critical thinking. Use of the principles is clear to see.

Adheres to most of the principles of critical thinking. Attempts to incorporate each one in a logical and fluid way

Rationale for score:

Organization and Effectiveness – 25%

Thesis Development and Purpose

Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim. Thesis is not stated in the conclusion.

Thesis and/or main claim are insufficiently developed and/or vague; purpose is not clear. Thesis is not stated in the conclusion.

Thesis and/or main claim are apparent and appropriate to purpose. Thesis is not stated in the conclusion.

Thesis and/or main claim are clear and forecast the development of the paper. It is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose. Thesis is stated within the concluding paragraph

Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive; contained within the thesis is the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear. Thesis is clearly restated in the conclusion.

Rationale for score:

Paragraph Development and Transitions

Paragraphs and transitions consistently lack unity and coherence. No apparent connections between paragraphs are established. Transitions are inappropriate to purpose and scope. Organization is disjointed.

Some paragraphs and transitions may lack logical progression of ideas, unity, coherence, and/or cohesiveness. Some degree of organization is evident.

Paragraphs are generally competent, but ideas may show some inconsistency in organization and/or in their relationships to each other.

A logical progression of ideas between paragraphs is apparent. Paragraphs exhibit a unity, coherence, and cohesiveness. Topic sentences and concluding remarks are appropriate to purpose.

There is a sophisticated construction of paragraphs and transitions. Includes topic sentences that are persuasive and align with thesis statement. Includes details and rationale that support the main points of each supporting paragraph. Ideas progress and relate to each other. Paragraph and transition construction guide the reader. Paragraph structure is seamless with transition between paragraphs

Rationale for score:

Mechanics of Writing
(includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)

Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice and/or sentence construction are used.

Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence structure, and/or word choice are present. Essay is primarily written in first and second person

Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are used. Essay is written with third person voice with some instances of first or second person.

Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used. Essay is mostly written with third person voice.

Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. Essay is written with third person voice.

Rationale for score:

Format – 5%

Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)

GCU template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.

GCU template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with formatting is apparent.

GCU template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.

GCU template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.

All format elements are correct.

Rationale for score:

Research Citations
(In-text citations for paraphrasing and direct quotes, and reference page listing and formatting, as appropriate to assignment and style)

No reference page is included. No citations are used.

Reference page is present. Citations are inconsistently used.

Reference page is included and lists sources used in the paper. Sources are appropriately documented, although some errors may be present.

Reference page is present and fully inclusive of all cited sources. Documentation is appropriate and citation style is usually correct.

In-text citations and a reference page are complete and correct. The documentation of cited sources is free of error.

Rationale for score:

Overall Feedback

Feedback to your peer should be objective and useful.

Three strengths of the paper are:

1)

2)

3)

Three things that could be improved are:

1)
2)
3)

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