Of A Ban On Brain-Boosting Drugs Is Not The Answer By Matt Lamkin

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In his Chronicles of Higher Education essay, “A Ban On Brain-Boosting Drugs Is Not The Answer, Matt Lamkin aims to influence his reader to encourage students to engage in the practice of Education, rather than frighten them with threats. Lamkin tells us “If colleges believe that enhancing cognition with drugs deprives students of the true value of education, they must encourage students to adapt that value as their own” (642). Lamkin used many techniques, including appeal to logic, compare and contrast, and consistency to draft his resilient essay. Lamkin uses logos by using valid evidence, such as statistics from a credible source. Lamkin states “34 percent of university’s undergraduates have used stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall as study aids” (641). By using this statistic, Lamkin identifies that there is a rising problem with the use of prescription drugs among college students that needs a solution. Lamkin then goes on to state “Wesleyan University …show more content…

Consistency basically means that he is restating his beliefs over and over again. Lamkin states “Simply calling the use of study drugs “unfair” tells us nothing about why colleges should ban them. If such drugs really do improve academic performance among healthy students (and the evidence is scant), shouldn’t colleges put them in the drinking water instead? After all, it would be unfair to permit wealthy students to use them if less privileged students can’t afford them” (641). Lamkin states through his quotes, that instead of punishing students for doing something they felt was harmless and necessary, we should put them on the right path, where they feel their best is good enough, without the prescription drugs. Though Lamkin’s opinion seems different then many others on the same topic, he forms a strong basis around his opinion, that could potentially change others to have the same