ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 1 Topic: Discuss the factors that impact on awareness of the adverse health effects of smoking. Introduction Different countries have different awareness of the adverse effects of smoking on health. Generally, the awareness of people in developed countries is much higher, and their rate of smoking is much lower, than in developing countries. Significant factors that directly affect the awareness of the effects of smoking on people’s health are the attitude of a government toward the tobacco industry, the role of the media and the education level of the populace. Government attitude The attitude of the government of a country toward the tobacco industry is one of the most influential factors associated with differences in awareness of the effects of smoking. The awareness of people can be increased by implementing legal measures and policies to control the tobacco industry. legal measures Legal measures that can impact on people’s awareness of the adverse effects of smoking include laws in relation to the age at which people can buy tobacco products and regulations restricting smoking in public places, as in South Australia (Smith 2014, p. 57). However, because such provisions are often made at a local rather than national level, their effectiveness is arguable diminished (Brown 2012, p. 334). Tax laws can also be used to influence attitudes to smoking. In Canada, when the government increased taxes on cigarettes, the percentage of teenagers who smoke daily dropped from 42% to 16% (Koop 1994). policies Policies in relation to advertising are commonly used to influence attitudes to smoking. America has some of the world’s strictest antismoking policies in the world, including a new generation of advertisements that portray smokers as ‘hapless dupes’ of industry propaganda (Reeves 2000). This strategy increases the awareness of the negative effects of smoking. However, some developing countries appear to purposely avoid raising awareness of the health risks and dangers of smoking. Possible reasons may be that these countries collect high taxes on tobacco products and, or, tobacco products are high earning ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 2 exports. In Indonesia, tobacco companies have sponsored mosques, churches, schools, bridges, medical seminars and cultural events (Johnson 2010, p. 32). The role of the media The media (television, radio, newspapers and the internet) play an important role in people’s awareness of the effects of smoking on health through advertising and media attitude. advertising Advertising has a strong effect on attitudes to smoking and is therefore the target of policies and regulation. In many developed countries, including Australia, cigarette advertising on television and at sporting events is banned and products must have ‘plain packaging’ (Smith 2014, p. 58); however in many developing countries advertising tobacco products in a favourable way is widespread. According to the British Medical Journal, teenagers tend to pick the most advertised brand. In India, (72%) of middle school students and 78.4% of high school students saw advertisements and promotions of cigarettes in newspapers or magazines (Indian Youth Tobacco Survey Report 2000). media attitude The media directly affects awareness of the effects of smoking on health. In developed countries, companies are often compelled by law to place health warnings on cigarette packets the media provide current information about the adverse effects of smoking (Barker 2007, p. 87). Therefore, consumers are more likely to have increased awareness of the danger of tobacco smoking. However people in developing countries often have little exposure to the ill effects of smoking on health, since the media and marketing focus on the advantages of the products (Barker & Roberts 2008, pp. 394-395). Education level Education level also influences the awareness of the health effects of smoking on health. Developed countries tend to have higher rates of literacy than developing countries (Patel 2006). Increasing education level is associated with decreasing smoking prevalence. The smoking rate of university graduates is 17% compared with a rate of 33% for people who have less than 9 years education (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 34). This result suggests that a university graduate may have a higher awareness of the negative effects of smoking on health. Most university graduates can get and understand information about the effects of ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 3 smoking from books, magazines and journals. Those people with less than 9 years of education tend to be workers or unskilled labourers with a lower level of literacy (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 39). Thus even if written information is available to them they may not be able to read or understand it, especially if technical language is used (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 39). Therefore, education level is arguably one of the key factors likely to increase awareness of the ill effects of smoking on health. Conclusion Awareness of the effects of the smoking on health is higher and rates of smoking are lower in developed countries when compared to developing countries. This is because the developed countries tend to take positive action, supported by laws, to increase the awareness of people, and there is more information in media about the dangers of smoking in developed countries. Further, as education level is correlated with smoking uptake, the higher literacy rates in developing countries also impact on the level of awareness about the effects of smoking. (845 words) ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 4 References [All sources cited in-text must be listed according to either the Harvard or IEEE system.] ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 5 The use of headings Using the sample text above, the use of headings to assist the reader to follow the text can be seen. Text Notes Introduction Different countries have different awareness of the adverse effects of smoking on health. Generally, the awareness of people in developed countries is much higher, and their rate of smoking is much lower, than in developing countries. Significant factors that directly affect the awareness of the effects of smoking on people’s health are the attitude of a government toward the tobacco industry, the role of the media and the education level of the populace. Government attitude The attitude of the government of a country toward the tobacco industry is one of the most influential factors associated with differences in awareness of the effects of smoki
ng. The awareness of people can be increased by implementing legal measures and policies to control the tobacco industry. legal measures Legal measures that can impact on people’s awareness of the adverse effects of smoking include laws in relation to the age at which people can buy tobacco products and regulations restricting smoking in public places, as in South Australia (Smith 2014, p. 57). However, because such provisions are often made at a local rather than national level, their effectiveness is arguable diminished (Brown 2012, p. 334). Tax laws can also be used to influence attitudes to smoking. In Canada, when the government increased taxes on cigarettes, the percentage of teenagers who smoke daily dropped from 42% to 16% (Koop 1994). policies Policies in relation to advertising are commonly used to influence attitudes to smoking. America has some of the world’s Introduction The introduction has a paragraph level heading. In a short paper, the introduction may be written as one whole paragraph, without the need for sub-paragraphs. Government attitude The first issue has a paragraph level heading. The issue in the example is divided into sub-issues, therefore the paragraph introduction is separated from the discussion and sub-issue headings are used. Because a paragraph’s introduction will state any sub-issues, the use of sub-issue headings is optional; however headings are recommended. The paragraph does not have a conclusion – the main point is included in the final Conclusion paragraph. legal measures The first sub-issue has a sub- issue level heading. policies The second sub-issue has a sub-issue level heading. ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 6 strictest antismoking policies in the world, including a new generation of advertisements that portray smokers as ‘hapless dupes’ of industry propaganda (Reeves 2000). This strategy increases the awareness of the negative effects of smoking. However, some developing countries appear to purposely avoid raising awareness of the health risks and dangers of smoking. Possible reasons may be that these countries collect high taxes on tobacco products and, or, tobacco products are high earning exports. In Indonesia, tobacco companies have sponsored mosques, churches, schools, bridges, medical seminars and cultural events (Johnson 2010, p. 32). The role of the media The media (television, radio, newspapers and the internet) play an important role in people’s awareness of the effects of smoking on health through advertising and media attitude. advertising Advertising has a strong effect on attitudes to smoking and is therefore the target of policies and regulation. In many developed countries, including Australia, cigarette advertising on television and at sporting events is banned and products must have ‘plain packaging’ (Smith 2014, p. 58); however in many developing countries advertising tobacco products in a favourable way is widespread. According to the British Medical Journal, teenagers tend to pick the most advertised brand. In India, (72%) of middle school students and 78.4% of high school students saw advertisements and promotions of cigarettes in newspapers or magazines (Indian Youth Tobacco Survey Report 2000). media attitude The media directly affects awareness of the effects of smoking on health. In developed countries, companies are often compelled by law to place health warnings on cigarette packets the media provide current information about the adverse effects The role of the media The second issue has a paragraph level heading. The issue in the example is divided into sub-issues. Therefore, the paragraph introduction is separated from the discussion. advertising The first sub-issue has a sub- issue level heading. media attitude The second sub-issue has a sub-issue level heading. ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 7 of smoking (Barker 2007, p. 87). Therefore, consumers are more likely to have increased awareness of the danger of tobacco smoking. However people in developing countries often have little exposure to the ill effects of smoking on health, since the media and marketing focus on the advantages of the products (Barker & Roberts 2008, pp. 394-395). Education level Education level also influences the awareness of the health effects of smoking on health. Developed countries tend to have higher rates of literacy than developing countries (Patel 2006). Increasing education level is associated with decreasing smoking prevalence. The smoking rate of university graduates is 17% compared with a rate of 33% for people who have less than 9 years education (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 34). This result suggests that a university graduate may have a higher awareness of the negative effects of smoking on health. Most university graduates can get and understand information about the effects of smoking from books, magazines and journals. Those people with less than 9 years of education tend to be workers or unskilled labourers with a lower level of literacy (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 39). Thus even if written information is available to them they may not be able to read or understand it, especially if technical language is used (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 39). Therefore, education level is arguably one of the key factors likely to increase awareness of the ill effects of smoking on health. Conclusion Awareness of the effects of the smoking on health is higher and rates of smoking are lower in developed countries when compared to developing countries. This is because the developed countries tend to take positive action, supported by laws, to increase the awareness of people, and there is more information Education level The third issue has a paragraph level heading. The issue in the example is not divided into sub-issues, therefore the paragraph introduction is not separated from the discussion. Conclusion The conclusion has a paragraph level heading. ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings 8 in media about the dangers of smoking in developed countries. Further, as education level is correlated with smoking uptake, the higher literacy rates in developing countries also impact on the level of awareness about the effects of smoking. (845 words) References [All sources cited in-text must be listed according to either the Harvard or IEEE system.] References The reference list has a paragraph level heading, and should start on a new page.