TOW #21 Thinking About Cutting Back on Soda? Try Monday by Diana K. Rice

Many people are aware of the amount of sugar in soda. However, too often people believe that eating fruits and vegetables makes them healthy and forget the consequences of this seemingly innocent poison. The article “Thinking About Cutting Back on Soda? Try Monday,” Diana K. Rice uses deductive reasoning and scientific research to convince her audience that this Monday would be a perfect opportunity to begin lowering sugar intake.

            Divided into sections, the essay outlines the importance of a healthy lifestyle and soda’s negative effects allowing the audience to quickly understand Rice’s conclusion.  The syllogism presented creates a seamless argument that prevents counters to be presented against it. First Rice recommends that, “We limit our intake of added sugar to less than 5 percent of total calories in order to reduce our risk of developing chronic diseases.” (Paragraph 2). By then showing data that proves one can of soda has almost double that, Rice establishes her major premise. Following this she explains, “Monday is the day people are most open to health changes,” and provides evidence to support this claim too.  Her smooth argument leads from one point to the next making the reader feel as if they had the brainstorm themselves. By the conclusion of the article Rice has convinced the reader to begin cutting soda out of their diet at the start of each week.

            The support to the argument acts as a strong persuading factor in Rice’s article. Her use of research and facts provides a convincing backbone to the structure. She includes, “A study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that consuming the sugar in that entire can of soda daily is enough to increase your risk of death from a cardiac event by a third.” This evidence helps support her major premise. The organizations Rice cites create more credibility by showing that she is very knowledgeable on the topic. The facts substantiate a very logical argument.

            Rice excels in persuading her audience to lesson their sugar intake by drinking one less soda every week, beginning Monday. Her strong facts and methodically organized argument make this proposition easy to comprehend and accept. Rice’s article reaches out to her audience and helps many people establish healthier lifestyles.