Outline of my paper

I. Introduction
 A. Half of American children will live in households receiving food stamps before age 20, according to a study reported in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. With that statistic in mind would it be important to American citizens to make sure that those families who receive assistance are not using drugs while getting assistance?
 B. Stories of those who have seen for themselves the abuse that exists in the system and the families and children who suffer because of drug addiction.
II. Thesis statement
 A. Drug testing should be mandatory for individuals that apply for or currently are receiving food stamp benefits.
III. Appeals
 A. Appeal to emotion - Drug testing can open a door for individuals to access additional services to help overcome drug abuse.
  1. Those with substance abuse problems need access to treatment, not the removal of their food supply.
  2. Taxpayers are giving their taxes to people that are struggling to assist them during hard times. The hope is that they will lift themselves up, get a job and be able to get to a place that they do not need public assistance. When someone abuses that right and takes that money and assistance and uses their time to get high and drunk instead of trying to make their lives better. Then drug testing is necessary.
  3. Drug testing would be a good door to find people who may need assistance in help better their lives.
 B. Appeal to reason - If so many jobs require random drug tests these days, why not these benefits?
   1. Why is "drug-free" a meaningful requirement?
   2. I don't care what people do with their lives, it is their lives. But when they are using my tax dollars to do it that is when I care.
   3. Drug abuse is highest among unemployed individuals.
 C. Evidence: cite statistics
IV. Refutation
 A. Some people would argue that drug testing the poor puts a stigma on all those who get food stamps. It is know that drug use is most prevalent within the unemployed.
 B. Yes it is true that my proposal will not be the best thing for everyone but consider the opportunities to help families that have drug problems.
V. Conclusion
 A. We all want to feel like we are strong and capable of being self-sufficient and to nurture our children to become successful adults.
 B. Having a drug test is not impeding on the rights of individuals but is a way to show that during this time of needed assistance, the individual is not making their situation worse and harder to find employment.