Toulmin Analysis of My Last Blog

Claim:
It is believed that highschoolers hold little political importance, but in actuality they are very important to politics and the political process.

Reasons:
- Because highschoolers can't vote, many think that they have no impact on politics
-Because highschoolers are the base of future voters
-Because they can promote candidates and policies through other means

Evidence:

- "Because highschoolers can't vote, many think that they have no impact on politics"-  The voting age is 18, so almost all highschoolers are not qualified to vote. As voting is the highest form of political participation, the inability of highschoolers to do so makes the public commonly believe that teenagers are detached from politics.

-"Because highschoolers are the base of future voters" - Highschoolers should not lose hope about their importance in politics just because they can't vote. Highschoolers will become voting age citizens in no time, and one of the best things about the teenage years is that you have time to observe and learn the political system, and start shaping your own political views that you will support as a voter.

-"Because they can promote candidates and policies through other means"- Highschoolers can get involved in grassroots movements that augment the effectiveness of political campaigns. They can volunteer to advertise voter registration, participate in rallies and demonstrations, and sign petitions. Highchoolers have the option to lobby voting age citizens to support candidates and policies that will actually come into effect when highschoolers need them.

Warrants:

"Because highschoolers can't vote, many think that they have no impact on politics"-

• Voting is an essential and important part of the political process.

"Because highschoolers are the base of future voters"-

• Observing politics from a distance helps shape ideology
• Understanding the system is important in creating responsible voting citizens

"Because they can promote candidates and policies through other means"-

• Highschoolers would get involved in grassroots if they knew they could.
• Grassroots movements and political participation other than voting has an effect on candidates/policy.

Backing:
"Voting is an essential and important part of the political process."- Voting elects candidates to office. The citizens vote for the candidate that they think best expresses their interests, and who they believe will be the best person for the particular office. It is this voter to politician relationship that preserves the integrity of democracy.

"Observing politics from a distance helps shape ideology"- Before one votes, they usually form an ideology that will constitute who they vote for. The formation of this ideology comes from many sources, including family and the media. Highschoolers have the oppurtunity to understand how the sytem works by observing those who surround them take part in it.

"Understanding the system is important in creating responsible voting citizens"- Highschoolers should educate themselves as much as they can about the possibilities of the political sytem, so that wehn it comes time to vote they will not be voting for the candidate with the best hair, but the one that promotes their ideology. Informed voting is the key to democracy, as it ensures that the people's actual views are being represented. Being a part of the political system as a teen will help ensure political participation.

"Highschoolers would get involved in grassroots if they knew they could."- Highschoolers naturally want to be a part of the political landscape. They care about issues so they will seek any ways the can to support them.

"Grassroots movements and political participation other than voting has an effect on candidates/policy."- Lobbying is one of the most effective forms of persuasion in politics, and it doesn't involve anything other than talking to politicians and spreading awareness about issues. Grassroots movements like rallies and voter registration drives increase citizen awareness of issues and contribute to democratic integrity. Once elected, politicians make the decisions so convincing them through petitions and letter writing is key to effect what policy gets implemented.

Analysis
 I believe that my claim is valid, but it is a bit confusing because it has two discreet parts. I have to prove first that many/most people do not believe that highschoolers are important politically. I don't really do that effectively in my blog, but it doesn't sabotage the message of my post. My reasons are pretty good, and all three of them are very understandable and are probably going to be accepted without a lot proof. However, in the case that one may demand proof, my evidence is explicit and supports my reasons appropriately. When I get to my warrants and backing, that is when I find that the argument begins to weaken and break down. One of my warrants is that "highschoolers would get involved in grassroots if they knew they could." This is not a solid warrant. Many highschoolers would not get involved in grassroots and politics even if they knew they could, precisely for the reason that I state in my article: they don't believe they have political importance. I think that one of the huge issues with my argument which I do not address is that many highschoolers are apathetic to politics in general, so they do not participate based on this, and not their feeling of importance. I think that in order to strengthen my blog I should include some statistics that flesh out my reason regarding general opinion about highschoolers. I could also provide specific examples of highschoolers who have made a difference in government/politics, in order to back my point that voting isn't the only way to influence policy. I should back up my warrant about grassroots by including specific examples of rallies and lobbying. This would then solidify the larger point of non voting effects on politics.

High School Politics?

  Highschoolers are often ignored when it comes to politics.This may be because they are not of voting age. Or it maybe because they are not young enough to be kissed by candidates in publicity photos. Either way, most Americans, especially the young people in question, believe that they hold little political importance. This is incorrect. However, I can see why people would think so.

   Since the voting age is 18 and most government related positions have even higher age minimums, it is hard and nearly impossible for teenagers to get directly involved in politics. Since voting is viewed as the most direct form of political action, save for running for office, highschoolers seem to be of little worth and zero impact. If one cannot support what they stand for, are they standing for it at all? If voting on candidates and policy is truly the only way to promote your political goals and beliefs, then I agree that high schoolers have no political worth.

   However, we must ask ourselves, is voting the only form of political participation? I don't believe it is. I believe there are a multitude of ways that younger people can not only get involved, but also make a difference in politics. The main reason that the political potential of highschoolers is not exploited is because the highschoolers themselves do not believe that they matter. They could not be more wrong! The teenage population is essentially clay waiting to be molded into responsible, thoughtful, voting citizens. Teenagers have a chance to promote policies that will actually come into effect when they need them as adults. Many adults currently promote initiatives that will not benefit them personally, but their children and grandchildren. Some examples of these are education initiatives, environmental conservation efforts, social security benefits, etc. Highschoolers can spread the word about issues they care about and convince those adults that can vote that their views are valid. Although they cannot vote, high schoolers are especially helpful in organizing rallies and promoting registration to vote. Getting people to register to vote is equivalent to voting yourself, only you are increasing political awareness and participation as a whole.

  Those who do not believe that they can make a difference without voting would do well to realize their importance as the base of future voters. The teenage years are some of the most formative of the young life, and the best thing that teenagers could do is make sure that they are well informed and aware of their political opportunities and positions, and what they can achieve for themselves through politics. Although I understand that politicians overlook teenagers because they are not a part of their voting constituency, this doesn't mean that they should lose confidence. Keep fighting for what you believe in both the political and social arenas, and you can make a difference!