D15, HW#1, Final WP#1/Revision

Writing project # 1 was the first writing assignment we were given. In this project I began to research my chosen topic. I had trouble understanding the rhetorical situation. The suggested readings given were helpful in answering my questions. The peer reviews and instructor's advice helped me to revise my paper. I was able to narrow my audience. This helped me to achieve outcome number two--organizing my writing to support a central idea and writing to a specific context. This writing helped me grow as a student writer because I was able to include my personal experience and research activities.

English 102S. Rodrigo
WP#1
Universal Healthcare

Why doesn’t the United States of America have universal healthcare? Not everyone in America today has health insurance. I chose this topic for the fact that many families go without coverage and are forced to pay out of pocket for medical care. Millions cannot afford to be seen by medical staff because of the mere fact that they are in poverty. Doctors will not accept people in need of emergency care if they do not have proof of insurance. So then families, especially kids are turn away from receiving medical attention.

My research will focus on blue collar families who work hard to provide a living for themselves, but still can't afford to have medical insurance and to receive health care when needed. I see it firsthand in my own family and co-workers I have talked to. The rise in cost to have medical insurance is expensive; it makes it hard for low income families to afford coverage for themselves.

I feel my purpose in writing this paper is to write to congress to raise awareness of the needs of those whose needs are not being met. There are many situations where doctors do see you even when you don’t have coverage, but then you are left with a high monthly medical bill. That has happened to me, as I need to have medical attention but did not have health coverage. I had to pay with a credit card which left me with a high credit bill to pay. That brings me back to why doesn’t the United States have universal healthcare. I have been working contract jobs in the last year. These contract companies do not provide insurance for temporary workers with health care benefits. So I am forced to go with out coverage because of the low wages, I can not afford the high cost of having insurance. I do hope to accomplish my research paper for others to see the need of health insurance for America.

My audience will be the politicians who decide who can be covered. I will try to seek both sides of the topic question and find answers to each argument.

The attended audience will need hard facts on why there should be universal coverage. Maybe with good research, I can get their interest to write or talk to others about getting universal coverage for everyone. I found a lot of interesting information on this particular subject. I will need to examine the sources and use material that is pertinent to my research question.

As I write my paper I find it hard to concentrate on the one question because of the many sub-topics of this subject has to cover. I feel encouraged that I will gain much knowledge when my research is done.