Writing Homework Help

SHALL WE COMMIT?

An Argumentative Essay About Involuntary Commitment

This assignment asks you to weigh in on the debate about involuntary commitment (or institutionalization) of those who are deemed to be afflicted with psychiatric or psychological disorders and who may be a danger to themselves or others. Rachel Aviv’s article, titled “God Knows Where I Am,” profiles the story of one family’s journey to secure treatment for their loved one with bipolar and schizoaffective disorder. Additional texts in the unit offer arguments on all sides of the topic, and provide important pieces of evidence and key concepts for your consideration.

PURPOSE

The cornerstone assignment of a transfer-level composition class is the argumentative essay. The skills you learn in the lessons for this assignment, like the 3D Thesis Statement and the SEAS Body Paragraph format, can apply to nearly any academic essay, in any subject, at any institution. They’re good tools! Additionally, this assignment facilitates skills like offering contextual information, developing logical argument, connecting ideas, synthesizing texts, etc. Those are necessary skills in most workplaces, and in life! Finally, the topic of involuntary commitment intersects both themes of the course: agency (our ability to control the circumstances of our lives) and rights! So I hope it’s an interesting, engaging, useful assignment for you.

PROMPT

Is the practice of involuntary commitment necessary, beneficial and/or ethical? Why or why not?

UNIT TEXTS

Rachel Aviv, “God Knows Where I Am” (published in The New Yorker, 2018)

Dinah Miller, M.D. and Annette Hanson, M.D. “Introduction” (excerpted Committed: The Battle Over Involuntary Psychiatric Care, 2016)

Thea Amidov, “Involuntary Commitment is Unnecessary and Discriminatory” (published in Mental Illness, 2016)

John Casada, “Involuntary Commitment is Sometimes Necessary” (published in Mental Illness, 2016)

REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to cite and engage closely with at least THREE texts from our unit:

Students must reference Aviv’s text, and students must additionally incorporate two texts from our unit readings.

Outside research is only acceptable with prior approval and guidance.

The final argumentative essay must follow the formats offered from the lessons accompanying this unit, including:

An introduction that offers context about the topic and includes a 3D Thesis.

Multiple body paragraphs in the SEAS Body Paragraph format, which include subclaims, introduction to evidence (from our unit texts), incorporation of evidence in the form of a direct quote or paraphrased material, proper citation, analysis, and discussion of significance.

A conclusion that reiterates the main argument(s) and addresses the relevance of the topic today. Students may incorporate personal experience in the conclusion (optional).

There is no counterargument required for this essay.

Final argumentative essay draft must be 4-6 pages long (or 1500-2000 words), double spaced, 1” margins, 12 point Times New Roman or 11 point Arial. Essays that do not meet minimum length requirements will not receive a passing grade.

Use properly formatted in-text citations; no works cited page is required.

HELPFUL TIPS

Be sure you know the definition of involuntary commitment before proceeding: 

People who are involuntarily committed are referred by law enforcement, family members, or health professionals, and are deemed by a judge to be an immediate danger to themselves or others.

In our texts, involuntary commitment is also called “civil commitment” and “involuntary hospitalization.” For our purposes, you may use these terms interchangeably.

The typical initial hold for commitment is 72 hours for observation. That hold may be extended by a judge, based on the safety of the individual being detained.

Typically, during an involuntary commitment hold, patients have the right to refuse medication and treatment, unless additionally ordered by a judge.

People who are subject to involuntary commitment are not (necessarily) criminals–don’t confuse the practice with prison incarceration.

People who enroll themselves in residential treatment programs are not involuntarily committed–their participation is voluntary.

Rather than arguing flatly for or against the practice, enrich your subclaims by identifying complexities, constraints and important considerations related to the use of involuntary commitment.

Remember that the practice is already legal in all states in the U.S., so the true debate is about whether to ban or modify it. Conversely, why keep it in place, given the problems it presents for individual rights, self-determination, discrimination, etc.?