CHAPTER 3 Why Do Drug Dealers Still Live

CHAPTER 3 Why Do Drug Dealers Still Live with Their Moms? By Emily Bochenek, Clare Broderick, Syeda Fatima, and Leila Redzovic

THESIS • “We associate truth with convenience” • People do not challenge statistics as long as it sounds reasonable or would be socially inappropriate to question • Statistics can be easily manipulated

INVENTION • Justification: • Mitch Snyder fabricated statistics about homelessness but people believed him because he was an “expert” • Women’s rights advocates also exaggerated stats on sexual assaults but no one would question it because it would be very insensitive • Counter arguments • When the author addresses that the CIA is the chief sponsor of the American crack trade but then says that it is not the point of the book (pg 110) • A foot soldier has plenty in common with a Mc. Donald’s burger flipper or a Wal. Mart shelf stocker (pg 65 PDF)

ARRANGEMENT • POD: Cause and Effect • He discusses the cause of drugs dealers living with their moms • It turns out that the reason they live with their mom is because they do not make enough money • The use of cause and effect enhances the chapter and allows the reader to clearly understand the cause of drug dealers living with their mom

STYLE • The chapter has an informative and curious tone • The distinct order of the chapter gives it an informative tone • The use of rhetorical questions give it a curious tone • Diction • Simple enough for everyone to understand even though the concepts are difficult to grasp • Syntax • States one major theme and backs it up with statistics • Uses many rhetorical questions and simple sentences

RHETORIC-BASED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS • How does the use of logos enhance the authors’ argument? • Why is the topics discussed in Chapter 3 relevant to the whole concept of Freakonomics? • What values does the audience hold that the author or speaker appeals to?