how to write a public health essay

how to write a public health essay

Writing a Persuasive Public Health Essay

1. Introduction

Overall, remember to be concise! A strong introduction will not be a page long. It will be maybe 3-400 words! But it is probably the most important 3-400 words of the essay.

Finally, the essay introduction should build a path for the rest of the essay, by briefly summarizing what each following chapter will do. As long as the essay has maintained interest throughout the introduction, the reader now knows where the essay will go and will be encouraged to read on. This should not just say what each chapter will do, but actually create interest as to the result of each chapter.

The essay should then move onto introducing the work of Moorhead and Glasby, and asking the question ‘Is health a valuable social resource?’ with explanations of what this means. This is a very deep and complex question, therefore each part of the question should be addressed individually. Providing a comprehensive explanation to this question is likely to take a large proportion of the word count. This is because there are many issues related to public health contained within this question.

Next, the writer must define what is meant by ‘public health’. Many people hold different beliefs and ideas about what public health actually is, and often it is quite a vague concept. Therefore, there is significant mileage to be gained from the writer exploring differing views of what public health is.

Create an effective public health essay begins with addressing basic requirements of essay writing. Writing a clear and attractive introduction is likely to take more time than in other cases. This is where it is necessary to carry out salesmanship! If the writer is unable to do this, then the rest of the essay is likely to be disappointing. A solid and concise introduction will arouse the reader’s interest to continue through the rest of the essay.

2. Understanding Public Health Issues

Consider first the concept of health. How can it be defined in a way that is accurate, relevant, and meaningful? According to the World Health Organisation “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1946). This is the most widely known and internationally recognized definition of health, and while it may be considered a positive definition, health is seen as a positive concept and not the absence of illness. This means that health is a resource to support an individual’s function in wider society, rather than an end in itself. A health concept can be constructed for individuals, families, populations, or communities. The implication being that it has to be a lived experience over a period of time to be of any use. Before any health-related issue can be addressed, it requires an understanding of what a ‘health issue’ actually is. In its simplest form, it is defined as an event, activity, or situation that is a cause or potential cause of ill health. The effects of which could be positive or negative. Positive effects are known as health gain and negative as health loss. A health issue can be a focal point for a single individual or a group. Hereon, the individual will be referred to in context unless specified. Health issues are shaped by the environment, the inherent biology of individuals, and the management of biological and social systems (WHO, 2005).

3. Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement

A strong thesis is brief and to the point. You must be able to say it in one or two sentences. A strong thesis usually takes a side on an issue. It is not a statement of fact (JFK was a good president) or a general idea (The war was bad). A strong thesis also gives an argument that an audience could debate. It is not a list of things (The war created tension between the north and the south). Finally, it should be something that you can support with good evidence, logic, and examples. Building your thesis takes some time. Do not get discouraged if your first attempt does not make a strong argument. Often you will find that your argument changes as you write more on your topic. This is to be expected. Writing about your topic will give you a better understanding of what you are trying to argue. With that in mind, writing about your topic and brainstorming will help you to develop a more complex argument. Now you must be asking yourself how do I write it? Just what does a thesis look like? I will give you an example using the topic of smoking in public areas. Freud believed that smoking was bad, but he was a smoker himself. His inability to quit the habit led him to make comments about the silly.

4. Supporting Your Arguments with Evidence

To strengthen the persuasive argument in your public health essay, use supportive evidence that strengthens your thesis. This evidence can include statistics, quotes from experts, results from recent studies, personal stories and anecdotes, and any other information that relates to your thesis. There are a few things to consider when selecting evidence to support your thesis. Make sure to consider the reliability of your sources. Are the studies recent? Are they from credible sources? Make sure that the evidence directly supports your thesis. It is easy to get sidetracked when incorporating evidence, but make sure you stay focused. Make sure you consider your audience. Are they going to understand and believe your evidence? Coming from a medical background, I sometimes get carried away with medical terminology that is only understandable by my peers. Make sure that everything is concise and understandable to any type of reader. Make sure that the evidence is well documented. Your persuasive argument will be much stronger if you can address the views of the opposing side and refute their arguments. It is easier to ignore them or pretend that they do not exist, but a well-rounded understanding of the topic will allow you to be more successful. Make a list of the points you will use to prove your thesis. Then use one paragraph to address and refute those points. This strategy will definitely solidify your argument while making you more knowledgeable about the topic and possibly the opposing views.

5. Conclusion and Call to Action

The global health threat of rising smoking rates calls for public health campaigns that restrict the portrayal of smoking in various media, increase the price of cigarettes through taxation, reduce the availability of cigarettes through increased restrictions on sales and smoking in public places, create an enabling environment for non-smokers to protect their right to clean indoor air, and provide free or low-cost help for smokers who want to quit. Without aggressive nationwide action to reduce the prevalence of smoking, the future burden of smoking-related morbidity and mortality among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups will be devastating. The strong and consistent relationship between smoking and lower socioeconomic status is a tragically ironic finding given that tobacco use is a major underlying contributor to health disparities.