ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
1
Topic: Discuss the factors that impact on awareness of the adverse health effects of
smoking.
Introduction
Different countries have different awareness of the adverse effects of smoking on health.
Generally, the awareness of people in developed countries is much higher, and their rate of
smoking is much lower, than in developing countries. Significant factors that directly
affect the awareness of the effects of smoking on people’s health are the attitude of a
government toward the tobacco industry, the role of the media and the education level of
the populace.
Government attitude
The attitude of the government of a country toward the tobacco industry is one of the most
influential factors associated with differences in awareness of the effects of smoking. The
awareness of people can be increased by implementing legal measures and policies to
control the tobacco industry.
legal measures
Legal measures that can impact on people's awareness of the adverse effects of smoking
include laws in relation to the age at which people can buy tobacco products and
regulations restricting smoking in public places, as in South Australia (Smith 2014, p. 57).
However, because such provisions are often made at a local rather than national level, their
effectiveness is arguable diminished (Brown 2012, p. 334). Tax laws can also be used to
influence attitudes to smoking. In Canada, when the government increased taxes on
cigarettes, the percentage of teenagers who smoke daily dropped from 42% to 16% (Koop
1994).
policies
Policies in relation to advertising are commonly used to influence attitudes to smoking.
America has some of the world’s strictest antismoking policies in the world, including a
new generation of advertisements that portray smokers as 'hapless dupes' of industry
propaganda (Reeves 2000). This strategy increases the awareness of the negative effects of
smoking. However, some developing countries appear to purposely avoid raising
awareness of the health risks and dangers of smoking. Possible reasons may be that these
countries collect high taxes on tobacco products and, or, tobacco products are high earning
ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
2
exports. In Indonesia, tobacco companies have sponsored mosques, churches, schools,
bridges, medical seminars and cultural events (Johnson 2010, p. 32).
The role of the media
The media (television, radio, newspapers and the internet) play an important role in
people’s awareness of the effects of smoking on health through advertising and media
attitude.
advertising
Advertising has a strong effect on attitudes to smoking and is therefore the target of
policies and regulation. In many developed countries, including Australia, cigarette
advertising on television and at sporting events is banned and products must have 'plain
packaging' (Smith 2014, p. 58); however in many developing countries advertising tobacco
products in a favourable way is widespread. According to the British Medical Journal,
teenagers tend to pick the most advertised brand. In India, (72%) of middle school students
and 78.4% of high school students saw advertisements and promotions of cigarettes in
newspapers or magazines (Indian Youth Tobacco Survey Report 2000).
media attitude
The media directly affects awareness of the effects of smoking on health. In developed
countries, companies are often compelled by law to place health warnings on cigarette
packets the media provide current information about the adverse effects of smoking
(Barker 2007, p. 87). Therefore, consumers are more likely to have increased awareness of
the danger of tobacco smoking. However people in developing countries often have little
exposure to the ill effects of smoking on health, since the media and marketing focus on
the advantages of the products (Barker & Roberts 2008, pp. 394-395).
Education level
Education level also influences the awareness of the health effects of smoking on health.
Developed countries tend to have higher rates of literacy than developing countries (Patel
2006). Increasing education level is associated with decreasing smoking prevalence. The
smoking rate of university graduates is 17% compared with a rate of 33% for people who
have less than 9 years education (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 34). This result suggests that
a university graduate may have a higher awareness of the negative effects of smoking on
health. Most university graduates can get and understand information about the effects of
ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
3
smoking from books, magazines and journals. Those people with less than 9 years of
education tend to be workers or unskilled labourers with a lower level of literacy (Hill,
White & Gray 1989, p. 39). Thus even if written information is available to them they may
not be able to read or understand it, especially if technical language is used (Hill, White &
Gray 1989, p. 39). Therefore, education level is arguably one of the key factors likely to
increase awareness of the ill effects of smoking on health.
Conclusion
Awareness of the effects of the smoking on health is higher and rates of smoking are lower
in developed countries when compared to developing countries. This is because the
developed countries tend to take positive action, supported by laws, to increase the
awareness of people, and there is more information in media about the dangers of smoking
in developed countries. Further, as education level is correlated with smoking uptake, the
higher literacy rates in developing countries also impact on the level of awareness about
the effects of smoking.
(845 words)

ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
4
References
[All sources cited in-text must be listed according to either the Harvard or IEEE system.]

ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
5
The use of headings
Using the sample text above, the use of headings to assist the reader to follow the text can be seen.

Text Notes
Introduction
Different countries have different awareness of the adverse
effects of smoking on health. Generally, the awareness of people
in developed countries is much higher, and their rate of smoking
is much lower, than in developing countries. Significant factors
that directly affect the awareness of the effects of smoking on
people’s health are the attitude of a government toward the
tobacco industry, the role of the media and the education level of
the populace.
Government attitude
The attitude of the government of a country toward the tobacco
industry is one of the most influential factors associated with
differences in awareness of the effects of smoking. The
awareness of people can be increased by implementing legal
measures and policies to control the tobacco industry.
legal measures
Legal measures that can impact on people's awareness of the
adverse effects of smoking include laws in relation to the age at
which people can buy tobacco products and regulations
restricting smoking in public places, as in South Australia (Smith
2014, p. 57). However, because such provisions are often made
at a local rather than national level, their effectiveness is arguable
diminished (Brown 2012, p. 334). Tax laws can also be used to
influence attitudes to smoking. In Canada, when the government
increased taxes on cigarettes, the percentage of teenagers who
smoke daily dropped from 42% to 16% (Koop 1994).
policies
Policies in relation to advertising are commonly used to
influence attitudes to smoking. America has some of the world’s


Introduction
The introduction has a
paragraph level heading. In a
short paper, the introduction
may be written as one whole
paragraph, without the need
for sub-paragraphs.







Government attitude
The first issue has a
paragraph level heading. The
issue in the example is
divided into sub-issues,
therefore the paragraph
introduction is separated from
the discussion and sub-issue
headings are used. Because a
paragraph's introduction will
state any sub-issues, the use
of sub-issue headings is
optional; however headings
are recommended. The
paragraph does not have a
conclusion - the main point is
included in the final
Conclusion paragraph.

legal measures
The first sub-issue has a sub-
issue level heading.




policies
The second sub-issue has a
sub-issue level heading.


ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
6
strictest antismoking policies in the world, including a new
generation of advertisements that portray smokers as 'hapless
dupes' of industry propaganda (Reeves 2000). This strategy
increases the awareness of the negative effects of smoking.
However, some developing countries appear to purposely avoid
raising awareness of the health risks and dangers of smoking.
Possible reasons may be that these countries collect high taxes on
tobacco products and, or, tobacco products are high earning
exports. In Indonesia, tobacco companies have sponsored
mosques, churches, schools, bridges, medical seminars and
cultural events (Johnson 2010, p. 32).
The role of the media
The media (television, radio, newspapers and the internet) play
an important role in people’s awareness of the effects of smoking
on health through advertising and media attitude.
advertising
Advertising has a strong effect on attitudes to smoking and is
therefore the target of policies and regulation. In many developed
countries, including Australia, cigarette advertising on television
and at sporting events is banned and products must have 'plain
packaging' (Smith 2014, p. 58); however in many developing
countries advertising tobacco products in a favourable way is
widespread. According to the British Medical Journal, teenagers
tend to pick the most advertised brand. In India, (72%) of middle
school students and 78.4% of high school students saw
advertisements and promotions of cigarettes in newspapers or
magazines (Indian Youth Tobacco Survey Report 2000).
media attitude
The media directly affects awareness of the effects of smoking
on health. In developed countries, companies are often
compelled by law to place health warnings on cigarette packets
the media provide current information about the adverse effects


















The role of the media
The second issue has a
paragraph level heading. The
issue in the example is
divided into sub-issues.
Therefore, the paragraph
introduction is separated from
the discussion.

advertising
The first sub-issue has a sub-
issue level heading.












media attitude
The second sub-issue has a
sub-issue level heading.





ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
7
of smoking (Barker 2007, p. 87). Therefore, consumers are more
likely to have increased awareness of the danger of tobacco
smoking. However people in developing countries often have
little exposure to the ill effects of smoking on health, since the
media and marketing focus on the advantages of the products
(Barker & Roberts 2008, pp. 394-395).
Education level
Education level also influences the awareness of the health
effects of smoking on health. Developed countries tend to have
higher rates of literacy than developing countries (Patel 2006).
Increasing education level is associated with decreasing smoking
prevalence. The smoking rate of university graduates is 17%
compared with a rate of 33% for people who have less than 9
years education (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 34). This result
suggests that a university graduate may have a higher awareness
of the negative effects of smoking on health. Most university
graduates can get and understand information about the effects of
smoking from books, magazines and journals. Those people with
less than 9 years of education tend to be workers or unskilled
labourers with a lower level of literacy (Hill, White & Gray
1989, p. 39). Thus even if written information is available to
them they may not be able to read or understand it, especially if
technical language is used (Hill, White & Gray 1989, p. 39).
Therefore, education level is arguably one of the key factors
likely to increase awareness of the ill effects of smoking on
health.
Conclusion
Awareness of the effects of the smoking on health is higher and
rates of smoking are lower in developed countries when
compared to developing countries. This is because the developed
countries tend to take positive action, supported by laws, to
increase the awareness of people, and there is more information










Education level
The third issue has a
paragraph level heading. The
issue in the example is not
divided into sub-issues,
therefore the paragraph
introduction is not separated
from the discussion.
























Conclusion
The conclusion has a
paragraph level heading.






ELEC ENG 7057 Sample Position Paper showing the use of headings
8
in media about the dangers of smoking in developed countries.
Further, as education level is correlated with smoking uptake, the
higher literacy rates in developing countries also impact on the
level of awareness about the effects of smoking.
(845 words)

References
[All sources cited in-text must be listed according to either the
Harvard or IEEE system.]












References
The reference list has a
paragraph level heading, and
should start on a new page.

















































































































































































































































































































































































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