Jessica Shosola

Professor Douglas
English 112-01
23 June 2016
Bullying Does Not Play a Crucial Role in Suicide
An article published by Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection in 2016 describes
bullying as an unwarranted act produce to harass and humiliate an individual in the presence of
others. (Bullying) Bullying is a severe issue all over the world that is sometimes overlooked.
Although bullying is very common, many people admit to bullying at least once in their life.
Bullying can lead to health disorder; such as, anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, so it is vital to intervene in bullying (Ollove). The rhetorical situation in both articles
highlights bullying and whether it causes suicide. Michael Ollove publishes an article on Teen
Suicide in 2014. Deborah Temkin also published an article on Huffington Post in 2015. Olloves
intention in her article Bullying Increases the Risk of Teen Suicide emphasizing that bullying is
a source of suicide and how individuals need not overlook this issue but must confront it. Ollove
confirms that bullying is detrimental to people and could have serious repercussions. Temkins
intentions in her article Bullying Does Not Cause Suicide is to assert that bullying does not
lead to suicide. Temkin recognizes that eliminating bullying will not cause suicide to cease.
Olloves intended audience are parents, schools, teachers, principals, authorities, and students. In
comparison, Deborah Temkins intended audience are parents, teachers, principals, and
authorities. Ollove asserts, Bullying is an assault and until people recognize it as such, and take
steps to prevent it, teens will continue to commit bullycide (suicide caused from
bullying).(Ollove) Temkin asserts in her argument We need to recognize that bullying
prevention alone will not prevent suicide.(Temkin) Temkins argument was much stronger
because it had more evidence and statistics. Olloves article only gives examples as support for

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her argument, and she does not reveal any real statistic or evidence of people committing suicide
from bullying. In contrast, Temkins argument is bullying is not the central source of suicide.
To begin, the content of the message associated with the article a person will likely agree
with is Bullying Does Not Cause Suicide. The article gives valid evidence and statistics to
prove bullying solely does not cause suicide. Temkin states, Only a small percentage of reported
suicides specifically listed bullying as a precipitating factor. (Temkin) The form in which this
article is conveyed is nonfiction. The article gives factual statistics, which makes the article more
reliable and trustworthy. The language and sentence fluency used in this article is formal
language. The diction used in this article is appropriate to emphasize the importance that bullying
should not be viewed as the main cause of suicide. Temkin confirms that people generally
believe that bullying is solely the cause of suicide and there are many other contributing factors.
Temkin looks at different people with suicidal thoughts and argues that bullies and bystanders are
also at risk of suicide. The article is organized and developed as an argument, and is a response
to Olloves Bullying Increases the Risk of Teen Suicide. The article argues that stopping
bullying will not halt suicide. The form enhances the content of the article by giving effective
data. The form enables one to be persuaded that harassment alone does not cause suicide. The
weakness in this article was that the information was too brief with a few supporting details. The
strength of this article is its strong support, evidence, and statistics. The author does address
opposition that bullying will cause suicide; Temkin clearly states, The vast majority of the
estimated 28 percent of youth between the ages of 12 to 18 who report being bullied..will not
think about or engage in suicidal behaviors. Individuals who experience suicide will not have
thoughts or acts prominent to suicide (Temkin).
Afterward, the content of the article an individual will least agree with is Bullying
Increases the Risk of Teen Suicide. This article is written on the basis of examples instead of

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verifications. The article give examples of torment that occurred to Tyler Lee Long at his school,
and explains how that later leads to his decision to commit suicide (Ollove). The form in which
the article is conveyed is nonfiction. The language and sentence fluency that is used in this article
by using formal language and appealing to the audience emotions. The author chooses to use
vivid examples in the text about victims of bullying, and how it leads to their final decision of
killing themselves. Ollove asserts, At the beginning of sophomore year, according to the Longs
lawsuit, Tyler was pushed down a flight of stairs. This allows the audience feel empathy for
these victims and to take action against bullying. The article is developed and organized by cause
and effect. The article reveals that suicide is the outcome from bullying. The form enhances the
article by giving the audience uneasy emotions and to feel sympathy for the targets of bullying.
The weakness in this article is it does not give that audience any valid proof that suicide is the
primary cause of bullying. The strength of this article is the way it is able to appeal to the
audience sentiments by making them feel sorry for the victims. The author does address an
opposition about bullying causing suicide, Ollove admits that There are no reliable statistics that
break out the number of teen suicides attributable to bullying. (Ollove) The author choice to
admit that there are not real proof as bullying being the cause of suicide shows credibility.
To conclude, bullying is not the primary factor to suicide. Suicide is an unfortunate
decision to have peace that certain people cannot receive on Earth. The author that most
effectively fulfilled her objective is Temkin. The author succeeds in doing so by supporting her
stance with credible evidence with statistics and research data. Ollove is the author that most
appeals to the audience; she appeals to the audiences emotions. Ollove gives examples that
allow readers to feel sorrow, empathy and sympathy for the victims. Both articles exhibit most
Americans as bystanders in the presence of bullying (Bullying). Americans allow bullying to
gradually increase, and until this issue is resolved, bullying in America will be ongoing.
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Works Cited
"Bullying." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints
in Context. Web. 26 May 2016.
Ollove, Michael. "Bullying Increases the Risk of Teen Suicide." Teen Suicide. Ed. Christine
Watkins. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Rpt. from "Bullying
and Teen Suicide: How Do We Adjust School Climate?" www.CSMonitor.com. 2010.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 26 May 2016
Temkin, Deborah. "Bullying Does Not Cause Suicide." Huffington Post. 2013. Rpt. in Bullying.
Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2015. Current
Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 26 May 2016.

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