Humanity v. Nature

For this assignment students will write a persuasive research essay. The essay should explore an environmental topic in a problem/solution format. Students should research and describe a problem currently facing us and our environment. Students should also research and report on solutions to that problem offered by experts.

Students should analyze the solutions and discuss which they see as the best and most practical. Each student thesis should make a claim about what they see as the best solution to the problem.

Remember ARGUMENT has two parts. First, the claim (what the writer wants the audience to do and or believe). Second, the reasons (why the audience should do and or believe whatever the claim is). The presentation and analysis of data and expert opinions (evidence that supports the reasons) will take place in the body paragraphs of the essay.
Example: “The best kind of reusable grocery bag is a recycled plastic bag because
it is reusable, washable and the materials have already been taken out of the environment.”

Here the problem may have been described as all the waste created by disposable plastics. The solution, to figure out what kind of grocery bag is the most eco-friendly.
Topic development will be extremely important. Students will want to choose
something manageable (something that isn’t “too big” to write about in the allotted page count). Research will also be essential. High quality sources need to be used—popular media sources from the internet or in print are great, also the library has a lot of good electronic and physical resources students may use. Students need to use a minimum of 4 sources.