Multiple Source Essay, Arguing a Position
What will the future look like? Are you optimistic about humankind's progress, or are you concerned that we (and perhaps the planet) are doomed? In this unit, we've read several articles and watched several videos specifically looking at sustainability that let us consider what the future might hold in regards to the environment and our planet.
Building on the different visions of the future presented in this unit, write a multi-sourced paper that argues for an either an optimistic or pessimistic view of what will happen to the planet environmentally.
Criteria you'll be graded on
A focused, well-defined vision for the future and argumentative thesis
• A paragraph or so laying out the vision for the future your paper focuses on
• A paragraph or so briefly describing some of the unit's sources that are relevant to your vision
• A specific and clearthesis arguing for your vision
A well-supported position with properly synthesized sources
• Several paragraphs in which you argue to support your thesis's assertions using synthesized sources
An understanding of and effective response to objections with properly synthesized sources
• A paragraph of objection(s), in which you concede that others might justifiably find fault with your vision. Explain your concession(s) or dismiss the objections.
o Anticipates and effectively responds to readers' objections
o A "nevertheless" section, in which you respond to the objection(s) and reaffirm your own position.
A clear, logical organization
• Paragraphs and sections are properly laid out and have effective flow and logic
• Effective topic and "wrap up" sentences
• Transition words
• Appropriate use of headings, if applicable
An engaging, mature writing style and proper APA formatting
• Title page, References page, proper page header format, and in-text citations
Sources: 5
Images: if applicable
Page length: 6
Introduction where you introduce your specific "future issues," put the paper into focus, create the context of the paper, the purpose of the paper. Describe the future that you think will happen. Is it positive or negative?
Thesis about whether you are optimistic or pessimistic
3-4 body paragraphs where you discuss your optimism or pessimism, and remember to integrate the sources from Unit 2.
Counterargument.
Paragraph organization. Need a topic sentence. Details and ideas that are related to each other and the topic sentence. Using words like "also," "in other words," "therefore," "however," "but," and "on the contrary." Sometimes your ideas and details are not that relatable so you might need to split them into two paragraphs.
According to Bill Gates in his talk "Innovating to Zero," he presents us with an urgent problem: we need to reduce carbon emissions to zero as soon as possible. One of the issues that Gates brings up that can help us solve this problem is inventing a better battery to store wind and solar power so that we can use it "for a rainy day." Thankfully, Donald Sadoway and his team of researchers at MIT have developed prototype batteries that CAN store this energy.
Intro: Give me your vision of the future. End with a thesis stating whether you are an optimist or pessimist and why.
Body paragraph: Why am I optimistic (reason one) Example: I think battery technology will help us store wind and solar power and reduce carbon emissions to zero. (Sources used: Gates and Sadoway)
Body paragraph: Why am I optimistic (reason two) Example: Driverless cars and drone technology will help make transportation and other things safer. (Sources: Kumar and Thrun)
Body paragraph: Why am I optimistic (reason three) Example: Violence in all of its forms have been declining (Source: Pinker)
Body paragraph: Why I might be wrong (counterargument) Crime and terrorism might be a cause for concern (Source: Goodman and Singer)