Alternative Fuel Sources Persuasive Essay 1 Please read the paper below, handed in by one of my HACC students and re-produced here with her permission. I have added comments in green to help you better understand what makes this an A quality persuasive paper. Anyone can write a really strong persuasive piece; just keep your audience in mind as you formulate your arguments, and remember to use strong wording. Oh, and edit carefully! Dear Dr. Gray, Did you know that in the very near future infectious diseases could spread across this country in alarming numbers? Scare tactics make for a great hook here! The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report indicating that climate change led to the shrinking of glaciers, and could eventually lead to ocean currents being altered. This could promote the spread of infectious diseases quickly across the nation and world (Facts on File News Services Database, Update: Global Warming ). As a nursing assistant at York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. I was shocked nice strong word choice to learn that you do not believe global warming is an issue about which we need to be concerned.. Global warming is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Due to the many issues of global warming, I have decided to discuss the use of alternative fuel sources. Good focus Alternative fuel sources will create a safer environment, improve our health, and are essential to reverse the negative impact that global warming has had on the earth. Clear and robust thesis. We know exactly what this student will discuss, and we have a hint as to what the solution will be.
Alternative Fuel Sources Persuasive Essay 2 There are serious health complications related to burning of fossil fuels, and the environment has changed drastically due to our use of these fuels. Dr. Gray, I have researched alternative fuel sources thoroughly and believe that American citizens must seriously consider the impact of burning fossil fuels. Global warming is the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth s lower atmosphere. Solid definition This is a result of the increase in greenhouse gases. The atmosphere s temperature near the earth s surface is warmed through a natural process called the greenhouse effect (http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia). The burning of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide, which has increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The increased gases are damaging the ozone layer (Facts on File News Services Database, Update: Global Warming ). It would be very hard to give an overview of global warming throughout history, so this student instead uses the background paragraph to explain what global warming is and what causes it, which I think works for this paper. Dr. Gray, Note how the student continually re-addresses the audience, which makes this letter feel personal. I understand that you believe global warming is not caused by burning fossil fuels. In your article, Global Warming is not Caused by Human Activities, you state that scientists use flawed computer models to indicate how increased greenhouse gases will affect the world in the future. While you give many facts as to why you do not believe humans cause global warming, I am sure you are concerned about the health of yourself and your family (Gray). Excellent personalized concession. As a result of burning fossil fuels, we are now experiencing air pollution, which is a killer. It leads to 60,000 premature deaths a year. Shocking statistic The biggest source of air pollution is the automobile (http://www.lungusa.org/site). Automobiles release carbon dioxide
Alternative Fuel Sources Persuasive Essay 3 into the air, which becomes trapped and stays in the atmosphere. Air pollution triggers asthma attacks. As a person with asthma, I am very concerned about the air that I breathe. Personal appeal Equally important is a disease that I have seen as a healthcare professional, which is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Nice way to tie your profession in with your topic This is a chronic lung condition where the airways in the lungs are obstructed. People with COPD have a blockage in the tubes and air sacs in the lungs, which makes it difficult to exhale. Concise explanation COPD is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States. One cause of COPD is air pollution (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/copd). Dr. Gray, have you ever seen a person with COPD die? As a nursing assistant, I have seen people succumb to this horrible disease. It is extremely difficult for the patient to breathe and eventually they die. The sad part is they know they are going to die and their family has to watch them. Great emotional appeal, though sad! Sometimes it can take weeks before the patient actually dies. During the time the patient first comes into the hospital until the time they pass away, you can really get to know them and their family. It s difficult to watch someone not be able to breathe. Some of my co-workers have had patients tell them they know they are dying and they are afraid. They don t want to leave their families. Can you imagine the agony they must be going through because they can t breathe? Very powerful. I like how the author follows this depressing example up with a positive look forward towards a solution. This is a subtle trick, but it works very well and keeps the reader from just getting bummed and doing nothing. Dr. Gray, we must develop solutions to protect our health and the health of our families from air pollution. One solution is to improve transmissions and
Alternative Fuel Sources Persuasive Essay 4 engines in vehicles. Vehicles need to have more aerodynamic designs and use stronger, but lighter material. This could increase fuel economy to 40 miles per gallon (mpg) over ten years, which would be similar to taking 44 million vehicles off the road. Drivers could save thousands of dollars in fuel over the life of the vehicle (The Union of Concerned Scientists). Financial appeal Similarly, one new source of alternative fuel includes gas-electric hybrid cars and advanced design wind turbines. One of the gas-electric cars manufactured by Toyota is the Prius. It gets 46 mpg compared to 20 mpg for an average new car. Gasoline use in the United States could be reduced to half of its current use if only hybrid cars were manufactured. Hybrids can be made to run mostly on electricity. A larger battery can be put in these cars, which would increase the storage of electricity. Manufacturers are now working on recharging the batteries with off peak wind generated electricity. The hybrids would then run mostly on electricity. If this were to happen, it could reduce fuel use up to 80 percent. This could help reduce automobile carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent (Brown). Good appeal to alternatives. Furthermore, President Bush presented a Hydrogen Initiative in his State of the Union address on January 28, 2003. This initiative is $1.2 billion to help develop cars that operate on hydrogen fuel cells by 2020. Hydrogen is produced from hydrogen containing materials such as water, natural gas or methane. The hydrogen fuel cells do not pollute the air, unlike fossil fuels. Water and heat are byproducts of hydrogen. Hydrogen burns much cleaner than gasoline, which is safer for the environment (CQ Press database, CQ Researcher Online). Nice source! Dr. Gray, my desire is for you to understand why I believe using alternative fuels are necessary to protect our environment. Very clearly stated They will help to create a safer and
Alternative Fuel Sources Persuasive Essay 5 healthier environment by reducing air pollution. Individuals with lung diseases will be able to live improved and more productive lives if air pollution is reduced. It s not rainbows and sunshine, but she s painting a nice picture of how the world will be if action is taken. Global warming is real and something must be done to help protect the environment. As a fellow citizen, I hope you will agree with me that alternative fuels sources are necessary to preserve our environment for the future. Please use your vast knowledge of global warming a little subtle flattery never hurt anyone! to encourage congress to enact laws enforcing the use of alternative fuels. She could have been just a little more detailed when she encourages Dr. Gray to pressure congress I know that action will be taken on this issue quickly and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Clear solution. Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter. Sincerely, Student name omitted Works Cited Update: Global Warming. Issues & Controversies On File (5 Apr. 2007) Facts On File News Services. Harrisburg Community College, Harrisburg, PA. 10 Oct. 2008 <http://www.2facts.com>. Alternative Fuels. American Lung Association. 14 Oct. 2008 <http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvluk900e&b=36084>. Brown, Lester R. Plan B 3.0 Mobilizing To Save Civilization. New York: W. W. Norton &
Alternative Fuel Sources Persuasive Essay 6 Company, 2008. Used section entitled Wind Powered Plug-In Hybrid Cars, pgs. 243-245 Encyclopedia: Global Warming. Columbia University Press. 1 Oct. 2008 <http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia>. Cooper, Mary H. Alternative Fuels. Is Hydrogen the Fuel of the Future? CQ Researcher Online (25 Feb. 2005): 173-196. CQ Press. Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA. 09 Oct. 2008 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2005022500>. COPD: Definition & Causes. Mayo Clinic. 13 Nov. 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/copd>. Gray, William H. Conserving the Environment. Ed. John Woodward and Jennifer Skancke. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Article entitled Global Warming Is Not Caused by Human Activities, pg. 107-118 Works Cited - Continued Lynas, Mark. Humanity s Future. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Article entitled Global Warming Is a Serious Threat to Humanity s Future pg. 123-129 Union of Concerned Scientists. Pollution. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Article entitled Numerous Solutions Now Exist to Reduce Global Warming, pg. 180 great citations!
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