Model Essay #2

Model Persuasive / Argumentative Essay

Topic Prompt: Should recycling be mandatory?
Title: Recycling Renewed
According to Chief Seattle, an Indian who lived in the western part of North
America in the 1800s, Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand
of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. This statement illustrates
the importance of taking care of the earth, not merely to avoid global warming,
but to preserve the natural balance of the planet. Some of the most pressing
problems are the destruction of natural habitats, the depletion of natural
resources, and the polluting of rivers, lakes, and oceans. One idea now debated is
whether or not the government should require communities to participate in
recycling programs. Although some argue that individual communities are free to
choose if they take part, many people believe that due to the interconnectedness
of the planet, governments have an obligation to encourage and require
communities to participate in the recycling effort.
Some overly optimistic people contend that natural resources are for the most
part replaceable, such as trees, or too abundant to worry about, such as oil.
However, the fact is that currently trees are being cut down faster than it is
possible to repopulate the forests. Furthermore, water is a finite resource that is
polluted from oil refining and the creation of many modern products, for
example plastic. In fact water shortages and water pollution are both problems
affecting most every country around the world. Certainly, without clean, fresh
water, life would not be possible.
Some people assert that it is too difficult or complicated for citizens to recycle.
However, logistically recycling requires only a separate trash bin for tossing in
plastic, glass, aluminum and steel products. Newspaper, cardboard and office
paper can be collected in another box. Once set up, recycling is as easy as
throwing away materials in one trash can. The communities set up collection to
coincide with the trash pick up days, so it can be as easy as when not recycling.
Once people realize the importance and ease of recycling, they get involved and
change their trash habits. In fact, community members feel a sense of pride when
contributing to the betterment of the world.
A few naysayers have argued that products will be recycled naturally by the earth
over time. Even though recycling does happen naturally over time, some products
never do, such as batteries. Also, with the tremendous rise in global population
and use of natural resources, humans have to effectively combat these increases
by recycling goods. In addition, recycling saves not only the resources that go into
creating products but also landfill space when the products are tossed out. Some
of the chemicals and materials that are put into the ocean are poisoning the fish,
for example. Since fish are part of the human food chain, people are further
poisoning themselves by eating polluted food.

Recycling is only a part of the solution, but it is an easy and important first step to
fight pollution. Recycling aids in maintaining limited resources and is not too
difficult to implement. People are happy to lend a hand in the deceleration of the
global warming process. Overall, recycling supports the earth and supports life.
Chief Seattle said the world is interconnected, so taking care of the earth is like
taking care of our home.

TOBACCO ADVERTIZING SHOULD BE BANNED

Model argumentative essay
On 14 December 2000, the British government published The Tobacco Advertising and
Promotion Bill. This would have implemented public health policy and met a 1997
manifesto commitment. It would have saved many thousands of lives by reducing
tobacco consumption. Unfortunately, the Bill ran out of time in the run-up to the General
Election, and was not included in the June 2001 Queens Speech. Now the issue is topical
again that the Tobacco Advertising Bill is due to receive a second reading debate in the
House of Lords. It is crucial to pass this bill this time, since advertising and promotion of
tobacco products imposes enormous costs on our health service and does enormous harm
to the health of our nation.
Firstly, many adults struggle to overcome addiction to tobacco and nicotine and there is
every reason to reduce the pressure on them, as much as possible, and this would not
exclude promotional strategies of the tobacco companies. Indeed, tobacco advertising
campaigns are also directed at people trying to quit, making it very difficult or often even
impossible for them to give up the habit that is ruining their health.
Furthermore, when the government is spending substantial sums on pro-health
campaigns, it is nonsense to allow millions of pounds of private expenditure to be
devoted to achieving the opposite effect. Indeed, the Tobacco Industry spends 130m a
year on advertising and Promotion in the UK each year, in contrast to the 13m spent by
the Government on anti-smoking advertising.
Finally, tobacco advertising increases the consumption of tobacco and hence increases the
addiction, disease and premature death associated with tobacco use. In fact, the
government estimates that even its cautious prediction of a 2.5 percent increase in
tobacco consumption arising with tobacco advertising in the United Kingdom would
entail about an additional 3,000 premature deaths per year roughly eight deaths per day.
Although this is only a small fraction of the total premature death arising from smoking,
it equates to the total death-toll on the roads. Estimates published by another source, the
World Bank, suggest the reduction in consumption may be even greater 7 percent
almost three times as great and therefore potentially saving thousands more lives.
The idea - advanced by the tobacco industry - of a ban on advertising that appeals to
children is unworkable and ill conceived. Teenagers are attracted by the adult nature of
the product and much tobacco advertising appeals to children because it seems adult. It is
impossible to draw a distinction between advertising that appeals to children and
advertising that does not.
All in all, the Government believes that an advertising ban is essential for the well-being
of the citizens of the United Kingdom. Stopping the tobacco companies from advertising
and promoting their products would reduce tobacco consumption in the longer term by an
estimated 2.5%, which would translate into thousands of lives saved per year.
Written by Kisdobos

Model Essay #2
Persuasive/Argumentative Essay
Grammar and Writing Tips
Topic Prompt: Should recycling be mandatory?
INTRODUCTION
According to Chief Seattle, an Indian who lived in the western part of North
America in the 1800s, Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand
of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
[This first part of the introduction includes a quote as a hook. A hook is a way to
capture the readers interest and add coherence to your essay.]
The main hooks to begin an essay with are
1. posing a question or two,
2. quoting a relevant proverb or saying,
3. mentioning a startling statistic or fact, or
4. telling a short story.
[an Indian who lived in the western part of North America in the 1800s is an
appositive. Appositives give more information and context about a person or
organization.]
This statement illustrates the importance of taking care of the earth, not merely
to avoid global warming, but to preserve the natural balance of the planet.
[The sentence begins with This statement illustrates the importance of taking
care of the earth to state the general idea of the essay.]
[to avoid and to preserve must have parallel construction.]
[not merely but is a variation of not only but also grammar.]
Some of the most pressing problems are the destruction of natural habitats, the
depletion of natural resources, and the polluting of rivers, lakes, and oceans.
[Many specific examples are given here to show the importance of the topic.]
One idea now debated is whether or not the government should require
communities to participate in recycling programs.
[This sentence introduces the central controversy of the essay, and debated gives
the reader the idea that at least 2 sides are involved in the argument.]
Although some argue that individual communities are free to choose if they take
part, many people believe that due to the interconnectedness of the planet,

governments have an obligation to encourage and require communities to

participate in the recycling effort.
[This sentence is the thesis statement. The phrase Although some argue shows
that some people disagree with the writers thesis. Notice that the writer does not
say I think that or I believe. In academic writing, authors seldom use I or you
when writing argumentative essays. The author uses facts, examples, and
statistics to support the thesis statement.]
BODY PARAGRAPH 1
Some overly optimistic people contend that natural resources are for the most
part replaceable, such as trees, or too abundant to worry about, such as oil.
[The phrases overly optimistic and contend are used to demonstrate the author
disagrees with this view.]
However, the fact is that currently trees are being cut down faster than it is
possible to repopulate the forests.
[However sets up the contrast point. The information that follows contradicts
the first view and is what the author believes.]
Furthermore, water is a finite resource that is polluted from oil refining and the
creation of many modern products, for example plastic. In fact water shortages
and water pollution are both problems affecting most every country around the
world. Certainly, without clean, fresh water, life would not be possible.
[The rest of the sentences in the paragraph go on to support the authors
viewpoint and further disprove the opponents perspective, as stated in the first
sentence. Furthermore, In fact, Certainly are all transition words to guide the
reader.]

BODY PARAGRAPH 2
Some people assert that it is too difficult or complicated for citizens to recycle.
[The phrases Some people assert and too difficult or complicated are used to
demonstrate the author disagrees with this view.]
However, logistically recycling requires only a separate trash bin for tossing in
plastic, glass, aluminum and steel products.
[However sets up the contrast point. The information that follows contradicts
the first sentence and is what the author believes.]
Newspaper, cardboard and office paper can be collected in another box. Once set
up, recycling is as easy as throwing away materials in one trash can. The

communities set up collection to coincide with the trash pick up days, so it can be
as easy as when not recycling. Once people realize the importance and ease of
recycling, they get involved and change their trash habits. In fact, community
members feel a sense of pride when contributing to the betterment of the world.
[The rest of the sentences in the paragraph go on to support the authors
viewpoint and further disprove the opponents perspective, as stated in the first
sentence. Once set up and In fact are more transition words to guide the
reader.]
BODY PARAGRAPH 3
A few naysayers have argued that products will be recycled naturally by the earth
over time.
[The phrase A few naysayers have argued is used to demonstrate the author
disagrees with this view.]
Even though recycling does happen naturally over time, some products never do,
such as batteries.
[Even though concedes part of the point to the opposing sides, but the author
goes on to support the opposite view. The information that follows contradicts
the first sentence and is what the author believes.]
Also, with the tremendous rise in global population and use of natural resources,
humans have to effectively combat these increases by recycling goods. In
addition, recycling saves not only the resources that go into creating products but
also landfill space when the products are tossed out. Some of the chemicals and
materials that are put into the ocean are poisoning the fish, for example. Since
fish are part of the human food chain, people are further poisoning themselves by
eating polluted food.
[The rest of the sentences in the paragraph go on to support the authors
viewpoint and further disprove the opponents perspective, as stated in the first
sentence. Also, In addition, and for example are more transition words to
guide the reader.]

CONCLUSION
Recycling is only a part of the solution, but it is an easy and important first step to
fight pollution. Recycling aids in maintaining limited resources and is not too
difficult to implement. People are happy to lend a hand in the deceleration of the
global warming process.

[These sentences summarize and restate the thesis and support.]

Overall, recycling supports the earth and supports life.
[Overall is a transition word that begins a summative statement.]
Chief Seattle said the world is interconnected, so taking care of the earth is like
taking care of our home.
[This last sentence ties the hook in the introduction to the concluding statement
in the conclusion, weaving the ideas together and adding cohesion to the essay.]