Essay One – Sustainability and Thinking Like a Mountain
15 pts • Not Submitted
Submission Types
Text Entry or File Upload
Description
Goal
-Select one or two sources covered in class and relevant to the topic of your choice
-Evaluate the appropriate evidence in support of your thesis and major points in your essay
-Define the thesis and logical development of ideas in the outline of your essay -Define the thesis and logical development of ideas in the outline of your essay
-Examine and revise the patterns of organization
-Distinguish factual evidence from opinion
-Apply MLA guidelines to your in-text citations
-Construct a Works Cited page in MLA style
Instructions and Essay Topics
Begin by developing a good outline before writing.
Formulate a working thesis that responds directly and clearly to the topic of your choice.
Decide which main points (in body paragraphs) will best support your thesis.
Select evidence from the texts) of your choice in support of your main points.
Write your opening paragraph that introduces the title and the author of your chosen text. Make sure that your thesis is clear and that your main points are included in your introduction.
Write the rest of your essay and revise at least twice before submitting.
Edit carefully to correct any grammar or spelling errors.
Choose one of the following topics for your essay. Remember that you will have to focus the topic of your choice into your own, specific thesis. After your
introductory paragraph, you will also have to support the major ideas you analyze by offering evidence from the texts -quotes and/or paraphrased points by the authors.
Please, remember our focus
on clarity and precision. Avoid: generic statements; repetition of the same ideas;
“universal truths” or “meaningless word salads. Your essay should be 3 pages long.
1. How does Jared Diamond’s essay, “The Erosion of Civilization, present some of the major environmental problems that we face today? While your focus is primarily on Diamond’s essay, you should add some additional evidence to his main ideas from another text of your choice to support your thesis further.
2. Compare and contrast Chief Seattle’s “Environmental Statement” to John Muir’s “The American Forests”. Discuss the similarities as well as differences in their points of view.
3. How is Leopold’s phrase “thinking like a mountain” related to what you know about sustainability? Do you think this short phrase captures the essence of sustainability? Why or why not? Your focus here is Aldo Leopold’s essay but feel free to use any additional evidence from another source on our reading list.
4. In “The Sacred Balance” David Suzuki writes”we have expanded beyond the capacity of our surroundings to support us” (par. 12). Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Consider supporting your thesis by additional evidence provided in one or two other texts, especially the latest articles on the ongoing destruction of predators in the US, as posted in our module.
5. In “Animal Extinction” Julia Whitty states that mass extinction is “a more serious environmental problem than even its contributor, global warming” (par. 10). Explain her argument using appropriate evidence from the text. You can support your analysis with additional evidence from the recent articles on the ongoing destruction of wolves in the US, posted in our module.
How to Submit Your Essay
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File types accepted: PDF, Word, Docx.
Grading
Please review the rubric included here or with the essay topics in Module Four.
