Author: randalsh

My topic is plastic pollution and how it can tragically harm the environment. I care about this topic because I used to be very careless about my use of single-use plastic but then after reading some articles and seeing it for myself on the beaches, I realized how big a problem it truly is. I love the ocean and all wildlife but their habitat is being destroyed by human pollution. We only have one earth so people should care about this topic because we are suffocating it in plastic bottles and bags.

My brother and I walked 2 miles down a beach in Florida collecting all the garbage we saw and at the end, we had 4 bags full of garbage. Just the other day we walked down a creek by our house and again collected 4 bags full of trash. I am sure everyone has witnessed plastic pollution but I’m not sure they know the full effects it has on the environment which is why I want to write this essay. Plastic basically never goes away and instead turns into micro pieces of plastic in the ocean which make its way into our food and water supplies. Another goal is to show that things set in place to help the issue like recycling, biodegradable material, and banning plastic bags are not as good as they seems and should be greatly improved upon. I want to write about the complete overuse of plastic that is happening in the world and how governments should take this problem more seriously.

Here is my working thesis statement: It is hard to imagine that something that plays such a major role in our lives and makes everything easier can be extremely destructive; however, the continued use of disposable plastic could ruin the world’s oceans and cause irreversible damage to the environment if the proper measures are not taken by governments and the people.

Simon Denyer from the Washington post: He wrote an article that I used as one of my sources talking about how much plastic pollution Japan puts out and all the flaws in their recycling system. I would like to interview him on what he thinks could be improved upon especially what ordinary people can do in their daily lives to prevent plastic pollution. I would also like to ask him if he knows about America’s recycling policy and how it is compared to Japan’s. https://go-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=ucinc_main&id=GALE|A589543422&v=2.1&it=r&sid=OVIC&asid=320013eb

contact info: I was able to find what I think is his email from his profile in the Washington post so I can send him an email simon.denyer@washpost.com

Elizabeth Weise from USA Today: She wrote an article about micro plastics in the ocean and the devastating effects it has on the environment and how a large portion of it came from single use plastic. I would like to interview her about what she feels can be done about this and what it could mean for the future if we continue polluting at the rate we have been. https://go-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=ucinc_main&id=GALE|A588392144&v=2.1&it=r&sid=OVIC&asid=77d3dfa3

contact info: I was also able to find her email from USA today which I can contact her from eweise@usatoday.com

Amy Woodyatt from CNN Wire: She wrote an article about how plastic alternatives could actually worsen marine pollution. I would like to interview her about what she thinks is the best option to combating pollution in place of biodegradable materials. https://go-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=ucinc_main&id=GALE|A599270209&v=2.1&it=r&sid=OVIC&asid=e8430ae9

contact info: I tried to find her profile on CNN wire but i could not find any contact information, I was able to find more of her articles but I just could not find how to contact her.

Simon Denyer from the Washington post: He wrote an article that I used as one of my sources talking about how much plastic pollution Japan puts out and all the flaws in their recycling system. I would like to interview him on what he thinks could be improved upon especially what ordinary people can do in their daily lives to prevent plastic pollution. I would also like to ask him if he knows about America’s recycling policy and how it is compared to Japan’s. https://go-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=ucinc_main&id=GALE|A589543422&v=2.1&it=r&sid=OVIC&asid=320013eb

Elizabeth Weise from USA Today: She wrote an article about micro plastics in the ocean and the devastating effects it has on the environment and how a large portion of it came from single use plastic. I would like to interview her about what she feels can be done about this and what it could mean for the future if we continue polluting at the rate we have been. https://go-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=ucinc_main&id=GALE|A588392144&v=2.1&it=r&sid=OVIC&asid=77d3dfa3

Amy Woodyatt from CNN Wire: She wrote an article about how plastic alternatives could actually worsen marine pollution. I would like to interview her about what she thinks is the best option to combating pollution in place of biodegradable materials. https://go-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=ucinc_main&id=GALE|A599270209&v=2.1&it=r&sid=OVIC&asid=e8430ae9

My original idea for my argument was to write about how bad unnecessary plastic such has single use plastic is for the environment and write about how people should choose the more economic option like reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable options. However, what I found surprising is that plastic pollution in the ocean is way worse then I could have thought of and the effect it has on the environment is pretty disastrous. Another thing I found shocking was that many systems I thought were very good in trying to help this issue like recycling and using biodegradable items are not as helpful as one would think. What I found unsettling is that I thought the worst pollution in the ocean were the 5 gigantic floating islands of trash in our planet’s oceans but that actually isn’t close to the worst of it. The worst thing in the ocean is micro plastic which can be found all the way to the bottom of the ocean in big clouds. Micro plastic is worse then a plastic bag floating at the surface because it cant be cleaned up and all wildlife consumes this plastic because it is unavoidable and will basically never go away. I am still interested about writing about this topic for my argument essay because I feel this is a big world problem which can only get worse if nothing is done about it. People should care about my topic because I do not think everyone knows the full impact using plastic has on the environment. Micro plastic are everywhere in the oceans which means that they end up in all marine life and humans consume sea food so we are also consuming plastic because of it’s over use. We only have one planet and if we fill it up with plastic that takes thousands of years to break up into micro plastic which doesn’t do away then we will have no beautiful planet. Every time I go for a hike by a creek or a walk on the beach I can see the plastic trash everywhere and have to think about its effect on nature. I want my readers to understand how bad plastic pollution is and that many of the solutions put in place to help, need to be reformed. An example is that one would think that buying a reusable shopping bag instead of using plastic bags at the store is more economical but unless you use that bag hundreds of times, the energy put out to make that bag is worse then the effects the plastic bags would have on the environment. My goal is to bring awareness to the reader and encourage them to push the world’s governments to make effective changes to help plastic pollution for the good of our planet.

• Observing problems in your own life can lead to a good topic to write about.
• Ross chose something that she was already upset about to write on because she is passionate for the subject.
• She needed to go out and find arguments and evidence to back claim.
• Ross used some online magazines concerning her topic to help in the research.
• Using magazines, newspapers, audiovisual materials, and websites are a great way to research your topic.
• Ross used key words in her search, key phrases, and Boolean search by joining words with AND in her search.
• Make sure to analyze your source for potential bias and see if it is credible and up to date.
• Ross chose credible sites that were invested in her topic and gave accurate information about the preservation of older homes.
• She introduces her topic for argument in the first paragraph.
• Ross lists her sources by giving the author`s last name and page number.
• She gives quotes from experts that back her claim.
• She gives examples from her personal life to show she is personally invested in the topic.
• She lists good examples of how new large homes leave little yard space, tower over one story homes, and the native plants are being removed to make room.
• Ross gives another valid reason that these new homes are making the property taxes go up so lower income residents are forced to move.
• Ross also gives a counter argument saying that the resale value for the smaller homes goes up because of the big expensive housing being built but overall they do more harm then good.
• She lists more quotes and evidence that back her claim and gives a solution that we must go green to to conserve energy.
• She does say though that the current way builders are building environmentally friendly designs is flawed because the scale of these homes is worse then the benefits.
• She says that ecologically conscious home building is part of the solution according to the Department of Energy.
• Ross’ conclusion is that new homes should be built just as architecturally interesting as older homes and should be about the same size to preserve greenery and character.
• Her final statement is calling future homeowners to choose more conscious construction to show the future generations that the planet is something to be cared for.

Originally, I wanted to write about how people should stop using single use plastic and look for alternatives to plastic things we use in daily life like grocery bags and water bottles. After doing research I also want to include that many systems already in place to help this economic crisis actually are not helping much and how these systems have to be improved upon.

Ross uses many direct quotes in her writing and it makes me feel like she did her research about the topic and other people also support her claim. It makes her writing more credible then just her talking because she shows that other knowledgeable people on the subject support her claim.

cite: https://youtu.be/_6xlNyWPpB8 What really happens to the plastic you throw away – Emma Bryce from the Ted Ed youtube channel.

summary: This is a short but powerful video about what happens to plastic bottles when they are discarded. The main goal of the video is to bring awareness to the reader of what happens when you through away vs. recycle plastic bottles. It gives a detailed description of what happens to plastic when it enters a landfill and when i enters the ocean and the devastating effects it has on the environment. It also mentions what happens to a recycled plastic bottles which is much more economical.

assess: This is a useful source because it informs the listener of what really happens to plastic when you through it away which many people, including myself, may have never thought about before. This source is a little different then my other sources because it goes in detain what exactly happens to plastic instead of just saying that plastic is bad. I would say that the information is reliable because it comes from a large educational channel on YouTube. The goal of this source is to inform the reader of the effects plastic has on the environment once you through it away and it tries to get you to choose recycling instead.

reflect: This is a useful source because it informs the listener of what really happens to plastic when you through it away which many people, including myself, may have never thought about before. It helps me with my argument because I can say what happens to all the plastic we through away in a day and the difference recycling can make if it was implemented on a large scale. This is a good source to include in my paper because it is very informative and enlightening.

cite: “Banning plastic bags won’t save our planet; We need to focus on tackling inferior waste management in developing countries.” Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada], 17 June 2019, p. A15. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/apps/doc/A590855559/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=3c0f4e9d. Accessed 12 Mar. 2020.

summary: The main argument is that banning plastic bags and using reusable ones is not as great as it may seem and it mentions that to really reduce plastic waste, the inferior waste management in developing countries should be aided. The point of this article to inform the reader that using reusable bags may actually be worse then using plastic bags because people reuse plastic bags as garbage bags so if you take that away then people buy thicker garbage bags which doesn’t help the situation. Also one would have to use a reusable bag many many times before it would be better for the environment.

assess: This is a useful source because it disproves something that has the impression of helping the plastic pollution situation put instead harms it. It is different then my other sources because it is discouraging people from reusable bags as a replacement to plastic bags which seems weird at first. I don’t believe the author is biased and he seems reliable because he has nothing to gain from his writings. The goal of this source is to make the reader aware that reusable bags aren’t as good of an alternative as most people would think.

reflect: This source is helpful to me because I can use it to show that not all alternatives for plastic are better for the environment. I for one was not aware of the effects banning plastic bags could negatively have on the environment which would be something to include in my paper.

cite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yomf5pBN8dY POWERFUL VIDEO: Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans FOR GOOD | Oceana

summary: The main argument of this video is that people should be given a plastic free choice when they go shopping in the stores. The point of the article to to show what happens to plastics in the ocean, how much plastic has entered the ocean, and a solution that should be implemented. It says that almost all food we buy has plastic packaging of some sort and stores should start implementing a way to sell food without plastic.

assess: This is a useful source because it tackles a problem that is a part of everyone’s life, shopping for food with a side of plastic. It is similar to other sources I have but it is a very informative and easy to follow video with a great solution. I believe the video is reliable because they have nothing to gain from stores selling food with no plastic packaging. The goal of the video is to bring awareness to the reader of the effects that the plastic packaging our food comes in has on the ocean.

reflect: This source was helpful to me because it gave the facts and offered a solution that is already starting to take hold. This helps my argument by showing what happens when there is so much plastic packaging it is impossible to avoid and how recycling helps but is not perfect.

Site: Denyer, Simon. “Japan wraps everything in plastic. Now it wants to fight against plastic pollution.” Washington Post, 18 June 2019. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A589543422/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=320013eb. Accessed 12 Mar. 2020.

summary: The main argument is that Japan needs to cut down on its production and use of plastics, especially plastic bags. The point is to show that Japan has produced a lot of plastic in their industries and they need to improve their recycling techniques. The article talks about Japan’s excessive use of plastic packaging in stores, the complicated recycling rules, and it’s movements to try and reduce plastic waste. One of their solutions is to try and make all stores start charging for plastic bags because of the massive amount of plastic bags in their waters.

assess: This is a useful source because it shows the problems of plastic pollution in other countries and what they are trying to do to fix it. Knowing what other countries are doing and if they are successful or not is useful for planning for the future. This source is a little different then my other sources because it focuses on Japan and what they are trying to do the fix the problem. The author seems to be reliable because there is no apparent gain he will receive from his writing. The goal of his article is to inform the reader of the immense plastic waist of Japan, their faulty recycling system, and their plans for the future.

reflect: This source is helpful to me because I can use Japan as an example of the overwhelming amount of plastic that is produced which leads to pollution in the waterways, beaches, and streets. I can also use this source to write that not all recycling systems are as good as they seem with all the requirements needed to recycle which leads to only a small amount of plastic actually being recycled. I can use this source to show the effect that plastic bags can have on the environment as well.

site: “Simple solution to ocean pollution is in the (non-plastic) bag.” Age [Melbourne, Australia], 23 June 2009, p. 11. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A278729102/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=0cfa4ce4. Accessed 12 Mar. 2020.

summarize: The main argument is that government is not taking the needed steps required to stop plastic pollution so people should take steps of their own to make the situation better. The author writes about plastic bags just as my previous source and says that they make up 10% of plastic waste in the oceans out of the 80% of all waste in the ocean which is made up of plastic. He says that any marine animals mistake plastic bags as food which ends up killing them. The author wants the reader to use reusable bags instead of plastic bags and break the habit of bringing groceries home in plastic bags. He mentions that governments are not taking the steps that should have been taking long ago to stop plastic pollution mainly banning the use of plastic bags.

assess: I would say that this is a useful source because it calls for change from both the law makers and the people to stop plastic waste especially the use of plastic bags. This source is similar to my other sources and it is useful to me because he offers simple solutions common people can use in their daily life. I would say that the is reliable because he has nothing to gain from his writings. His main goal is to get plastic bags banned.

reflect: This source was helpful to me, it focuses on a major contributor to plastic pollution which can be resolved fairly quickly and easily. I can use this to show that there are some small steps people can take to reduce their use of plastic. I can use this to show people the effect that a simple daily use object can have on the environment. Many people may not know the effect plastic bags have on the environment so this is a good source to use to inform them.

source: Weise, Elizabeth. “Plastic pollution sinks deeper into ocean.” USA Today, 10 June 2019, p. 02A. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A588392144/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=77d3dfa3. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.

Summary: The main argument in this article is plastic pollution is much worse in the ocean then scientists thought which is causing devastation to the world’s marine ecosystem. The point of this article is to bring awareness to the reader of the effect that plastic (more specifically single use plastic) has on the environment. The author covers the topic of micro-plastic found deep in the oceans which scientists were previously unaware of. She states that micro- plastics deep in the ocean are even worse then the island of plastic floating between California and Hawaii. These plastics were found to be in crabs and jellyfish which means it would be in almost all other marine life that feeds on them. The scientists found that 40% of the plastics came from single use plastic from food and beverage containers. We can do our part in helping this cause by not using single use plastic.

Assess: This is a useful source because it states the facts of what plastics have done to the environment and what the current state the oceans are in because of it. This article is similar to other sources in my bibliography but it mainly focuses on micro- plastic instead of all plastic pollution. This source seems very reliable because the author quotes many reliable scientific sources on the subject and she has nothing to gain personally from her article. The author’s goal is to educate the reader of the effects of plastic pollution and mentions a way we can help the situation which is by avoiding single- use plastic.

Reflect: This source is helpful to me because it states the facts of what plastics have done to the environment and what the current state the oceans are in because of it. It states that a large portion of these micro- plastics are from single use plastics which are a major part of civilization today. I can use this information and state that a solution is to cut single use plastics out of our daily lives and that every country should take major steps toward more economic packaging. This information is a sobering article toward the effects of plastic and how it can directly effect humans by effecting sea life which we use as a food source. The facts stated in this article would be great information to back my claims in my paper.

source: “Plastic alternatives could make marine pollution even worse, report finds.” CNN Wire, 12 Sept. 2019. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A599270209/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=e8430ae9. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.

summary: The main argument of this article is that biodegradable plastic alternatives are not good for the environment nor are they the answer to the problem of plastic pollution. The author’s point is that when people buy something marked as biodegradable, they can become complacent with their use and disposal of it which can affect marine life just as much as regular plastic can. People will tend to care less about littering biodegradable products but these products make it into the sea where it can have just as much of an effect as plastic. The author states that the solution to plastic pollution is not biodegradable products but reusable packaging and taking action against the use of plastic instead of finding an alternative products which can also cause damage.

assess: This is a useful source because it brings different solutions and opinions then one might think off right away for the solution to plastic waste. It is different then my other sources because it is against something that is supposed to help the cause. The information seems reliable because the author quotes many reliable sources and also has nothing to gain from her writing. The goal of this source is to get people to not think of biodegradable packaging as the solution to plastic pollution but to instead turn toward reusable/ refillable packaging.

reflect: This source was helpful to me because I can use it in informing people that there are right and wrong ways to go about the solution. I can say that not all solutions that appear helpful are always as good as they seem. The main topic of this article is surprising and I can use it to show that I did my research on solutions and don’t agree with all the solutions out there. This has changed my way in thinking about biodegradable alternatives to plastic because they are not such the great alternative I thought they were.

• Weise, Elizabeth. “Plastic pollution sinks deeper into ocean.” USA Today, 10 June 2019, p. 02A. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A588392144/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=77d3dfa3. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.
• “Plastic alternatives could make marine pollution even worse, report finds.” CNN Wire, 12 Sept. 2019. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A599270209/OVIC?u=ucinc_main&sid=OVIC&xid=e8430ae9. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.

• doing “field” research is going out and documenting what you see or hear in person
• use personal experiences whether it was an event that happened in your life or someone else’s
• using surveys especially on a college campus is a useful way to find out what the public opinion is but the survey should not be biased
• interviewing experts is an excellent source of information
• make sure you find the right person to interview and have questions prepared
• send the person you want to interview emails or call them asking if they will be willing to be interviewed
• using library resources is also a great way to find information in a convenient way