English Essay

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Introduction

Your essay will consist of a two paragraph introduction.

1. Paragraph 1 introduces the book and summarizes your chapter. It should:

· Begin with an attention grabber(a quotation, a stat, a question, a story, etc.)

· Introduce the author's full nameand the full title of the book

· Succinctly summarizethe purpose of the book and the facts presented in your chosen chapter.

2. Paragraph 2 introduces the problemyou're focusing on from your chapter and presents your thesis. It should:

· Define the specific problemyou're focusing on in one or two sentences

· Briefly explain the science of how your problem works in four to five sentences (what causes the problem to occur? What causes sea level rise? What causes permafrost melt? What causes coral bleaching? What causes... whatever problem you're focusing on? Explain this with some specificity)

· Explain the feedback loops associated with the problem (the feedback loop will be the basis of your first body paragraph)

· Presents your thesis. Your thesis should state the problem you are focusing, who is most impacted by the problem, and why they are impacted.

Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraph #1: Science of your problem (how it impacts the planet)

One body paragraph that analyzes the feedback loops (the effects) associated with your chosen problem. This paragraph should focus on the science of the problem you’re choosing and how this problem occurs. For example, if you’re writing about wildfires, you’ll want to explain the science of wildfires, how it occurs, and the effects of wildfires.

Here’s what it would look like: warmer climate leads to more severe droughts -> which leads to more wildfires -> which leads to pollutants in the air and more carbon in the atmosphere and in the air -> which leads to increase global warming -> which leads to more severe droughts and the cycle repeats itself.

Of course the problem is more nuanced than that. But, that is a feedback loop (the effects of the problem). Another example would be if you're focusing on sea level rise, you'll want to explore the effects of sea level rise. What is happening / will happen as a result of sea level rise. Same thing if you're focusing on coral bleaching. What are the effect of coral bleaching? What will happen because of coral bleaching? You’ll want to write one paragraph unpacking the feedback loop associated with your chosen problem.

Again, this paragraph should be primarily science-based and should focus on how this problem impacts the planet.

It can be difficult sometimes to analyze facts, data, and information. Here are some ways to conduct your analysis for this essay:

How does this problem impact wildlife and ecosystems:

· What natural resources are being depleted as a result of this problem?

· How are habitats being altered because of this problem?

· How are species responding to this problem? Are they migrating, dying, thriving, etc.?

· How will this problem impact other ecosystems around the globe?

1. Explain the science in greater detail. How does this feedback loop work and why would it have this effect?

2. How will this impact ecosystems, habitats, wildlife, humans, etc.?

3. Correlations, analogies, comparisons

Body paragraphs 2 & 3:

You'll write two more body paragraphs that analyze who is most impacted by the problem and feedback loop. Your body paragraphs should follow the body paragraph template and explore who is most impacted, how they are impacted, and why they're impacted. You will need to draw on outside sources to develop your body paragraphs. I've provided a few sources to get you started at the bottom of this assignment.

To answer the question "who is most impacted," you might consider regionalizing the problem you’re focusing on like Jamail does in his book. These problems are vast and all-encompassing. It can be helpful to have a specific area that you are examining. It will also be easier to research. For example, if the problem you're focusing on is sea level rise, you might focus these paragraphs (and your essay) on how sea level rise is impacting people in the Bay Area. Or if you're focusing on wildfires, you might focus these paragraphs on how wildfires have impacted people in Australia or California.

To answer the question "How are people impacted by this problem," you'll want to consider the following:

· Who suffers the most from this problem? (you can look at specific regions and demographics)

· What are the health risks associated with this problem?

· How will this impact mental health?

· What damage might this cause to infrastructure?

· What are the economics / costs of the problem?

· etc.

To answer the question "Why are people impacted by this problem," you'll want to consider the following:

· What inequities exist or are being exacerbated because of this problem? Think intersectionality

· What legislation might exist that causes people to be impacted?

· What socioeconomic factors might cause one to be impacted by the problem (income, access to healthcare, access to food, access to language, etc.)

· What about a person's region and occupation? Are they substance farmers? Do they have access to water? Resources?

This is the most challenging question to respond to in this essay as why someone is impacted by a climate related problem is not always the most obvious. Think back to the New York Times article on redlining. That article looked at how housing policy caused people of color to be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

Your body paragraphs should follow the body paragraph template:

· Topic Sentence

· Explain Topic Sentence

· Lead in

· Evidence (quotation, chart, graph, image, experience, etc.)

· Analysis

· Lead in

· Evidence (quotation, chart, graph, image, experience, etc.)

· Analysis

· Transition

Conclusion

And finally, you will write a one paragraph conclusion that connects the problem you've written about to what we're experiencing with the pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and/or the wildfires. This might be a little more challenging because there may not be a 1:1 to connection between your chosen problem, COVID-19, and the fight for racial justice. You might need to think bigger about the connections between climate change, a pandemic, and inequality and racism.

Your essay might look like this:

Introduction

1. Summary of book and chapter

2. Introduction to problem and present thesis

Body Section

1. Explain Feedback Loop

2. Analyze Who it impacts and how it impacts them

3. Analyze Why they're impacted

Conclusion Section

1. Connection to what we’re experiencing

Works Cited

Your essay will be graded on the following criteria:

1. The focus and specificity of your essay (focusing on only one problem)

2. The validity of your ideas (how accurate and real they are)

3. Sentence-level features (concise writing, active voice, etc.)

Sources to get you started with your research: