Research Essay

Persuasion Essay #2: ENC 1101

Automobiles

Anecdotal Introduction

There I was, sixteen, at the DMV. I just had to pass my test, get my license, and the open road would be mine. My thoughts stopped abruptly when my mother informed me that she could not afford to get me a car, and even if she could, she would not allow me to have one because she thought it was far too dangerous for me to be driving. And just like that, my hopes and dreams of being a driver disappeared.

Identification of topic

Since Henry Ford developed mass production of the automobile in the early 1900s, making cars affordable for the almost everyone, the auto industry has grown at such a rapid pace that in the 21st century, most families own at least one car, and sometimes many more. Whether it is a car, truck, van or sport utility vehicle, automotive technology comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. People generally use a vehicle in their everyday lives, out of either necessity or convenience, as cars transport us to work and school, the mall and grocery store . . . just about anywhere. The car is the modern-day horse, a steed that allows us to reach faraway places in a short time and with more comfort, and even though it is possible to live without a car, most Americans feel as if life is too hard to get by without one. The question is, is this piece of technology a blessing or curse of life?

Identifying One Aspect of the Problem

The automobile may have its beauty and glamour, but it has definitely made life worse as a whole. One negative byproduct that has resulted from mass production and use of cars is pollution, an issue that, many claim, is causing worldwide crisis. Much of the air’s pollution is being produced by automobiles, which has negative impacts on the weather, atmosphere and the air humans breathe. “Particles from car exhaust generate more persistent clouds and longer-lasting clouds but-paradoxically- less rain…,” argues Catherine Brahic, a neurobiologist and environmental reporter for New Scientist, an on-line environmental magazine. “Furthermore, putting these particles into the atmosphere reduces the low-level winds, which could reproduce the amount of wind power available in some polluted regions.” This can lead to drier areas suffering even more because of the lack of much-needed rainfall, as area residents’ health in general is negatively affected from the air pollutants caused by vehicles. Additionally, most scientists point to cars as one of the chief causes of global warming and the melting of the world’s icecaps.

Identifying a Second Aspect of the Problem

Yet another problem, at a personal level, of owning an automobile is the cost of keeping a vehicle. In some areas, it is vital to own a car, even though one may not be affordable. Financial correspondent Dan Carter states, “…cars represent a huge expense that is often simply accepted. You need a car, so the high gas prices, new tires and occasional visits to the mechanic naturally come with the territory.” Even if the vehicle is paid in full, the owner must maintain valid insurance on it, which only adds an additional monthly expense to a household budget. Gasoline, which continues to increase in price, is a weekly expense; then there is the routine wear and tear, and maintenance that must be completed to keep every automobile in good working order.

Identifying a Third Aspect of the Problem

Beyond the financial responsibilities to owning a car, there are also the dangers to consider. Automobile accidents occur daily, without warning. There are many deaths that result because of these accidents and many injuries as well. “In 2005 alone, there were more than 6 million motor vehicle crashes in the United States resulting in more than 2.5 million injuries and 43,000 deaths,” notes Mike Magee, host of Health Politics, an on-line website devoted to health issues. “That equates to approximately 15 deaths for every 100,000 citizens in that single year, or one death every 12 minutes in 2005.” As more and more cars clog our nation’s highways, the increase in the number of accidents rises commensurately, and vehicles are a danger not only to drivers and passengers, but to bikers and pedestrians as well. Even if an accident does not result in a fatality, the rates of injuries are high, and some injuries from these crashes have lifelong effects, and result in an even greater strain on a family’s finances.

Conclusion

As the world’s population grows, the need for new and improved transportation technology is undeniable, technology that will relieve us of the strain – societal, financial, and environmental – caused by the ever-increasing number of cars on the road. We need to first acknowledge the problems being caused by unchecked development and use of traditional cars, and look to the future if we are to correct the woes caused by unchecked auto production. Our cars have taken us to places that quite possibly we never could have gone without them, but perhaps the time has come to think about parking them for good next to the horse and buggy.

Works Cited

Brahic, Catherine. “Surprising Downsides of Car Pollution.” 24 Jan. 2007. newscientist.com. New Scientist, 24 Jan. 2007. Web. 1 April 2008.

Carter, Dan. “The Real Cost of Owning a Car.” askmen.com. Car Cost. Web. 1 April 2008.

Magee, Mike. “Little Things That Can Save Your Life.” healthpolitics.com. Health Politics, 2006. Web. 1 April 2008.