The Benefits of Implementing Renewable Energy Sources for a Sustainable Future

QUESTION

Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you can’t submit it until you have completed the Unit’s Challenges. Once you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded and counted toward your final course score.

Touchstone 4: Argumentative Essay

Before you begin, consider revisiting the tutorial Supporting an Argumentative Thesis. Just like in previous Touchstones, your stance needs to be stated in a thesis statement and your evidence in body paragraphs should work to support your claim. For help citing evidence in body paragraphs, revisit the tutorial Source and Quotation Formatting in APA to learn how to quote and paraphrase sources using APA style.

ASSIGNMENT: Write a 4-6 page (approximately 1000-1500 words) argumentative essay arguing one side or stance of an academically appropriate debate using the classical model supported by evidence and research. If the writing exceeds the 1500 word maximum, it will be returned back for revision.

Sample Argumentative Essay

In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review this tutorial for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert: Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines.

CopyLeaks Originality Checker: All writing will be checked for originality. Ensure that all references are credible and include page and paragraph numbers if the source is longer than four pages. If a source cannot be accessed by a grader, you might need to provide digital proof that you possess the source (for example, a photo of the print book). Text from any third party source is prohibited, including internet or chatbot searches, without proper APA-style citations. Focus on developing your own ideas and use evidence sparingly to support your own original claims, following the classical model of argumentation.

A-1. Topic Selection

Today, there are many different debates being had all around the world about topics that affect our personal, professional, civic, and/or academic lives. Some of these debates have been such hot topics for so long that it has become very difficult to add to the conversation with new and original ideas or stances to take. To move beyond this trend, we have created a list of topics that may not be written about for this Touchstone. This includes example topics that are used in Unit 4. Feel free to access a tutor if you would like support choosing a topic for this essay.

Please avoid choosing any of the following topics:

• Abortion Rights
• Animal Testing (Unit 4 example)
• Climate Change (Unit 4 example)
• Belief in God(s) or Afterlife(s)
• Death Penalty / Capital Punishment
• Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide
• Fad Diets (e.g., Keto, etc.)
• Funding/Defunding Law Enforcement
• Immigration
• Legal Alcohol/Tobacco Age
• Legalization of Marijuana
• Legalization of Sex Work
• Paying Student Athletes
• Second Amendment Rights (i.e., Gun Control)
• Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health
• Universal Healthcare
• Vaccines

Choosing to write about any of the above topics will result in a non-passing score.

A-2. Instructions

Remember the word “argument” does not mean a fight in a writing context. An academic argument is more like a thoughtful conversation between two people with differing viewpoints on a debatable issue. However, you are required to take a position on one side of a debatable issue that is informed by academically appropriate evidence. For the purposes of this assignment, expressing or relying on your personal opinion of a debate is discouraged. Rather, the essay must argue one side or stance of the debate using the rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) and be supported by academic or scholarly sources. These include physical sources in public libraries, digital sources in academic libraries, online sources (excludes unreliable sources like procon.org and wikipedia.org, which are discouraged), and published expert reports, preferably peer-reviewed by experts in the field to maintain utmost credibility. Consider revisiting the tutorial Finding Sources for more information on appropriate sources for argumentative writing.

Your submission must include an APA style in-text citations and a reference page following the essay. In your research, you will need 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources to use as support in your essay.

• All sources cited in the writing submitted must be locatable by a grader; include hyperlinks to the sources in the reference page.
• The use of any source that requires payment for access is strictly prohibited for this assignment.
• Avoid using sources that exceed 20 pages in length, as they may be overly extensive for the purposes of this assignment.

Including more than four sources may cause delays, and you might be asked to provide additional evidence of the credibility for each source.

On a separate page, below your reference page, include thoughtful answers to the Think About Your Writing questions. References and Think About Your Writing questions are NOT included in the word count for this essay.

1. Think About Your Writing

Below your reference page, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.

1. What have you learned about how to present a strong argument? How could/will you apply this knowledge in your professional or everyday life (3-4 sentences)?Sophia says: Think about the specific skills and techniques that you used while developing and writing your essay. What tools will you take with you from this experience?
2. Consider the English Composition I course as a whole. What have you learned about yourself as a writer (5-6 sentences)?Sophia says: What did you learn that surprised you? Is there anything that you have struggled with in the past that you now feel more confident about?
3. Argumentative Essay Guidelines

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your research essay until it meets these guidelines.

Argumentative Topic and Thesis Statement

❒ Have you included a thesis that takes a clear, specific position on one side of an academically appropriate, debatable issue?

Argument Development

❒ Are all of the details relevant to the purpose of your essay?
❒ Is the argument supported using rhetorical appeals and credible, academic source material?
❒ Is your essay 4-6 pages (approximately 1000-1500 words)? If not, which details do you need to add or delete?

Research

❒ Have you cited outside sources effectively using quotation, summary, or paraphrase?
❒ Have you included page numbers and paragraph numbers if the source exceeds four pages for all quotations, summaries, and paraphrases?
❒ Are the sources incorporated smoothly, providing the reader with signal phrases and context for the source information?
❒ Are the sources explained with regard to your topic and how they relate to the argument?
❒ Have you referenced a range of 2-4 credible sources?
❒ Have you included an APA style reference page below your essay?
❒ Have you included a hyperlink to each source in the reference page?

Organization and Flow

❒ Is there an introduction, conclusion, adequate body paragraphs, and a counterargument?
❒ Do the topic and concluding sentences reiterate the argument to maintain a sharp focus on the purpose of the essay?
❒ Is the argument presented in a logical order and easy for the reader to follow?
❒ Are there transitions within and between paragraphs?

Style

❒ Are the word choices accurate and effective?
❒ Are the sentence structures varied?

Conventions and Formatting

❒ Have you properly cited your sources according to APA style guidelines?
❒ Have you double-checked for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, and capitalization?
❒ Have you proofread for typos?

Before You Submit

❒ Have you answered all of the Think About Your Writing questions on a separate page below your reference page? Are your answers thoughtful and included insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses?
❒ Does your submission include your essay, followed by your reference page, followed by your Think About Your Writing questions?

1. Requirements

• The essay should be 4-6 pages (approximately 1000-1500 words in length
• Argumentative Essay Guidelines must be followed or submission will not be graded
• Double-space the essay and use 1-inch margins
• Use a readable 12-point font
• All writing must be appropriate for an academic context, including academically credible sources
• Composition must be original and written for this assignment
• Use of generative chatbot artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard) in place of original writing is strictly prohibited for this assignment.
• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited
• Submission should include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition
• Your submission must include the essay, reference page, and your answers to the reflection questions
• Submit a single file only, including all assignment components
• Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.

ANSWER

The Benefits of Implementing Renewable Energy Sources for a Sustainable Future

Introduction

As the global population continues to grow, so does our energy demand. However, our reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in detrimental consequences such as climate change, air pollution, and resource depletion. To ensure a sustainable future, the adoption of renewable energy sources has become a prominent topic of debate. This essay argues in favor of implementing renewable energy sources as the primary solution to address environmental challenges, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and secure a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

The Environmental Benefits of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, have minimal environmental impacts compared to traditional fossil fuels. Unlike fossil fuels, they do not emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Renewable energy systems help mitigate air pollution, combat climate change, and preserve natural resources, making them a crucial aspect of a sustainable energy transition.

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Research shows that replacing fossil fuel-based power generation with renewable energy can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 and other pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. Adopting renewable energy can curb these emissions and help limit the rise in global temperatures, mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Preservation of Natural Resources

Fossil fuel extraction has severe environmental consequences, including habitat destruction, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. Renewable energy sources, on the other hand, have a much smaller ecological footprint and do not require resource-intensive extraction processes. By embracing renewables, we can protect fragile ecosystems and safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.

Economic Advantages of Renewable Energy

Contrary to the perception that transitioning to renewable energy is economically burdensome, numerous studies have shown that investing in renewables brings substantial economic benefits.

Job Creation and Economic Growth

The renewable energy sector is a significant source of job creation and economic growth. Building and maintaining renewable energy infrastructure require skilled workers, leading to employment opportunities in local communities. Moreover, investment in renewable energy technologies stimulates economic activity and attracts investments in research and development, further bolstering economic growth.

Energy Independence and Price Stability

Relying on fossil fuels leaves nations vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy markets and geopolitical tensions. Embracing renewable energy sources allows countries to reduce their dependence on foreign oil and achieve greater energy independence. Additionally, renewable energy costs are becoming increasingly competitive, providing price stability in the long run.

Technological Advancements and Innovations

The implementation of renewable energy sources has driven significant technological advancements and innovations in the energy sector.

Storage Solutions and Grid Integration

One primary challenge of renewable energy is its intermittent nature, as solar and wind power generation depend on weather conditions. However, the growing demand for renewables has spurred advancements in energy storage technologies. The development of efficient batteries and grid integration solutions allows for better storage and distribution of renewable energy, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.

Efficiency Improvements

As renewable technologies mature, their efficiency and effectiveness have greatly improved. Solar panels are more efficient than ever, wind turbines are becoming more powerful, and hydropower systems are more refined. Continued research and development in renewable energy will drive further improvements, making them even more viable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Conclusion

The transition to renewable energy sources is a vital step towards a sustainable future. With the pressing need to combat climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve natural resources, renewable energy offers an environmentally friendly and economically advantageous solution. The environmental benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural resources are substantial, while renewable energy also contributes to job creation, economic growth, and energy independence. Furthermore, technological advancements in renewable energy are driving efficiency improvements and innovations, making them an increasingly viable and competitive energy choice. Embracing renewable energy sources is not just an option; it is a necessity if we are to secure a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable planet for future generations.