Grade my essay pls

Fury29
Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:47:04 +0000

Wrote another essay. I’d be grateful if you gave me some suggestions.

https://cdn.kastatic.org/KA-share/sat/5LS03E%20Practice%20Essay.pdf

In response to the growing pressures on the California state senate to ban plastic bags, Adam B. Summers builds an argument to defend the people’s “right to make fundamental decisions as ‘Paper or Plastic?’”. He builds a compelling argument through skillful use of relevant data, historical evidence, and a strong word choice.

Summers starts off his article with a strategy that is an appeal to ethos as well as logos. He uses data that establish the negative impacts of banning plastic bags and the benefits of not doing so. According to the author, banning plastic bags would have “prohibited grocery stores and convenience stores with at least $2 million in gross annual sales.” He also mentions that grocery bags “make up 0.3 percent of this[1.6 percent of all municipal solid waste] total.” This approach establishes Summers’ research and expertise on the issue. Furthermore, it makes the argument more convincing as well as reasonable. The data gives the argument a more logical basis as well. Moreover, Summers’ data allow the readers to realize the potential benefits of Summer’s claim. If the readers see the author’s claim as beneficial and the opposing claims as harmful, then they will be more likely to side with him.

Summers furthers his argument with masterful use of historical evidence. He refers to the past consequences of banning plastic bags. This strategy bolsters his argument by highlighting the potential hazards of the ban. Summer mentions “San Francisco’s plastic bag ban in 2007,” which “resulted in a spike in hospital emergency room visits due to…intestinal infectious diseases…the ban even accounts for several deaths in the city each year.” He mentions the results of Ireland’s step of increasing taxes on plastic bags. This strategy strengthens the writer’s stance by providing evidence to his claim and, again, makes him more convincing. In addition, the historical context also makes the argument more engaging as well as persuasive. This technique also appeals to the readers’ sense of reason: the readers can inductively reason and follow the pattern of consequences and realize Summer’s point.

Lastly, a strong word choice throughout the article strengthens Summers’ authoritative stance on the issue. He depicts the advocates of the bill on discussion to be “not content to tell us how much our toilets can flush or what type of light bulb to use to brighten our homes.” He also refers to the bill as “nanny-state regulation.” In doing so, Summers strengthens his authoritative stance on the issue. This technique also makes the argument more likely to prompt action among the readers. On the other hand, it challenges the readers’ perception of the issue: those who oppose his claim will be more likely to think twice now.

In conclusion, Adam B. Summers builds a strong argument against banning plastic bags in his article “Bag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment.” He portrays how the bill negatively impacts the planet and individual freedom. He builds a complete argument, with the full circle of ethos, pathos, and logos, with frequent use of data, historical evidence, and a strong word choice.