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Argumentative Writing Exercise

The document discusses the dangers of trash in the oceans. [1] Trash reaches the oceans from littering on land and at sea, which harms marine animals in many ways as they ingest plastic waste that can block their digestive systems or release harmful chemicals. [2] This trash also poses dangers to humans as chemicals from plastics accumulate up the food chain. [3] The author argues that everyone must properly dispose of waste to stop further damage to ocean animals and humans.

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jeagar atlas
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254 views

Argumentative Writing Exercise

The document discusses the dangers of trash in the oceans. [1] Trash reaches the oceans from littering on land and at sea, which harms marine animals in many ways as they ingest plastic waste that can block their digestive systems or release harmful chemicals. [2] This trash also poses dangers to humans as chemicals from plastics accumulate up the food chain. [3] The author argues that everyone must properly dispose of waste to stop further damage to ocean animals and humans.

Uploaded by

jeagar atlas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mentor Text The Dangers of Trash in the Ocean

By: K. Sain

"The greatest threat to our planet is the lower temperatures. When this plastic
belief that someone else will save it,” said decomposes, it leaves traces of chemicals such
author Robert Swan. Have you ever wondered as bisphenol A. Plastic that is used in
where your trash goes, whether you throw it Styrofoam, DVD cases, and other items was
away or drop it on the ground? This is also found in samples of ocean water. These
something to seriously consider. plastics are also full of potentially cancerous
Unfortunately, waste and trash have become a chemicals, and when ingested by animals, they
massive problem in the ocean because people could get into their systems. Eating fish that
all over the world are littering on land as well these harmful substances in their systems can
in the water. Litter must stop, or trash will affect humans. According to National
continuously build up in the ocean. Geographic, these chemicals become more
When trash reaches the ocean, it affects concentrated when contaminated animals eat
marine animals in many harmful ways. For other contaminated animals. This could be bad
example, many animals are dying because they news for those at the top of the food chain—
are ingesting plastic waste. There have been humans.
many whales that have died on separate On the one hand, it is more work to be
occasions, and upon investigation, many sure that waste is properly recycled and
pounds of plastic were found in their disposed of. Some cities offer recycling
stomachs. Others have found sea turtles dead services, but for others, it is up to the citizens
because of fishing gear, plastic products, and to do the extra work and get waste to a
various other wastes that they have ingested. recycling facility. Even with the extra work
Whales and other creatures regularly get though, the benefits of recycling and disposing
caught in old and new fishing gear, which can of waste far outweigh the cons of having to
lead to starvation or drowning. Additionally, put forth some extra work and effort. If trash
seabirds consume plastic, sometimes continues to build up in the ocean, animals will
mistaking it for food. This often has deadly continue suffering and even going extinct, and
effects. According to the National Geographic, humans will continue possibly eating
many of these animals often mistake plastic contaminated meat. If people all over the
bags for jellyfish in the open ocean, and they world would band together and properly
try to swallow them, usually leading to dispose of waste, so many problems could be
suffocation. Well over 200 species in and put to a stop before too much damage is done.
around the ocean are negatively affected by If humans do not stop littering all over
plastic waste. the world, waste will only become worse over
Another reason that litter must stop time, and the oceans will continue to
reaching the ocean is because it can also be accumulate it. Animals and humans would
hazardous to humans. While some have benefit greatly from everyone pitching in and
thought that plastic would only decompose at doing their part. Recycling is necessary for our
high temperatures, scientists have recently oceans to recover and to thrive.
discovered that they will decompose even in
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE

Read the text. Answer the questions that follow:

I. What is the claim that the author is making?


II. What are the two reasons in the article that support the claim? Write them
in complete sentences.
III. What is the counterclaim (opposing position) that the author mentions?
IV. What is the conclusion of the essay?

O K. sain, 2019

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