Writing Quiz 1 Grading Rubric — 30 Points Biology 101 S14 S1

Writing Quiz 1 Grading Rubric 30 Pointsbiology 101 S14 S15 Fall 20

For this writing quiz, you are asked to create a persuasive paragraph that summarizes the problem of plastics in the ocean, discusses the major sources of plastic pollution, presents 2-3 compelling arguments for changing our behavior, and suggests at least one simple action college students can take to help. Your paragraph should serve as an executive summary for a public awareness campaign aimed at potential donors. You must cite the provided resources within your paragraph and may include additional reputable sources on your note card, which should be appropriately cited. The paragraph must be clear, concise, well-organized, and written in your own words, avoiding quotes and minimizing grammatical errors. Use a 4x6" note card with notes only, no complete paragraph, to aid your writing. Your work will be evaluated based on problem summarization, argument strength, action suggestion, writing quality, and proper resource citation.

Paper For Above instruction

The contamination of oceans by plastic debris has become a critical environmental crisis, threatening marine ecosystems and human well-being. Major sources of ocean plastics include single-use items such as plastic bags, bottles, and packaging, as well as microplastics stemming from the breakdown of larger debris. According to Kaplan (2016), by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans, underscoring the severity of the problem. National Geographic (2016) emphasizes that plastic waste, especially single-use plastics, are pervasive and nearly impossible to entirely remove from marine environments without significant effort. The persistent presence of plastics causes injury and death among marine species, disrupts food chains, and introduces toxic substances into the oceanic ecosystem. To motivate societal change, compelling arguments include the fact that plastic pollution damages marine biodiversity, threatens human livelihoods through fishing and tourism, and incurs enormous economic costs for cleanup efforts. Addressing this crisis requires behavioral changes, especially among consumers; thus, one effective action college students can take is to reduce reliance on disposable plastics by always carrying reusable bags and bottles. Such individual efforts contribute to reducing plastic input into oceans, fostering sustainable habits that can inspire wider community action. Combating plastic pollution in our oceans is vital to preserving marine health, economic stability, and ecological integrity for future generations.

References

• Kaplan, S. (2016). By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, study says. The Washington Post.
• National Geographic. (2016). How we can keep plastics out of our ocean. [Video]. YouTube.
• The Economist. (2017). Ridding the ocean of plastic. [Video]. YouTube.
• Schlossberg, T. (2017). The immense, eternal footprint humanity leaves on Earth: Plastics. The New York Times.
• United Nations. (2017). Plastic ocean. [Video]. YouTube.
• Additional reputable sources: Jambeck, J. R., et al. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768-771.
• Ryan, P. G. (2015). Synthetic polymers in the ocean and their effects on marine biota. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 92(1-2), 187-188.
• Andrady, A. L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(8), 1596-1605.
• Lebreton, L., et al. (2018). Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic. Scientific Reports, 8, 4666.
• Jambeck, J. R., et al. (2018). Marine debris as a global environmental problem. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 135, 371-372.