APES Renewable Energy Opinion Letter
Due April 17 by midnight (email or hard copy)
Congratulations! You have just celebrated your 40th birthday, gas prices have hit $15.00 a gallon, you heat your home with natural gas, but you can’t afford it or get enough. What can you do? For the sake of your three (or however many...) children, you need to find a solution. It is essential to keep our standard of living. The Secretary of Energy, IamaTreehugger, is seeking your help and would like to know which energy resource is the answer to the world’s energy crisis.
You must write a letter to Secretary Treehugger answering the question: Which renewable resource do you recommend as the best solution to the world’s energy crisis, and why? Your letter must be at least two paragraphs and NO LONGER than one page.
Begin your task by researching the CONN (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear) and the renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar, wind, hydrogen fuel). You may use books, websites, scientific journals, and class lectures or other materials for your research. You will present and cite your sources in a traditional bibliography.
Then write a persuasive letter discussing your solution. Present your argument in a way that is convincing. Use the rubric (reverse) to help craft the best grade for yourself.
Tips for writing a persuasive letter:
1)Introduction: Inform the reader about the issue at hand. State the facts that surround the situation. Explain why there is a problem and state your solution.
2)State your case: Discuss why your way is the best way. Share evidence and expert opinions supporting your position. Specific examples are best.
3)Examine and refute the Opposition: It is vital that you recognize and discredit opposing views. Look for flaws, loopholes, and reasons to reject other suggestions. If there are positive aspects of the opposing view, point them out, but compare them to the overall benefit of your suggestion.
4)Reconfirm your Position: Now it’s time to review the main points of your arguments. Be sure to address any items that may have come up while refuting the opposition.
5)Conclude that your position is superior: Be confident in your closing that your way is, indeed, the only way based upon all the information you just provided.
Example bibliography format:
Book:
Author. Title. Publisher. Date. Pags used.
Ex.
Withgott, Jay and Scott Brennan. Environment: The Science Behind the Stories.” 4th edition. Pearson. 2011. Pgs. 528-616.
Website:
Author (if available). “Title of article.” Website name. Date. URL.
Article:
Author. “Title of article.” Journal title. Issue. Date. Pages used.