Question
For this assignment, you will gather information now to help you construct an expository essay later. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started–you are not writing an entire essay here! As a reminder, here is the essay prompt:
Write an expository essay that informs your audience about a significant problem you aspire to solve when you grow up. Use academic writing to describe the problem in detail, its causes and effects, and explain (not argue for) two possible solutions for positive change. Support your ideas with well-researched evidence.
Your expository essay must be based on this prompt and topic, and it must incorporate ideas and information found in at least three researched sources.
There are 3 steps to this assignment:
Step 1: Identify Your Research Question
What's Your Problem?
Complete the following sentence:
What are the causes, effects, and possible solutions of _____ (insert your selected problem here)?
Step 2: Organize Your Information
Research your topic and find at least three credible resources to use for this assignment. Be sure to really take the time to not just find the information you need but to also discern the credibility of the sources you use.
Complete the organizer below to record your findings and source information.
Body Paragraph 1: State the two main causes of the problem you have selected. Include the source information (title and author) and URL (website) where you got this information. Then, in 2-3 sentences, explain (as you would to your teacher) how each cause directly impacts the problem. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started – you are not writing an entire paragraph here!
What are two causes of my problem?
Cause 1–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this cause impacts the problem.
Cause 2–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this cause impacts the problem.
Body Paragraph 2: State the two main effects of this problem. How does your selected problem impact the world around you – specifically, your reader. Include the source information and URL for where you got this information. Then, in 2-3 sentences, explain (as you would to your teacher) how each effect directly impacts your reader. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started–you are not writing an entire paragraph here!
What are two effects of my problem?
Effect 1–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this fact impacts the reader.
Effect 2–
With direct quote from your research.
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this fact impacts the reader.
Body Paragraph 3: State two proposed solutions to this problem that you have found in your research. Include the source and URL for where you got this information. Then, in 2-3 sentences, explain (as you would to your teacher) how these proposed solutions could work to solve the issue. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started–you are not writing an entire paragraph here!
What are two proposed solutions to my problem?
Solution 1–
With direct quote from your research.
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this solution could help.
Solution 2–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this solution could help.
Step 3: Write Your Introduction
Now that you have researched your problem and understand it inside and out, it’s time to put
together the introduction of your essay. Having a strong introduction with a clear thesis
statement will help guide your writing when you go to put your essay together later on.
Hook
Bridging Statement
Thesis Statement
Write an expository essay that informs your audience about a significant problem you aspire to solve when you grow up. Use academic writing to describe the problem in detail, its causes and effects, and explain (not argue for) two possible solutions for positive change. Support your ideas with well-researched evidence.
Your expository essay must be based on this prompt and topic, and it must incorporate ideas and information found in at least three researched sources.
There are 3 steps to this assignment:
Step 1: Identify Your Research Question
What's Your Problem?
Complete the following sentence:
What are the causes, effects, and possible solutions of _____ (insert your selected problem here)?
Step 2: Organize Your Information
Research your topic and find at least three credible resources to use for this assignment. Be sure to really take the time to not just find the information you need but to also discern the credibility of the sources you use.
Complete the organizer below to record your findings and source information.
Body Paragraph 1: State the two main causes of the problem you have selected. Include the source information (title and author) and URL (website) where you got this information. Then, in 2-3 sentences, explain (as you would to your teacher) how each cause directly impacts the problem. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started – you are not writing an entire paragraph here!
What are two causes of my problem?
Cause 1–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this cause impacts the problem.
Cause 2–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this cause impacts the problem.
Body Paragraph 2: State the two main effects of this problem. How does your selected problem impact the world around you – specifically, your reader. Include the source information and URL for where you got this information. Then, in 2-3 sentences, explain (as you would to your teacher) how each effect directly impacts your reader. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started–you are not writing an entire paragraph here!
What are two effects of my problem?
Effect 1–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this fact impacts the reader.
Effect 2–
With direct quote from your research.
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this fact impacts the reader.
Body Paragraph 3: State two proposed solutions to this problem that you have found in your research. Include the source and URL for where you got this information. Then, in 2-3 sentences, explain (as you would to your teacher) how these proposed solutions could work to solve the issue. Remember, you are just gathering information and getting your essay started–you are not writing an entire paragraph here!
What are two proposed solutions to my problem?
Solution 1–
With direct quote from your research.
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this solution could help.
Solution 2–
With direct quote from your research
Source Information: Title, Author (if available), and URL
Explain how this solution could help.
Step 3: Write Your Introduction
Now that you have researched your problem and understand it inside and out, it’s time to put
together the introduction of your essay. Having a strong introduction with a clear thesis
statement will help guide your writing when you go to put your essay together later on.
Hook
Bridging Statement
Thesis Statement
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Sure! Let's go through each step, filling out the required sections for an expository essay based on a significant problem. For the sake of this example, let’s assume that the selected problem is “plastic pollution in the ocean.”
### Step 1: Identify Your Research Question
What are the causes, effects, and possible solutions of plastic pollution in the ocean?
---
### Step 2: Organize Your Information
#### Body Paragraph 1: Causes of the Problem
**What are two causes of my problem?**
**Cause 1:** Increased plastic production.
*"For every person on Earth, we produce nearly 100 kilograms of plastic each year."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Plastic Pollution," National Geographic
URL: [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plastic-pollution](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plastic-pollution)
**Explain how this cause impacts the problem:**
The high rate of plastic production means more plastic waste is generated, and not all of it is disposed of properly. Many items end up in landfills or are not recycled, contributing to larger amounts of plastic ending up in the ocean.
**Cause 2:** Improper waste management practices.
*"Nearly 80% of ocean plastic originates from land-based sources due to inadequate waste management."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Ocean Plastics," World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
URL: [https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/ocean-plastics](https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/ocean-plastics)
**Explain how this cause impacts the problem:**
Inadequate waste management leads to littering and improper disposal, which lets plastic waste travel into waterways. This causes significant pollution in oceans, where it harms marine life.
---
#### Body Paragraph 2: Effects of the Problem
**What are two effects of my problem?**
**Effect 1:** Harm to marine wildlife.
*"Plastic debris kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each year."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "The Threat of Marine Debris," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
URL: [https://www.noaa.gov/threat-marine-debris](https://www.noaa.gov/threat-marine-debris)
**Explain how this fact impacts the reader:**
This fact highlights the severe consequences of plastic pollution on biodiversity, which ultimately affects ecosystems and, consequently, food chains that humans rely on.
**Effect 2:** Human health risks.
*"Microplastics have been found in seafood, which may impact human health as they accumulate toxins."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Microplastics in Seafood," Environmental Science & Technology Journal
URL: [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b04747](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b04747)
**Explain how this fact impacts the reader:**
The presence of microplastics in the seafood we consume poses potential health risks, emphasizing the direct impact of plastic pollution on human health and safety.
---
#### Body Paragraph 3: Proposed Solutions
**What are two proposed solutions to my problem?**
**Solution 1:** Implementing stricter regulations on plastic production.
*"Governments can implement policies to reduce plastic production by promoting alternatives to plastic."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Policies for Reducing Plastic Pollution," United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
URL: [https://www.unep.org/resources/report/policies-reducing-plastic-pollution](https://www.unep.org/resources/report/policies-reducing-plastic-pollution)
**Explain how this solution could help:**
Stricter regulations on plastic production can reduce the amount of plastic entering the market, decreasing the overall volume of plastic waste generated.
**Solution 2:** Enhancing recycling programs.
*"Innovative recycling programs can increase recovery rates of plastics, lessening the amount that reaches oceans."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "The Importance of Recycling," Recycling Partnership
URL: [https://recyclingpartnership.org/the-importance-of-recycling](https://recyclingpartnership.org/the-importance-of-recycling)
**Explain how this solution could help:**
Improving recycling initiatives can ensure that more plastic materials are reused, thus reducing the amount of waste that could potentially end up in marine environments.
---
### Step 3: Write Your Introduction
**Hook:**
Imagine a world where marine life thrives, unimpeded by man-made waste.
**Bridging Statement:**
However, plastic pollution in our oceans has reached alarming levels, threatening both marine ecosystems and human health.
**Thesis Statement:**
This essay will explore the causes of plastic pollution in the ocean, including increased plastic production and inadequate waste management, its harmful effects on marine life and human health, and propose solutions such as stricter regulations and enhanced recycling programs to address this critical issue.
---
This outline provides a strong foundation for your expository essay regarding plastic pollution in the ocean!
### Step 1: Identify Your Research Question
What are the causes, effects, and possible solutions of plastic pollution in the ocean?
---
### Step 2: Organize Your Information
#### Body Paragraph 1: Causes of the Problem
**What are two causes of my problem?**
**Cause 1:** Increased plastic production.
*"For every person on Earth, we produce nearly 100 kilograms of plastic each year."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Plastic Pollution," National Geographic
URL: [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plastic-pollution](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plastic-pollution)
**Explain how this cause impacts the problem:**
The high rate of plastic production means more plastic waste is generated, and not all of it is disposed of properly. Many items end up in landfills or are not recycled, contributing to larger amounts of plastic ending up in the ocean.
**Cause 2:** Improper waste management practices.
*"Nearly 80% of ocean plastic originates from land-based sources due to inadequate waste management."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Ocean Plastics," World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
URL: [https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/ocean-plastics](https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/ocean-plastics)
**Explain how this cause impacts the problem:**
Inadequate waste management leads to littering and improper disposal, which lets plastic waste travel into waterways. This causes significant pollution in oceans, where it harms marine life.
---
#### Body Paragraph 2: Effects of the Problem
**What are two effects of my problem?**
**Effect 1:** Harm to marine wildlife.
*"Plastic debris kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each year."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "The Threat of Marine Debris," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
URL: [https://www.noaa.gov/threat-marine-debris](https://www.noaa.gov/threat-marine-debris)
**Explain how this fact impacts the reader:**
This fact highlights the severe consequences of plastic pollution on biodiversity, which ultimately affects ecosystems and, consequently, food chains that humans rely on.
**Effect 2:** Human health risks.
*"Microplastics have been found in seafood, which may impact human health as they accumulate toxins."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Microplastics in Seafood," Environmental Science & Technology Journal
URL: [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b04747](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b04747)
**Explain how this fact impacts the reader:**
The presence of microplastics in the seafood we consume poses potential health risks, emphasizing the direct impact of plastic pollution on human health and safety.
---
#### Body Paragraph 3: Proposed Solutions
**What are two proposed solutions to my problem?**
**Solution 1:** Implementing stricter regulations on plastic production.
*"Governments can implement policies to reduce plastic production by promoting alternatives to plastic."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "Policies for Reducing Plastic Pollution," United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
URL: [https://www.unep.org/resources/report/policies-reducing-plastic-pollution](https://www.unep.org/resources/report/policies-reducing-plastic-pollution)
**Explain how this solution could help:**
Stricter regulations on plastic production can reduce the amount of plastic entering the market, decreasing the overall volume of plastic waste generated.
**Solution 2:** Enhancing recycling programs.
*"Innovative recycling programs can increase recovery rates of plastics, lessening the amount that reaches oceans."*
**Source Information:**
Title: "The Importance of Recycling," Recycling Partnership
URL: [https://recyclingpartnership.org/the-importance-of-recycling](https://recyclingpartnership.org/the-importance-of-recycling)
**Explain how this solution could help:**
Improving recycling initiatives can ensure that more plastic materials are reused, thus reducing the amount of waste that could potentially end up in marine environments.
---
### Step 3: Write Your Introduction
**Hook:**
Imagine a world where marine life thrives, unimpeded by man-made waste.
**Bridging Statement:**
However, plastic pollution in our oceans has reached alarming levels, threatening both marine ecosystems and human health.
**Thesis Statement:**
This essay will explore the causes of plastic pollution in the ocean, including increased plastic production and inadequate waste management, its harmful effects on marine life and human health, and propose solutions such as stricter regulations and enhanced recycling programs to address this critical issue.
---
This outline provides a strong foundation for your expository essay regarding plastic pollution in the ocean!