Topic: Ocean Pollution
Introduction
“Hook” (one-two sentences where you excite the reader to make them want to keep reading): Every day, vast amounts of waste flow into our oceans, transforming vibrant underwater ecosystems into graveyards of plastic and toxins. The crisis of ocean pollution not only endangers marine life but also poses a significant threat to human health and well-being.
Thesis statement/Main idea (one sentence where you tell the reader the main idea/topic of your paper): Ocean pollution is a critical environmental issue driven by plastic waste, chemical runoff, and oil spills, which collectively devastate marine ecosystems and threaten the future of our planet.
Overview and transition into first body paragraph (explain what will be covered in your body paragraphs, and transition into the first body paragraph): This paper will examine three major sources of ocean pollution: plastic waste, chemical runoff, and oil spills. Understanding these sources is crucial in order to comprehend their impact on marine life and human health, beginning with the pervasive issue of plastic waste.
Body Paragraph #1
Heading (Title of the Paragraph): The Pervasiveness of Plastic Waste
A. First major point (topic sentence): Plastic waste is one of the most significant contributors to ocean pollution today.
Supporting detail idea 1: Over 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, forming massive garbage patches that disrupt marine ecosystems.
Supporting detail idea 2: Marine animals often ingest plastic debris, which can lead to malnutrition, internal injuries, and even death.
Supporting detail idea 3: Microplastics, which result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, have infiltrated the food chain, affecting not only marine species but also humans who consume seafood.
Transition to next paragraph: While plastic pollution is alarming, it is not the only source of contamination affecting our oceans; chemical runoff also plays a devastating role in marine pollution.
Body Paragraph #2
Heading (Title of the Paragraph): The Impact of Chemical Runoff
B. Second major point (topic sentence): Chemical runoff from agriculture and urban areas contributes significantly to ocean pollution.
Supporting detail idea 1: Fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals wash into rivers and eventually reach the ocean, causing harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Supporting detail idea 2: These blooms deplete oxygen in the water and create dead zones where marine life cannot survive, drastically reducing biodiversity.
Supporting detail idea 3: Pollutants can also accumulate in the tissue of marine organisms, leading to toxic effects in species that humans rely on for food.
Transition to next paragraph: Another critical issue in the realm of ocean pollution is the occurrence of oil spills, which have immediate and long-lasting impacts on marine environments.
Body Paragraph #3 (Optional- Delete this Section if Not Using)
Heading (Title of the Paragraph): The Devastation of Oil Spills
C. Third major point (topic sentence): Oil spills represent one of the most visually shocking and damaging forms of ocean pollution.
Supporting detail idea 1: Spills can coat marine animals, leading to hypothermia and death, while also causing long-term habitat destruction.
Supporting detail idea 2: The cleanup process for oil spills often disrupts local ecosystems and can take years to restore affected areas fully.
Supporting detail idea 3: Additionally, communities that depend on fishing and tourism suffer economically and socially due to the impacts of these spills.
Transition to next paragraph: In summary, the act of addressing ocean pollution is crucial for the health of our planet.
Conclusion
Reworded thesis/main idea (one or two sentences- reword your thesis statement/main idea from your introduction): Ocean pollution, driven by plastic waste, chemical runoff, and oil spills, emerges as a serious threat to marine biodiversity and human health. The severity of these issues underscores the urgent need for collective action to preserve our oceans.
Summary of main points (two or more sentences that restate what you discussed in your body paragraphs): We explored how plastic waste is suffocating marine habitats, the impact of chemical runoff is creating dead zones in our oceans, and oil spills are causing immediate and devastating consequences on marine life and coastal communities. Each of these pollutants contributes to a growing crisis that demands our attention.
Closing statement (one sentence that wraps up your paper): Protecting our oceans is not just an environmental issue—it's a necessity for the survival of life on Earth.
Sources
PLEASE USE THESE SOURCES, OR YOU MAY FIND YOUR OWN SOURCES OF INFORMATION, AS LONG AS THEY ARE RELIABLE!
To get the citations for your sources, use this website to generate your citations, and then copy and paste them below.
Citation #1: National Geographic. (2021). Ocean Plastic Pollution. Retrieved from [insert URL]
Citation #2: United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Nonpoint Source Pollution. Retrieved from [insert URL]
Other Citations (OPTIONAL):
- NOAA. (2019). Oil Spills in the Ocean: A Time for Action. Retrieved from [insert URL]
- World Wildlife Fund. (2022). The State of Our Ocean. Retrieved from [insert URL]
How to Submit This Document:
Once you have completed your outline, click on “Share” in the top-right hand corner, then click on “Copy Link.” This link is what you will paste into the dropbox in the Unit 4 Lesson 5 Dropbox in Connexus. See the image below for how to do this.
3 answers