Ocean Pollution: Proposed System for Remediation and Conservation
Paper III: Argumentative Research Paper
Purpose and Description
The aim of composing an argumentative research paper is not only to summarize existing perspectives or simply to inform readers about a topic. You have been developing these skills throughout the course, and you should use them to support your writing process, but they are not ends in themselves; rather, they are a means to achieve more complex rhetorical objectives. Your aim for this assignment, specifically, will be to construct a research-based argument for a solution that contributes something new to an ongoing scholarly conversation about a problem. Specifically, you will propose a detailed solution that it is possible to implement in response to a real problem. The instructions described below are designed to guide you through this process.
Invention and Inquiry
Identify the core problem that motivates your research;
Revisit your research question and refine/refocus it where necessary;
Gather together the resources you have developed throughout the semester;
Note the different perspectives represented in the conversation you have defined;
Consider where you stand with respect to the core problem and competing perspectives;
Draft a thesis statement in which you position yourself within the conversation (based on the research you have completed, the evidence you have gathered, and what contribution you hope to make to the scholarly conversation). Specifically, the thesis will pose a solution that it is realistic to enact.
The Composing Process
Introduce your problem and define the scope of your paper;
Describe the extent of the problem and the specific portion of the problem that you will address with your solution;
Pose your specific solution;
Provide background on your topic and why it matters to your audience;
Use the sources you have gathered to position yourself in a scholarly conversation;
Add your own research findings based on the evidence you have gathered and analyzed;
Propose a solution to the problem that adds something new to the conversation;
Argue for why your specific solution is the best choice;
Discuss the specific steps needed in order to implement your solution;
Consider funding opportunities and the possible budget needed to effectively implement your solution;
Conclude your paper by reaffirming the importance of the problem and pointing toward your solution and the means of acting on it.
Specific Requirements
Your paper should:
Articulate and develop a clear and compelling thesis that is a solution to a problem;
Position your argument within a scholarly conversation;
Fully integrate a minimum of 10 sources into your argument;
Be written in a clear, precise, and active prose style;
Include a title that reflects the spirit and scope of your paper;
Be 10-12 pages in length (double-spaced, one-inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman typeface);
Be uploaded to Canvas as a Word document by the deadline (consult your course syllabus and schedule for details).
The work of joining a scholarly conversation is neither simple nor easy. As you have learned throughout the semester, it requires that we learn about existing scholarship and find ways that we can contribute to it through our own, independent research. It is difficult work, but if done well, you can use your writing to join conversations and help to address important problems, both in the academy, and in the context of work and community life. Please write or stop by my office (or both) if you have questions about this assignment or anything else related to the course.
OCEAN POLLUTION
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Introduction
Oceans covers more than 70% of earth and it is most valuable natural resource which is also habitat to hundreds of thousands of species with some yet to be discovered. It is a finite resource which has supported the livelihood of millions of people around the world. We directly or indirectly depend on oceans daily and thus we are obligated to play an active role in preserving it. It is however being threatened by our unstainable activities we on land and in it and if the trend continues, future generations might not enjoy the utility of this vast resource. Urgent interventions need to be done to preserve the oceans to guarantee their sustainability for the good of humans and other species. One of the main ocean pollutants is plastics. Millions of tons of this inorganic material find its way into the oceans and it has had a devastating impact on the sustainability of the oceanic biomass. The ecological balance of marine life has been destroyed and the problem has affected terrestrial animals including humans. We are part of marine food chain and if this problem persists, the future seems bleak. It is estimated that the oceans have 5-10 billion tons of biomass as plants and animals with additional 4 billion tons of microbes(citation). This biomass is threatened by human activity due to ocean pollution and unsustainable exploitation of this natural resources. Lately, ocean desertification has continued to decimate this biomass quantity and before long it will reach a point of no return if urgent and necessary steps won’t be taken to address the issue. It is estimated that nearly half of the species in this habitat will be extinct in the next 50 years. Some will be extinct even before they are discovered. These issues have unsettled the scientific community and have tried to strategize on our generation can come up with sustainable ways of exploiting this natural resource whilst preserving it and protecting its biodiversity. It is a direct problem to humans that they have to address as it threatens our survival as a species and denies our future generations a rich biodiversity and sustainable environment. This research paper will be limited to address how plastic pollutions in oceans has impacted marine life and terrestrial sustainability and possible ways it can be addressed.
Scope
The scope of this research paper is limited to finding sustainable solutions on how to clean the oceans of the plastic debris that floats on it and has adversely affected marine life. CITATION Jam151 \l 1033 (Jambeck, et al., 2015) calculated that ‘275 million metric tons (MT) of plastic waste was generated in 192 coastal countries in 2010, with 4.8 to 12.7 million MT which is about 1.5% to 4.5% of the world’s total plastic production’ find its way into oceans each year. These figures have been on the rise and they likely to increase if not interventions are instituted to limit them. This research paper also proposes a solution that could help address the problem and the reduce plastics in the sea especially in the Gyres.
Problem Background
Marine animals have died of ingesting plastic debris and some have been entangled and either died or affected the quality of their lives due to the cuts they sustain from sharp plastic materials and or constrictions by materials such as ropes etc. The ingested microplastics has overwhelmed their digestion systems and further affected the quality of their lives. In 1976, scientists concluded that plastic entanglement was killing up to 40,000 seals a year which amounted to nearly 6% of seal population CITATION Der02 \l 1033 (Derraik, 2002). Three decades later, nearly half of the population has been lost due to the unsustainable human exploitation of oceans. There are some terrestrial animals which depend on sea as a source of their food and they sometimes ingest plastic which appear like fish eggs. Sea birds often ingest plastic confusing them for fish eggs and other prey. CITATION Wil151 \l 1033 (Wilcox, Sebille, & Hardesty, 2015) estimated the ingestion rate of plastics among seabirds would reach 90% of individuals if these studies were conducted today.’ Plastic particles have been found in the stomachs of 63 of the world's approximately 250 species of seabirds CITATION Ama18 \l 1033 (Amaral, n.d.). Additionally, it is estimated that ‘one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year from ingesting plastic or by getting tangled in nylon fishing line, nets, six-pack plastic can holders, and plastic rope’ CITATION Lai97 \l 1033 (Laist, 1997). These statistics warrant the need for urgent solution to contain this environmental issue. This paper will primarily focus on how plastic has affected marine life and how it can be reduced to ensure sustainability of the oceans, the preservation of its biodiversity and restoration of the ecological balance.
Literature Review
There are different aspects of ocean pollution with the main focus being plastic trash and chemicals that affect the marine environment. Huang looked at the impact of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, which is accumulated trash that has been concentrated in the Pacific Ocean. The author used a critical framework to examine the effects of trash in marine environments, focusing more on the experiences and conceptualization of marine pollution among Asian Americans. Entanglement is one of the most common impacts of the plastic debris that affects the marine environment even resulting in the death of animals. On the other hand, CITATION Zen15 \l 1033 (Zeng, Chen, & Zhuang, 2015), sought to determine whether there is a relationship between ocean pollution and acidification. This scientific approach adopted by this article focused on the marine environment and factors that affect changes in marine animals and surroundings.
CITATION Hua17 \l 1033 (Huang, 2017) pointed out that human beings have changed environments irreversibly through technological advancement and human activities. Human engagements have not always had the desired effects is realization as the volume of ocean pollutants affects the way people utilize the oceans. For instance, in Hawaii there has been reported entanglement of marine life by plastic debris which shows how human activities have affected the oceans. The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch has affected Asian communities living along the Pacific Ocean, and the way people understand the environment in the Asia- Pacific region can help explain how they view debris entanglement.
Focus on how different people address oceanic waste provides insights’ on how they plan to address the issues. In Asian American studies, the Pacific Ocean plays an important role in cultural production CITATION Hua17 \l 1033 (Huang, 2017). For instance, the existence of the Garbage Path has partly been attributed to neglect, disregard and at attempts of erasing the importance of the Pacific Ocean to Asians. CITATION Hua17 \l 1033 (Huang, 2017) links the Garbage Patch with the racialization of plastic, which explains inequalities in the Asian American population. Asia is connected to America through the Pacific Ocean, which is paradoxically one of the most polluted aquatic environments on earth.
CITATION Zen15 \l 1033 (Zeng, Chen, & Zhuang, 2015) provide a background on how changes in the chemical composition of marine environments has resulted from unsustainable human activities. The chemistry of seawater changes as the carbon dioxide increases. Similarly, the pH of water has decreased over time and is directly related to human activities because of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Since the authors focus on the changes in chemical composition, they are able to link pollution with the growing problem of ocean acidification. Furthermore, the presence of heavy metals affects the proper functioning of the marine ecosystems such that there is decreased removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere CITATION Zen15 \l 1033 (Zeng, Chen, & Zhuang, 2015)In many coastal environments, including the sediments, there has been detection of heavy metals including mercury and lead.
Eutrophication, which is associated with excessive nutrients in the water bodies are associated with human activities, especially the discharge of sewage, fertilizers, and phosphates. Eutrophication in turn causes the growth in ‘algae blooms’ in marine zones and has resulted in oxygen depleted dead zones, and these zones are expanding on a global scale CITATION Zen15 \l 1033 (Zeng, Chen, & Zhuang, 2015). Additionally, when the impact of ocean acidification is considered, the two processes will continue affecting the marine ecosystems in the future. In any case, eutrophication enhances acidification where respiration of the organic matter has caused acidification of estuarine waters and coastal zones, while the small plankton that grows rapidly produce additional organic carbon as the carbon dioxide concentration increases CITATION Zen15 \l 1033 (Zeng, Chen, & Zhuang, 2015).
The marine pollutants find their way into the food chain, which are the feeding connections between organisms and this threatens human health when people consume the contaminated food products CITATION Zen15 \l 1033 (Zeng, Chen, & Zhuang, 2015). The bioaccumulation of toxins that result from pollution is a gradual process where the chemicals build up in the animal fatty tissue. As ocean pollution increases animals that are affected will also contaminate others in the food web or chain either directly or indirectly CITATION NTr15 \l 1033 (Trathlan, et al., 2015). Some animals absorb the toxins when they come into contact with them, but in most cases, they are contaminated through consumption. Heavy metals are some of the most common substance that bioaccumulate in animals, and as more of these animals ingest contaminants, the chemicals and substances that are biodegradable are concentrated in a food web.
One of the short-term and long-term effects of ocean pollution is that there is less diversity as many animals die. Th...