Essay Planning

Presentation Planning
Katy Ferrar
Kaplan International College London
Autumn 2015
Plastic Bag Alternatives
 Essay Titles

Investigate two possible solutions to low life expectancy in the

developing world.

OR

What are the main problems associated with using plastic bags?
Identify solutions to reduce these problems.
 Main Points Cause/Solution
Problem/Solution Essay Student Ideas

Causes of Low Life Expectancy Problems with Plastic Bags

Solutions (to increase Life Expectancy) Solutions
Problems: Problems:
Unhealthy diet Danger to sea-life
Malnutrition Environmental pollution
Crime Costly to recycle
Unhealthy habits (smoking)
Drug abuse
Sedentary lifestyle
Chronic diseases
Solutions: Solutions:
Education and raising awareness Impose taxes on plastic bag use
Investment in national healthcare system Use paper bags
Prohibit supermarket use of plastic bags
 Main Points Cause/Solution
Problem/Solution Essay

Causes of Low Life Expectancy Problems with Plastic Bags

Solutions (to increase Life Expectancy) Solutions
Causes Problems
Poor healthcare system Visual Pollution
Serious health epidemics HIV/AIDS Water Pollution wildlife/fish/birds
and Malaria Soil Pollution non-degradable
Poverty
Solutions Solutions
Investment in healthcare Impose a levy on plastic bags
Education Recycling
Global Initiatives (UN Millennium More use of environmentally friendly
Goals) materials
Education
 Question .

Are these your ideas?

Has anyone had these ideas before you?
Are they general knowledge information that
everyone knows?

Therefore, you will need academic evidence for each

point that you make.
Essay Structure Possible Structures

Structure 1 Structure 2

Introduction Introduction
Problem 1 Problem 1/Solution 1
Problem 2 Problem 2/Solution 2
Solution 1 Conclusion
Solution 2
Conclusion
 Listening 3.7 Questions

What reasons does the speaker give for persuading

the general public to avoid the use of plastic bags?

Is it better to use paper bags rather than plastic bags?

N.B. Audio Tapescripts can be found on the VLE if

you wish to read and listen to the text again.
 Listening 3.7 Answers

What reasons does the speaker give for persuading the general public to avoid the
use of plastic bags?
Dramatic increase in usage of plastic bags has a significant impact on the
environment.
Plastic bags are non-biodegradable.
Requires a considerable amount of energy in their production.
Recycling requires considerable energy resources
Recycling of plastic bags requires more energy than producing them.
Requires valuable resources such as oil and electricity to produce them.
Is it better to use paper bags rather than plastic bags?
Plastic bags can be used for a considerably longer period of time.
Paper bags cause more pollution because there is a greater cost in the production
of paper/cutting trees/creating pulp.
 Reading p101
What do these numbers refer to?

1980s 100 million 50-80 million

$4 billion twenty cents 400

500- one trillion 10.7 million tonnes 69%

 Reading p101

Now answer the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of the word eyesore?
2. What is the significance of the word white
pollution?
3. What is the connection between plastic bags and oil-
producing countries?
4. What are gut-blockers?
5. What is the Plas-tax?
 Are these eyesores?
The Shard
The Gherkin
The Cheesegrater
The Walkie Talkie (home of Sky Garden)
Guangzhou Opera House designed
by the talented Zaha Hadid
 Reading p101 - Answers

Now answer the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of the word eyesore?
Things that are considered painful to the eyes.
2. What is the significance of the word white pollution?
White pollution is visual pollution, more specifically it is a term used in
China to refer to the vast amount of plastic bags that are litter the
landscape.
What is the connection between plastic bags and oil-producing countries?
What are gut-blockers? Something that becomes stuck in your stomach
and means that you cannot digest food in the future.
2. What is the Plas-tax?
It is a tax governments put on plastic bag usage.
 Using a source in an introduction

Environmental pollution is of growing concern to most

countries both in the developed and developing world. As the
causes of pollution continue to be investigated, the use of
plastic bags has begun to be examined due to the fact that
their use has grown substantially in recent years. Indeed,
according to Wittenberg (2009), up to one trillion bags are
used per year, which inevitably will have a marked impact on
the environment. This essay will examine problems connected
with the widescale usage of plastic bags and will suggest
possible alternatives to their use.
 Incorporating a source into a
paragraph

It is clear that the use of plastic bags can cause varying types
of pollution with visual pollution not to be underestimated.
It can be argued that plastic bags can create an unsightly view
of an otherwise naturally beautiful landscape. For example,
South Africa clearly has an issue with the large volume of
plastic bags that have been disposed of in the natural
environment, as they are ironically refer to plastic bags as a
one of their flowers (Wittenberg, 2009).
 Incorporating a source into a
presentation - Example

Issues with Plastic Bags

Environmental pollution (Smith, 2011)

Visual pollution (Smallwood, 2015)

Soil pollution (Jones, 2012)

Possible Presentation Structure

Slide 1 Title of Presentation/Administration Details

Slide 2 Introduction and Outline of Presentation
Slide 3 Thesis Statement
Slide 4 Development of argument + academic sources
Slide 5 Development of argument + academic sources
Slide 6 Development of argument + academic sources

Slide 7 Development of argument + academic sources

Slide 8 Conclusion
Slide 9 Reference List
Even Katy Perry likes plastic bags!
 To do:

Sample Presentation
Sample Essays
Practice Essay Writing