GRE Argument Topic 42

Sample 1:

The author of this letter to the editor has used pathos in the hope that the readers will overlook the glaring lack of support for his assumptions. Hot-button words like pollution and endangered species are almost guaranteed to get a desired reaction from the audience. Visions of burning rain forests and dead animals fill their brains, and they are ready to do whatever it takes to stop this destruction and carnage. Although fired up and ready to go, readers must look for the omissions in reasoning created by the author before taking action that could have a catastrophic effect on a mining company.

The author of this letter has chosen his audience carefully by submitting it to a journal on environmental issues. The readers may take his assumptions to be facts. It is a fact that Crust Copper Company has recently purchased over 10,000 square miles of land in the tropical nation of West Fredonia. It is an easy leap from there to assume that the company will open a mining operation at that location. If that eventuality comes to pass, an environmental disaster will ensue. The writer proposes that pollution is inevitable. CCC may have adopted mining practices that reduce or eliminate harmful pollution.

The author also implies that CCC's purchase of land in West Fredonia is an imminent threat to several endangered species that make their home there. This is a large tract of land. If CCC opens a mining operation, it may be nowhere near any endangered animals. It is even possible that CCC has purchased this particular tract of land to establish an animal preserve. The author has purposely left out information that does not serve his intention.

Finally, we have the author' call to action. It is always the goal of persuasion to get the audience to believe in a certain way or to take some action. In this case, the readers are encouraged to boycott goods made with CCC's copper unless the company abandons its mining plans. The problem with this exhortation is the assumption that CCC has plans to mine this tract of land. The other difficulty might be identifying the products that contain the company's copper. It is unlikely that a copper mining company manufactures anything at all. The writer of this letter has provided just enough information to let the readers create their own assumptions about CCC's intentions in West Fredonia.

Sample 2:

A newsletter distributed in a political rally mentions the purchasing of one million square miles of land by Consolidated Copper Company (CCC) in the tropical region of West Fredonia, over the past one year. The newsletter expresses concern over the environmental disaster likely to be caused by mining of copper, as the region is home to several endangered species. Thus, it urges to boycott the products made with CCC’s copper till the company abandons the mining plans.

While the likely environmental disaster is a grave cause of concern, the plan of action of CCC to pursue its mining project must be ensured. Before retaliating to its mining of copper, more details should be collected to know its actual purpose of buying the land. There is a possibility that this land in West Fredonia is not bought for the sole purpose of mining but for some other novel plan’s execution

Further, the reasons for the extinction of certain animal species in West Fredonia must be sought since these animals are endangered even before any sort of mining of copper starts. Therefore, the reasons for the threat to animals could be deforestation, pollution of water resources, climatic changes or excess growth of some toxic plants. The extent to which mining of copper can play havoc in furthering threat to these animal species can be measured only after knowing the prevalent cause. Another reason for the reduction in the number of some animal species can be due to unchecked poaching. In other words, it is possible that the mining project of CCC will have negligible effect in deteriorating the present situation. Without the knowledge of complete details, mining plans of the company should not be opposed as it would be a source of earning for a number of people employed. More significantly, the need of copper can be fulfilled by mining only in sites where vast reserves of the same are available. West Fredonia, being one of such sites is likely to be used for mining purpose, sooner or later.

In case, no steps are taken to save the endangered animal species of West Fredonia, there is no point in opposing the mining plans in the same area. If at all, it is proved that the CCC will cause uncontrollable pollution by miming of copper and become a threat to the endangered animals, the political parties opposing this plan must come up with more constructive measures. Instead of boycotting the products of CCC, they should convince the ruling government of the drawbacks of this project. Moreover, they must suggest alternative means of meeting the copper requirement, if not through mining.

Boycotting the goods of CCC may force the company to export its goods as there are less chances of abandoning a plan set up at such a large scale. This will not only result in the nation’s loss but also do no good for protecting the environment of the tropical region.

Hence, it would be better to think upon the issues discussed above before agreeing to the given argument, since it is not quite convincing.