From the excerpt Forward to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land by Shubhankar Banerjee adapted from former US President Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that Arctic National Wildlife refugee should not be developed for industry. The way how Carter persuades his audience is by explaining factors that destroy America’s Wilderness, the effects of oil drilling, and the economic gains the wilderness receives. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry and it is for people to come and visit, not to be destroyed. It is one of the most magnificent wildernesses in the world with stunning views. Different types of animals live in the wilderness. The wilderness is a place where everyone can be happy.
One way how Jimmy Carter builds an argument that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry is by explaining the factors that are destroying the wilderness. Carter says, “I was saddened to think of the tragedy that might occur if this great wilderness was consumed by a web of roads and pipelines, drilling rigs, and industrial facilities” (paragraph 4). Carter believes that these things happening to the wilderness would destroy the wilderness character itself and disturb many animals that depend on the wilderness ecosystem to live. When this happened, Carter signed the Alaska National Lands conservation act that made safe of more than a million acres of national parks in Alaska. This caused the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to double the size of the land and to restrict the development in places where there is oil. Carter wanted to preserve the wildlife and its values.
Another way how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade the audience that Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry is that he explained the outcomes of oil drilling in the wilderness. Oil drilling has a negative impact on wildlife as it disturbs the daily routines animals live their daily lives. The oil drillings have also failed “because of tremendous opposition by the American people, including the Gwich in Athabascan Indians of Alaska and Canada, indigenous people whose culture has depended on the porcupine caribou herd for thousands of years” (paragraph 6). The oil drilling had a negative impact on the Athbascan Indians of Alaska and Canada that the Gwich’ins’ struggle to have their human rights. Overall, oil spills give a huge impact on indigenous groups of people.
The last way how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade the audience that Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry is the economic gain consumed. What the arctic Refuge provides is “1 to 2 percent of the oil our country consumes each day” (Paragraph 3). This can be better used with driving of fuel-efficient vehicles. This is not what Carter wanted in the industry as used somewhere else. Carter believes that we should use the resources wisely and to think before using the resources. Carter wants the Arctic Refuge to be one of the greatest places in the world.
Carter believes that Arctic National Wildlife should not be developed for industry as it harms the animals living in the wildlife and groups of people in the Arctic Refuge. Carter wants the land for animals and people to be able to live freely in. He does not want any type of wasted resources to be part of wildlife. He wants people to think before coming up with the idea to develop an industry, Lastly, Carter wants this land to last for years and generations coming.
Btw, the essay prompt is from The 2018 Official SAT Study Guide Practice Test 1.
Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for the industry. In your essay, analyze how Carter uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Carter’s claims, but rather explain how Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience.
Also, how important is the SAT Essay to colleges, even if they don’t require it? Do they actually look at your scores and what you write in it. Also, does it look better to do the essay and do poorly on it or just don’t sign up for the essay at all. I’m debating if I should do the essay or not since writing is not my strong area in school and usually get C’s and D’s on writings in English class if I do not get extra help on them. I only do well with writing if I go for extra help at school or else I would just do poorly.