1. Write a 1/2 page journal describing your topic (the one you chose in the lesson materials this week) and explain why you chose it.
2. Create a pro and con list with each least five arguments on each side. Then, create an outline for an essay of at least six paragraphs. Please re-review the lesson materials on prewriting from Unit 1 if you forgot how to do this.
3. Please develop a three-part argumentative thesis statement supporting your chosen position on your chosen topic. Please review the lesson material on thesis statements if you don’t remember how to do this. Please re-review the lesson materials on thesis statements from unit 2 if you forgot how to do this.
4. Please write a complete introduction that could fit into an essay arguing your chosen side. Remember the three parts of an introduction we went over in the module material. Please re-review the lesson materials on introductions from unit 3 if you forgot how to do this
5. For each argumentative paragraph in your hypothetical essay (please review your outline from the second review activity) write a topic sentence. If they were used in a real essay, each of these topic sentences would begin one of your paragraphs and would let your reader know what argument that paragraph was making. Please re-review the lesson materials on topic sentences from unit 3 if you forgot how to do this
6. Please develop a refutation paragraph that would fit into an essay that is arguing your chosen side on your chosen topic. Please re-review the lesson materials on refutations from unit 6 if you forgot how to do this.
7. Either through online research or by going to a library, please find three sources on your chosen topic. Then, please briefly describe each source, and create a works cited entry for each of them. Please re-review the lesson materials on correct citations from weeks 7, 8, and 9 if you forgot how to do this. This reflection question is intended to help you prepare for your final draft of Essay 3, as there will be no opportunity for research when writing your final exam essay
8. Please write a complete conclusion that could fit into an essay arguing your chosen side. Remember the three parts of a conclusion we went over in the lesson material. Please re-review the lesson materials on conclusions from unit 3 if you forgot how to do this.
Should the U.S. government continue to fund space exploration?
1. Journal
Space Exploration presently is a great avenue brimming with potential. The planet, simply put, is not in great condition. The Earth is getting heated up at a fast rate, causing global warming due to industrial wastes. The ozone layer is also not in an optimal state. The option of making humans more aware is not viable. As evidenced by Project Hail Mary, an instinctive reaction of human beings to all problems is to hurt the environment. Therefore it is not a bad alternative to explore other places to inhabit. In the last few decades, the issue of Space Exploration has become extremely competitive. Various countries like Russia have made strides in development towards the goal of inhabiting Space. Therefore the USA needs to focus on Space Exploration and attribute funds for it, even if for competitive purposes. Otherwise, the country could find itself in a lot of danger, politically. The avenue of Space Exploration gained heat in terms of discussion when Mars became a potentially feasible place to live. In contrast to other planets, the situation on Mars is more survivable due to factors like Sunlight and Temperature. Hence the USA has and should keep investing in probing Mars.
2. Pros
a. Space Exploration has the potential to resolve the issue of an uninhabitable environment
b. Space Exploration can aid in discovering extra-terrestrial life.
c. Space Exploration has the potential to create job opportunities and help the economy.
d. Space Exploration might help in solving scientific questions like The Origin Of Life.
e. Space Exploration can provide more places for humans to colonize.
f. It is necessary to be a few steps ahead regarding the space exploration of countries like Russia and China for survival.
Cons
a. Requires a huge amount of investment which should be directed towards other issues.
b. It could deteriorate the present environment state by increasing air pollution.
c. Extra-terrestrial life might cause colonization of the human race.
d. It would lead to a lot of waste, all of which are not biodegradable.
e. America might come to dangerous crossroads with other first-world countries like China and Russia.
Outline- USA Government should continue to fund space exploration.
Introduction
- Space Exploration has the potential to resolve the issue of an uninhabitable environment
- Space Exploration can aid in discovering extra-terrestrial life
- Space Exploration has the potential to create job opportunities and help the economy.
- Space Exploration might help in solving scientific questions like The Origin Of Life.
- Space Exploration can provide more places for America to colonize.
- It is necessary to be a few steps ahead regarding the space exploration of countries like Russia and China for survival.
- Refutation- Requires a huge amount of investment which should be directed towards other issues.
- Conclusion
Thesis Statement
Step 1 – The Simple Thesis Statement- USA Government should continue to fund Space Exploration
Part 2 – The “Because” Statement- because it has the potential to resolve the issue of an uninhabitable environment.
Part 3 – The “Although” Statement- Although some may argue that Space Exploration would require a huge investment
Although some may argue that Space Exploration would require a huge investment, USA Government should continue to fund Space Exploration because it has the potential to resolve the issue of an uninhabitable environment.
4. Introduction
As Christa McAuliffe puts it, “Space is for everybody. It’s not just for a few people in science or math or a select group of astronauts. That’s our new frontier out there, and it’s everybody’s business to know about space.” Space is not just a scientific avenue anymore, it is a frontier. Many years ago when the movement of colonization occurred the first-world countries that acquired the New Lands first, gained a huge amount of profits. Hence, Space Exploration should be taken seriously by the USA to be in a competitive place with countries like Russia and China. The USA for its benefits should continue funding Space exploration. It is obvious that the country that ‘conquers’ space first will have greater profits. Although some may argue that Space Exploration would require a huge investment, USA Government should continue to fund Space Exploration because it has the potential to resolve the issue of an uninhabitable environment.
5. Topic Sentences
- Introduction
- Space Exploration through finding new planets can solve the problem of an uninhabitable environment that our planet, specifically the USA soon might be facing because of global warming.
- Through expeditions, Space Exploration can bring humanity face-to-face with Extra-terrestrial creatures and help to develop a beneficial relationship.
- If the USA puts in a huge amount of investment then it would lead to the formation of a department that will facilitate multiple jobs, helping the economy in the process.
- USA’s Space Exploration will also benefit intellectually, as it can solve scientific queries like ‘The Origin of life’.
- America can colonize more places for the citizens of the country, and give them a larger space and better living conditions.
- To have better political security, it is an absolute necessity to stay ahead in terms of Space Exploration from countries like China and Russia to prevent them from using Space Resources to attack the USA.
- Refutation
- Conclusion
6. Those who oppose Space Exploration argue that it requires a huge investment that should be directed toward issues like joblessness. In their opinion, their tax dollars should be used to provide policies and provisions that improve their regular lives. They feel that in this era of people suffering from economic distress, it is not wise for the American government to invest in space exploration. They think that issues like homelessness rising out of jobless youth in the country requires the Government’s attention rather than Space Exploration. They find the whole investment unethical on the part of the Government when there are hungry people on the street and youngsters vying for unavailable jobs, constantly. However, Space Exploration has the potential to solve the problem of joblessness by creating more vacancies for posts like Astronauts, scientists, and even unskilled jobs through the enlargement of the department by the Government.
7. Sources
Space Mining & Exploration: Facing a Pivotal Moment.
This source details how processes like Space Mining and Exploration are pivotal organs to build a future. The Space Laws in the initial stages of Space Exploration were built to have an equitable status for every country in Space. In recent years, the USA has developed its laws to advance itself and its allies in this Space conflict that has been brewing for the last few years. These laws have been the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (SPACE Act), which facilitates citizens to buy land in Space and use it for commercial aims. This law will not only provide American citizens with an upper hand but also put the country in a better position concerning Space Economy.
The Long Space Age: The Economic Origins of Space Exploration from Colonial America to the Cold War. By Alexander MacDonald.
In this paper, Macdonald attempts to trace the history of Space Exploration and how it has reached its present state. The present state of Space Exploration is dominated by entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The trajectory which led to the commercialization of Space and the USA’s intentions behind it has also been emphasized. The research details that privatisation of Space is the usual tendency while the Governmental control displayed during Cold War was a momentary reaction. The privatisation was encouraged by the patrons providing universities of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries at first with small telescopes and then large giant refractors.
Economic and Cultural Dimensions of Space Exploration
This source details the various upheavals the Space Exploration program has gone through in America. It details how people advocating for more Space Exploration were delighted about the prospects of Apollo and its aggressive approach. Though they welcomed disappointment when after the Cold War and winning the Space conflict, the Government returned to its less-funded approach. Then it traces how privatization reignited the interest in Space Exploration. It focuses on the future economic prospects of the space.
8. Conclusion
For America to maintain its political superiority, it should continue to invest in Space Exploration. Space Exploration will provide help in solving the issue of uninhabitable environment, and create multiple job opportunities. It can allow us to establish communication with extra-terrestrial species as well as more lands to colonize. The country will also be able to contribute to bringing a solution to big inquiries like ‘The Origin of life’. Finally, to protect its citizens the country needs to be ahead of China and Russia in terms of Space Exploration. Today’s era is all about the ‘survival of the fittest’ and therefore the USA cannot afford to show a lackluster attitude towards Space exploration and needs to confidently invest in it.
Works Cited
Skauge, Todd. “Space Mining & Exploration: Facing a Pivotal Moment.” Journal of Corporation Law, vol. 45, no. 3, Mar. 2020, pp. 815–32. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.imperial.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsh&AN=144232829&site=ehost-live
HERSCH, MATTHEW H. “The Long Space Age: The Economic Origins of Space Exploration from Colonial America to the Cold War.” American Historical Review, vol. 123, no. 1, Feb. 2018, pp. 239–40. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.imperial.edu/10.1093/ahr/123.1.239
Tribbe, Matthew D. “Economic and Cultural Dimensions of Space Exploration.” Reviews in American History, vol. 47, no. 3, Sept. 2019, pp. 445–51. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.imperial.edu/10.1353/rah.2019.0052
