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Agree or disagree NatureSocietyGovernment Essay #366
Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:

In many countries, plastic shopping bags are the main source of rubbish. They cause water and land pollution, and so they should be banned.

To what extent Do you agree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Use the plan, then compare with Band 9.
314 words · 5 paragraphs
Introduction

Paraphrase topic about plastic bags being main source of rubbish, causing pollution and need for banning. State full agreement with banning these items.

There is a prevailing belief that plastic shopping bags, being the primary source of waste in numerous nations, are the culprits behind land and water pollution, thereby necessitating their prohibition. I wholeheartedly concur with this assertion, advocating for a complete ban on these environmentally detrimental items.

Body 1 · View 1

Topic sentence: Plastic bags are a major cause of water pollution. Point 1: Harm marine life and ecosystem. Example: Sea creatures mistake bags for food (turtles, dolphins).

My first argument hinges on the undeniable fact that plastic bags contribute significantly to water pollution. These non-biodegradable items often find their way into water bodies, causing harm to aquatic life and disrupting the ecosystem. For instance, marine creatures such as turtles and dolphins often mistake these floating bags for food, leading to fatal consequences, thus underlining the urgent need for their ban.

Body 2 · View 2

Topic sentence: Plastic bags significantly contribute to land pollution. Point 1: Clutter landscapes/cities, take centuries to break down. Point 2: Lead to soil infertility and reduced agriculture. Example: Kano/blocked drains/lower crop yields.

Secondly, plastic bags are a major contributor to land pollution, littering our landscapes and cities. They take hundreds of years to decompose, thus leading to soil infertility and hindering agricultural productivity. A case in point is the city of Kano in Nigeria, where the excessive use of plastic bags has resulted in blocked drainage systems and reduced crop yields, further emphasizing the necessity of their prohibition.

Body 3 · Opinion

Topic sentence: Making plastic bags uses resources and speeds up depletion. Point 1: Uses petroleum (non-renewable). Point 2: Releases greenhouse gases (global warming). Evidence: EPA study on oil usage for bags in US.

Lastly, the production of plastic bags is a resource-intensive process that exacerbates the depletion of our natural resources. It involves the use of petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and releases harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to global warming. A study by the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that the United States alone uses approximately 12 million barrels of oil annually to produce plastic bags, highlighting the environmental cost of their continued use.

Conclusion

Summarize main points (water/land pollution, resource use). Restate strong support for a total ban on plastic shopping bags.

In conclusion, I staunchly support the complete ban on plastic shopping bags due to their significant contribution to water and land pollution, as well as the resource-intensive nature of their production. The examples of aquatic life endangerment, soil infertility in Kano, and the excessive use of petroleum in their production provide compelling evidence for the urgent need to eliminate these harmful items from our daily lives.

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