As we have been learning, nuclear and radiological technologies have evident beneficial applications in oursociety including: providing clean energy, medical treatments, national security, and industrial applications.However, there remain realities associated with potential dangers, including examples of past environmentaland human health impacts, not to mention the potential proliferation of nuclear weapons.Your writing assignment (20% of your grade) will be to write a 3-4 page convincing and persuasive essay ona nuclear related topic. It is not required that it is specifically a topic covered in class and you are welcome toformulate an argument that is supportive or against the use of the nuclear technology. Some examplepersuasive topical statements would be:We need to build more reactors in the United StatesDiagnostic imaging in children should be more heavily regulated.Radiation dose limits for workers should be reduced (or increased).It is necessary to eliminate all nuclear weapons in the United States.The best solution for the disposal of nuclear waste is a deep geological repository[It is NOT required that it is a topic only relevant to the United States, but these are topics I am more familiarwith.]

Comments:

Make sure the statement you are supporting is not a simple fact (like ‘nuclear power plants contributes to20% of the US electricity’), but instead a personal analysis of a nuclear issue supported by facts(research/reading). It is imperative that you cite your source(s) of information you use to support yourargument. I will emphasize the necessity that this is your own written work. If you have any questionsregarding what constitutes plagiarism, I am happy to answer. Sometimes plagiarism is not intentional. Makesure you reference your source of information and use quotations when using the words of others.Also, we (me and the TA’s) are unable to ‘pre-grade’ written assignments, but are happy to provide feedbackon a topic to make sure you are headed in the right direction.Notes:We will devote some time in week 6 to discuss what makes a solid argumentative essay, topic ideas, andformat.Total Points: 200.0Some RubricCriteria Ratings Pts20.0 pts20.0 pts50.0 pts50.0 pts20.0 pts20.0 pts20.0 ptsThere is a decent tutorial that a high school teacher put together available here: Writing the PersuasiveEssay.pdfThis provides the basic (minimum) components of a persuasive essay and is a good starting point toconsider how to construct your paper.The point total for the paper is 200pts, it will be weighted for you final grade to 20% of total.Thesis* Formulates a focused, arguable, and defensible thesis * Includes an effectiveintroduction and conclusion that advances thesis20.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarksOrganizationOrganizes major ideas logically and consistently, emphasizing writer’s argument notmerely text’s chronology; Organizes supporting ideas20.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarksContentPresents original ideas that are well thought out; Content is accurate, fair andplausible information/analysis from texts50.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarksDevelopment and Support of IdeasFully develops ideas with an awareness of audience; presents and ‘disarms’arguments counter to thesis and provides substantial support for assertions50.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarksStyleUses language at an appropriate and sophisticated level for a college audience;provides an appropriate level of precision in ideas and transitions smoothly sectionsand ideas within paragraphs.20.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarksUsage/GrammarUses language that is clear, concise and appropriate; Varies sentence structure anduses conventions of standard English20.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarksReference and DocumentationIncorporates and documents information correctly; Determines credibility of sources;Properly cites sources of data, information, and/or ideas.20.0 ptsFullMarks0.0 ptsNoMarks