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I want an outline” as the example attached “, presentation, another outline for me to read from. I need the outline as the example attached in one day and 10 hours, the rest you can take your time on them… There are guidelines, examples, and professor comments about the outline. I need the outline as the example attached in one day and 10 hours, the rest you can take your time on them…
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Sample Student Outline: Problem-Cause-Solution Organizational Pattern
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the United States should pass legislation to ban monoculture farming.
Central Idea: Monoculture farming is a serious problem that is harmful to the environment and to our health.
Introduction
Since 1974, the average number of items in a grocery store has increased from 9,000 to almost 44,000. Yet
today, 75 percent of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plants and 5 animal species, finds the Food and
Agriculture Organization. So, while the range of products has widened, the range of crops grown to produce
these products has narrowed over the last 45 years. Our food system is dominated by monoculture and
government influence. Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing or growing a single crop or animal
in a field at a time. This practice became popular in the 1960’s with the utilization of farm machinery. As I have
learned through many hours of research, this practice requires the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides which
have been linked to major health problems. Today you will see why the United States should pass legislation to
ban monoculture farming.
(Transition: Let’s begin by definin0g the problem.)
Body
I.
Monoculture farming is a major problem in the United States.
A. Monoculture farming causes environmental pollution making it harmful to humans.
1. This practice requires the heavy use of fertilizers.
a. By not rotating crops, the soil is depleted of necessary nutrients.
b. According to The Environmental Protection Agency, fertilizer use in the 1960’s was
46lbs per acre and rose to 142lbs per acre in 2014. This is a 209% increase!
2. This practice also requires the use of heavy pesticides.
a. The continuous growing of the same crops attracts insects to an abundant food source.
b. The balance of plant pests and their natural enemies is disrupted in monoculture
systems. Populations of natural insect predators and pollinators also tend to be lower in
monocultures.
c. In an article for the International Food Policy Research Institute, Pingali and Rosegrant
state that, “As a result of reduced biodiversity, monoculture systems have been found
to be more susceptible to insect infestation and plant viruses”
3. These practices cause problems for the environment through pollution, ground water
contamination, and health problems for animals and humans.
a. According to the Dr. Dennis Weisenburger in his Human Pathology journal, short term
effects include, sore throat, cough, eye and skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, loss of
consciousness, seizures, or death. Long term effects include, Parkinson’s disease,
various forms of cancer, sterility, and birth defects.
(Transition: Now that we have addressed the problem, let’s look at the causes behind it.)
II.
There are two major causes for the use of monoculture farming.
A. The first cause is the Farm Bill.
1. This bill provided farmers with monetary assistance by setting the market price of crops,
providing direct payments for commodity crops, and issuing crop insurance.
2. The government “encourages” farmers to overproduce certain crops through this program.
3. According to the Environmental Literacy Council, “Three crops—wheat, corn, and rice—provide
nearly 60 percent of total plant calories that humans consume.”
B. The second cause was the introduction of mechanized farming in the 1960’s.
1. The use of farm machinery made planting fields of single crops easier to plant and harvest.
2. This process is faster, less labor intensive, and more profitable.
(Transition: Now that we know why farmers utilize this practice, let’s look at some alternatives.)
III.
The solution to this problem requires addressing both causes to stop the problems they create.
A. We need to persuade the US government to pass legislation to ban the use of monoculture farming and
promote alternatives for farmers.
1. The first alternative to this practice is polyculture.
a.
b.
Polyculture is the planting of several crops at a time, the opposite of monoculture.
Mike Lee, the founder of the Future Market shares the example of The Three Sisters
crops which are growing corn, beans, and squash together. “The Three Sisters crops
have been planted by the Native Americans for over 6,500 years to sustain themselves
and their soil.” Growing these crops together is one of the oldest forms of polyculture.
2. The second alternative is crop rotation.
a. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, rotating crops reduces the use
of fertilizers and pesticides which ultimately decreases total costs. Other benefits include
improved nutrient content in the soil, less pollution and reduced erosion and health
concerns.
(Transition: These are some of the possible alternatives to monoculture farming if the government were to ban it.)
Conclusion
Now you know why monoculture farming is such a problem and how polyculture and crop rotation are viable
solutions. In order to understand this problem fully, let’s remember the banana I spoke about in my informative
speech. This fruit is strictly a monoculture commodity. It requires the use of heavy pesticides and fertilizers, but
it is still vulnerable. Without a change to this farming method, how many other varieties of foods that we enjoy
are we going to lose? Monoculture farming puts nature at risk and our global food supply. The future of food
should be focused on long-term sustainability and diversity. It must be good for people, the planet, and for
profit. Building food brands and business models on a foundation of polyculture, not monoculture, is the key to
a better future.
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