Haviland Bell

Professor Hugetz

ENGL-1302-03

September 17th, 2020

Last two paragraphs, Conclusion paragraph and Works Cited

The third element the author uses is their drive to inform the people. This element comes

from the fact that the author did the research and wrote a paper over the subject, warning and

informing people of the unknown harm these microplastics could do to them and thier respiratory

system. She states the facts like “Inhaling microplastics may also increase exposure to other

toxic substances and coatings associated with plastics and their manufacture.” which is a new

fact she uncovered in her research along with “Industrial, urban and agricultural dusts often

contain heavy metals as well as synthetic toxins.” where she continues to tell the readers the

negative effects of breathing in microplastics. The author also goes on to state that these things

shouldn’t surprise people due to industries heavily relying on plastic for packaging and what not.

The fourth element the author uses is their drive to change, which entails the

persuasiveness they have in pushing change to solve this environmental problem. The author

also urges their audience to get uncomfortable, because the answer to this problem hasn’t been

uncovered yet. At the end of her paper she says “The path forward to cleaning up this problem is

not clear but undoubtedly will require sweeping and uncomfortable changes.” which point the

readers to be wary and prepare themselves for massive changes to help solve this problem in the

future. The author also states “Movements against plastics pollution have led to bans on plastic

straws and plastic bags, and microbeads in cosmetics. But airborne microplastics mostly come
from clothing, car tires and the fragmentation of commodities and packaging used briefly and

then thrown away, sometimes decades ago.” Which makes this issue more about plastic pollution

than using plastic now, but this doesn’t mean the author doesn’t want us to be more conscious. In

order to prevent more microplastic problems it’s up to the people to change their plastic habits

now and help clean up plastic pollution to really make a difference in trying not to further the

issue.

The author truly persuades their audience by marvelously using these four elements all

throughout their essay. Through the emotional energy the author pushes their audience to fear the

facts the author puts down which she could only gain through her research. Her drive to inform

the people lead her to do the research and write the paper whereas the drive to change is shown

at the end of the paper where the author urges her audience to get involved in the communities

open to the people to help solve the microplastic problem, or even the plastic problem in general.

The author wrote over microplastics which, has been scientifically proven to have invaded our

air. She simply states that they have now become small enough for us to breath in and will cause

respiratory issues in the future. She gets this across to the readers along with telling the readers

what causes these microplastics and convincing people to become more aware of the products

and plastics they use. The author states that although this problem hasn’t been answered yet we

need to get ready to change or even take little changes using more sustainable products and

items. If people don’t start changing what they use and how they use it then this problem could

really progress. The author just wants their audience to become aware of what plastics could and

can do to humanity which should lead the readers to start being concerned about the environment

as well.
 Works Cited

Brahney, Janice. “You’re Probably Inhaling Microplastics Right Now.” The New York Times, 25

June 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/opinion/plastic-air-pollution.html?

searchResultPosition=28 . Accessed 8 September 2020

“Dr. Janice Brahney” S.J. Jessie Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State

University, https://qcnr.usu.edu/directory/brahney_janice . Accessed 8 September 2020