Climate change is a dire issue that must be addressed; if we do not reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we are in grave danger of exceeding the tipping point where climate change is no longer reversible and will only get exponentially worse (1). The main cause of global warming is greenhouse gasses, especially methane, a gas more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (2). “25% of today’s global warming is driven by methane from human actions” (3). When waste ends up in landfills, it releases methane gas in addition to other greenhouse gasses. Landfill waste contributes to 16.8% of methane released (4). The amount of methane released from landfills in the U.S. in 2020 alone was equivalent to 109.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (5). Penn State alone generates close to 20,000 tons of solid waste per year (6). The majority of this waste is generated within the football tailgates and beaver stadium (7). To reduce Penn State’s Ecological Footprint, we must also reduce the amount of solid waste generated on campus, especially on game days, and ultimately strive to achieve a zero waste campus. A few of several strategies to achieve this goal would be implementing compostable packing at Beaver Stadium concessions, increasing awareness of recycling and consumption reduction, and making composting and material-specific recycling bins more accessible, especially at Beaver Stadium.
Works Cited
[7]https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/beaver.pdf
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
– I don’t see a title yet, but I would probably recommend something like Sustainability at Penn State or something more specific that relates to what exactly you are going to suggest as changes.
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence?-Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
– I think the introduction responds to the exigence of global warming and greenhouse gasses that are being released and harming the planet. I think it makes the issue seem pretty severe, but maybe spread out all the facts so they are not all piled together. It is slightly overwhelming to have fact after fact with lots of numbers and statistics. I think having these stats are good, but I would use less in the intro just so that it is easily to comprehend when first reading.
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
– I think your thesis is pretty solid and straightforward. You stated some specific policies that could be implemented and I think this sets up for you to discuss them in more detail later on. I can imagine how you can include examples from other universities and relate these to Penn State as possible mandates or policies.
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
The title is missing, but I suggest write it along the lines of issues with Penn State’s sustainability.
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence?-Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
The introduction does respond to an exigence. I really liked how you started broad and narrowed it down on the issue. You kind of began with climate change on a global scale, talked about its causes, and then discussed how Penn State contributes to that problem. I think overall that is a really good structure, the main thing that I think you could improve on is the transitions between sentences.
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
I liked how specific your thesis was with the different actions that Penn State should take; however, I think that you could more certain in your tone. For instance, instead of saying a “few of several strategies,” you could say that “Penn State should address this issue through…” I can definitely imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold.
Great job!