Title: Make sure your paper
has a title with an opinion.
Introduction:
Intro method #1 is used.
Bold= thesis/underline. This
is the statement that you must
prove to be true in your essay is
to be considered successful.
Underliine= mapping statement:
this tells the reader how you plan
to support you thesis. Each
statement corresponds to your
body paragraphs.
Body Paragraph 1
Bold = topic sentence.
Everything in this paragraph
must help to support your
topic sentence.
Underline= each
underlined statement represents
a point that is made to support
the topic sentence. Under each
topic sentence is an explanation,
or an example plus a “so what”
which explains why you are
making the point.
The italics represents the
concluding sentence which
summarizes what you have just
proven.
Zoos and Aquariums are Worth Keeping
When some people hear about zoos and aquariums they think of big animals in
small cages and killer whales in small pools. Other people might think of zookeepers providing food to animals that have lost the ability to catch it for
themselves. Still others might picture happy families or school-children
enjoying a day learning about majestic land and sea mammals. The truth is that
zoos and aquariums bring different responses from different people. Many are
positive and many are negative. The question that needs to be asked is “Is it
time to get rid of them?” The answer, I believe, is that we still need both zoos
and aquariums. We need them to educate our society. We need them to create
valuable jobs and stimulate the economy. Most of all, we need them to help the
animals themselves.
It is important to recognize that zoos and aquariums play an important role
in protecting and rehabilitating animals. If an eagle hits a power line, a
dolphin is injured in fishing nets, or black bear is wounded in a hunting mishap,
they need help. It is humans who have caused these problems and it is often
zoos and aquariums that help such animals. The Vancouver Aquarium, for
example, rescues and treats over 100 stranded marine animals in need of care
each year. Most of these patients are baby seal pups. The rehabilitation of such
species would be nearly impossible without the resources and expertise found at
zoos and aquariums. It is important that such experts be allowed to play a vital
role in restoring animals to their original habitat. Zoos also play a vital role in
protecting the ecosystems that support animal life. The Calgary Zoo’s Centre
for Conservation Research conducts innovative scientific research in zoos and in
the wild to develop applicable solutions for environmental problems threatening
the world’s species and ecosystems. This research helps to minimize the damage
caused by humans as they continue to intrude into important animal habitats.
Finally, zoos help to reintroduce species into areas where they have nearly
become extinct. For example, the Calgary Zoo's Centre for Conservation
Research attempts to establish species in areas of their “historical range where it
has reached critically low numbers, or has become locally extinct.” This is
especially important work because scientists project that 50% of species known
today could disappear by the end of the century. There can be little doubt that
the expertise and hard work of zoos and aquariums play a vital role in
protecting animals and conserving their habitats.
Body Paragraph 2
Bold = topic sentence.
Everything in this paragraph
must help to support your
topic sentence.
Zoos and aquariums also play a significant role in educating society. In fact,
if you are like me, then your only face to face interactions with moose, dolphins,
or zebras have come at a zoo or aquarium. The fact is that most zoos and
aquariums take the job of educating the population they serve as one of their key
roles. The Greater Vancouver Zoo, for example, is “dedicated to creating an
educational environment that inspires appreciation and concern about wildlife
Underline= each
underlined statement represents
a point that is made to support
the topic sentence. Under each
topic sentence is an explanation,
or an example plus a “so what”
which explains why you are
making the point.
The italics represents the
concluding sentence which
summarizes what you have just
proven.
Body Paragraph 3
Bold = topic sentence.
Everything in this paragraph
must help to support your
topic sentence.
Underline=
there are only
two underlined statements here.
Not every paragraph needs three
points. Just make sure that if you
only use two that both are strong.
The italics represents the
concluding sentence which
summarizes what you have just
proven.
and wild places.” This “appreciation” is incredibly significant since most
Canadians live in the city and could live their entire life without an appreciation
of the complex ecosystems around them. In addition to providing face to face
interactions with wildlife, zoos and aquariums provide educational resources for
the public, for students, and for teachers. The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle,
for example, provides teacher packets containing background information, fact
sheets, activity ideas and resource information. Similarly, at the Vancouver
Aquarium, teachers and students can access resources that are catered to the
Prescribed Learning Outcomes of the BC Ministry of Education. Students,
teachers and the public in general would lose a valuable source of information if
they did not have access to zoos and aquariums. However, the most enjoyable
educational programs on offer at zoos and aquariums are the interactive ones.
Programs like Aqua Camps, Sleepovers, and Nature Exchanges are hands on,
immersive experiences. Students learn a great deal and have fun in the process.
Such programs help build a lifelong connection between people and the animals
they share the planet with. If we are to positively change the way we interact
with the earth’s land and sea animals, then we must be educated, and zoos and
aquariums have a key role to play.
An examination of the role of zoos and aquariums wouldn’t be complete
without a close look at how much they help the economy by creating jobs
and attracting tourists. Good jobs are always a valuable asset in a community.
Zoos and aquariums are historically good employers. Take, for example the
Vancouver Aquarium. It has 411 employees, while the Woodland Park Zoo in
Seattle has approximately 260 year-round employees and 120 seasonal and
temporary employees. That is a lot of jobs, but perhaps it is easier to think in
terms of money. The Calgary Zoo, in 2009, paid out over 16 million dollars in
salary. Most of these are not minimum wage jobs, but instead the kinds of jobs
our society needs to support families. Their importance should not be
overlooked. However, direct employment is not the only way zoos and
aquariums create jobs. Think of the many tourists that spend money in the cities
that have these facilities. The Vancouver Aquarium attracts 940,000 visitors per
year. Where do those people sleep or eat if they are from out of town? What if
each of those people spent only $5.00 for food or a stuffed animal at the
aquarium? The Woodland Park Zoo has over one million visitors annually
while the Calgary zoo has over 1.2million. What if just a fraction of these
people stayed in local hotels or ate at local restaurants? The math can be
staggering, Zoos and aquariums can help contribute to a vibrant economy.
Conclusion
The conclusion should be kept
short.
Bold= restatement of original
thesis/mapping statement.
This conclusion calls upon the
reader to visit or zoo or an
aquarium before deciding how
they feel.
It is my belief that most people who oppose zoos and aquariums think of the
crowded and inhumane zoos of the last century. If, however, they visited a
modern zoo like the Calgary zoo or talked to the devoted staff at the Vancouver
Aquarium they would change their minds. These institutions help land and
sea animals, protect their ecosystems and do so while providing a great
boost to their local economies. Visit for yourself and see. You just might
learn some fascinating things in the process.