Logan H. Woodard
Ms. Hull
English 2010 – (1:00-2:20PM)
9/22/15
Synthesis Essay
In recent discussions of gas alternatives, a controversial issue has risen in determining the
most effective fuel alternative to replace oil and gasoline. On one hand, some, such as the
Renewable Fuels Association, a company dedicated to driving the production and use of
American-made renewable fuels, argues that ethanol is one of the best alternatives to improve
overall environmental quality because of its biodegradable features and reductions in greenhouse
gases. On the other hand, others, such as Tom Ridge and Mary E. Peters, Op-Ed contributors to
The New York Times, an American-liberal newspaper, argue that methanol is the future of
natural gases and still costs less to go the same distance as you would, using gasoline. Still,
others, such as Eric Shaal, a contributor and writer for the Autos Cheat Sheet, which is an online
news and lifestyle website, argues that when it comes to energy efficiency and emissions, the
electric car is the most efficient solution to the controversial gas alternatives issue. These various
perspectives show is that there are many effective replacements for gasoline and they can all
benefit the environment greatly.
In article one, the Renewable Fuels Association states that ethanol is not only effective in
reducing emissions and burning cleaner, it also takes less thermal energy and electricity to make.
These amounts are also going down more and more every year. Both have gone down 36-38%
since 1995, which is a huge advantage for ethanol in regards to the best gas replacement. We
need fuel that, while making the environment cleaner while being used, it can also use less
energy and electricity being made. The Renewable Fuels Association also argues that ethanol
Logan H. Woodard
Ms. Hull
English 2010 – (1:00-2:20PM)
9/22/15
poses no threat to surface and ground water. Benzene is a component in gasoline that is harmful
to the environment when spilled or leaked and ethanol contains no benzene.
Tom Ridge and Mary E. Peters talk about methanol as the “future of natural gas.” They
argue that even though methanol produces half the energy of gasoline, the cost still is well below
the national average cost of gasoline. You would have to burn twice as much methanol to go the
same distance as gasoline but even make double the amount still costs less. They also state that if
Congress were to enact an open-fuel standard that would allow all cars to run on all-alcoholic
fuels, methanol and other fuels would be able to compete with oil in the fuel market.
Electric vehicles, according to Eric Shaal, are “always cleaner than gasoline cars, and
they continue to get cleaner every year.” He states three reasons why electric vehicles are
cleaner than gas vehicles. One reason is that gasoline production is getting dirtier. Second,
electric vehicles use energy 40% more efficiently. Third, the electricity grid is better than data
shows. He then concludes his argument and says that even though electric cars have a long
way to go, they are still more clean than gas vehicles, even in worse-case scenarios.
The Renewable Fuels Association argues that ethanol is one of the best alternatives to
improve overall environmental quality because of its biodegradable features and reductions in
greenhouse gases. In comparison, Tom Ridge and Mary Peters state that methanol uses less
energy and puts out less emissions than gasoline. Both of the arguments contribute to the
environment in a positive way. In contrast, however, you have to burn twice as much methanol
to go the same distance as gasoline and ethanol does not. Ethanol is also made from plants which
helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Methanol comes from fossil fuels which emits carbon
dioxide but not on a scale like gasoline. Eric Shaal’s perspective is that electric vehicles are more
Logan H. Woodard
Ms. Hull
English 2010 – (1:00-2:20PM)
9/22/15
energy efficient and cleaner than gas vehicles, which is somewhat contrary to ethanol and
methanol. When comparing electric vehicles to gas alternatives, it can be a whole different ball
game.
The Renewable Fuels Associations article on ethanol was very informational and talked
more about the good it does than the bad gasoline and oil does. This article is strictly facts and s
backed up by research and credible sources which is a very important thing to consider in
writing. They didn’t use many rhetorical devices other than logos. Since the article is so fact
driven, logos is the best tool to go with in this case. Ethos is also established when backing up
their facts by researching and quotes from other sources. This article also included a couple
visual aids to help show the facts they were stating. I would say the only weakness was that the
article was a little bland. Using some pathos to help catch the interest of the reader would have
made the article much more interesting and meaningful.
Tom Ridge and Mary Peter’s article on methanol was short but still had a lot of great
information on why methanol is such a great alternative. They use logos in their stating of facts
and credibility is established through their citing of sources. Also, right in the first sentence,
there is a metaphor which states that “President Obama recently called the United States the
‘Saudi Arabia of natural gas’ and asserted that it was time for our oil-dominated transportation
fuel market to open the door to natural gas.” This metaphor definitely adds a little spice and
interest to the article. One weakness I would say is that the article could have definitely included
more facts and sources, and also could have been longer. It was way too short and I feel as if
they needed to write a little more explanation towards their main points.
Logan H. Woodard
Ms. Hull
English 2010 – (1:00-2:20PM)
9/22/15
Lastly, Eric Shaal’s article on electric vehicles was also short but got straight to the point.
He lists three major points on why electric vehicles are cleaner than gas vehicles. Each point is
well-reasoned and informative. Although they are a little short, he gives enough information to
help you understand his position. He uses a lot of logos and cites his sources really well. Just like
the first article, it is very fact-driven. He could have used some pathos and other rhetorical
devices to help catch the interest of the reader. With how much fact he uses, lengthening the
paper would probably cause the reader to lose interest in reading all facts.
In conclusion, the Renewable Fuels Association argues that ethanol is one of the best
alternatives to improve overall environmental quality because of its biodegradable features and
reductions in greenhouse gases. They also state that ethanol is a better fuel alternative because it
takes less thermal energy and electricity to make. Tom Ridge and Mary Peters, contributors to
The New York Times, argue that even though methanol produces half the energy of gasoline, the
cost still is well below the national average cost of gasoline. They refer to methanol as “the
future of natural gas.” Both ethanol and methanol are similar, in how much emissions they
reduce and how clean they burn. Eric Shaal, contributor to Autos Cheat Sheet, gives three strong
reasons on why electric vehicles are cleaner than gas vehicles. He argues that when it comes to
energy efficiency and emissions, the electric car is the most efficient solution to the controversial
gas alternatives issue. All three of these articles are very informational and I enjoyed reading and
analyzing them to help benefit my argument. Though ethanol, methanol, and electric cars are
very different in production and how they benefit the environment, they all have the same
agenda: to compete with the monopoly on oil and give humans a choice at the pump.
Logan H. Woodard
Ms. Hull
English 2010 – (1:00-2:20PM)
9/22/15
Works Cited
"Ethanol Facts: Environment." Ethanol Facts: Environment. Renewable Fuels
Association. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/pages/ethanol-facts-environment
Ridge, Tom, and Mary Peters. "The Methanol Alternative to Gasoline."The New York
Times. The New York Times, 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/opinion/methanol-as-an-alternative-togasoline.html?_r=1
Shaal, Eric. "3 Reasons Electric Vehicles Are Always Cleaner Than Gas Cars." The
Cheat Sheet. Autos Cheat Sheet, 1 Aug. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/3-reasons-electric-vehicles-are-alwayscleaner-than-gas-cars.html/?a=viewall