1. Nuclear Technology In-class Essay Friday!!!!! Bring an index card and your works cited page.

2. Example:Nuclear Power Plants Research (take notes in my own words):  Energy produced through fission reactions A neutron splits a large unstable atom like U-235 *More neutrons, 2 smaller nuclei and energy (kinetic and gamma) are produced (E=mc 2)

3. Research: continued  High energy neutrons produced from 1 st fission reaction can split more U-235 atoms, making a chain reaction  Moderators made of smaller atoms slow down the neutrons (by absorbing some of their energy as they pass through) – this prevents the fission reaction from getting out of control (meltdown)

4. Research: continued  Manual or automated controls stop the fission reaction if unsafe conditions are detected  Energy produced during fission is converted into electrical energy

5. Research: Dangers  Accidents release radioactive energy, creating a dangerous environment (Chernobyl and Three Mile Island Disasters)  Waste from fission reactions are difficult to store  Fears of nuclear proliferation (the spread of nuclear weapon capabilities

6. Research: Benefits  Reduces carbon emissions that may lead to global warming  Decreases our dependence on foreign oil  Safety record is good compared to power plants fueled by other sources  Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel removes a lot of the nuclear waste

7. Your argument will be stronger if you also collect quantitative data: If you are arguing for benefits… If you are arguing for risks…

8. Organization Begin with your thesis statement: Are you for or against the use of nuclear technology? You can organize the body one of two ways: Discuss the benefits and risks of 3 different kinds of technology (pro but con, pro but con, pro but con) Example: 1) Nuclear power plants benefits and risks 2) PET scans benefits and risks 3) Nuclear Technology in the home benefits and risks Or…

9. Discuss the benefits all together (separately from the risks) and the risks all together (pro and pro and pro, but con and con and con) Example: 1)Nuclear power plants, treatment of cancer, and using half-life to date benefits 2)Nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons proliferation, and irradiation of food risks

10. When writing about each benefit or risk, use the PEA format:  P=point (keyword, definition, topic sentence of a paragraph) Example: Nuclear power plants use the process of fission to produce a cleaner form of energy than fossil fuels. Example: Nuclear power plants use the process of fission to produce a cleaner form of energy than fossil fuels. E=evidence (an explanation of and/or example of the point. This is where you elaborate on the point) Example: Describe the differences between nuclear power plant emissions/waste and the emissions/waste produced from power plants that use fossil fuels. Provide quantitative (numerical) data on the differences in emission/waste output.

11.  A=analysis (elaborate on the evidence. Explain how it supports the thesis) Example: Explain if the differences in emissions/waste are significant, making nuclear power beneficial. Could nuclear power help alleviate problems like global warming and pollution? Example: Explain if the differences in emissions/waste are significant, making nuclear power beneficial. Could nuclear power help alleviate problems like global warming and pollution? Now I would move on to discuss a risk related to nuclear power plants, using PEA Any questions?