1. 1 B.Sc. 4-Year Programme Scientific Communication Improve Your Writing: Unit 3: The Composition “The Cost of Solar Heat” – H.A. Bethe IYR: LECTURE - 10 Lecture by Dr. Min Pun

2. Introduction Summary Main idea The Cost of Solar Heat – H.A. Bethe 2

3. INTRODUCTION H.A. Bethe (1906-2005) was a German and American nuclear physicist, and Nobel laureate in physics. He played a key role in calculating the nuclear weapon that was dropped on Nagasaki. He was a professor of Cornell University. During 1950s, he also played an important role in the development of hydrogen bomb. This essay “The Cost of Solar Heat” has been taken from his research paper “The Necessity of Fission Power” which was published in Scientific American (a journal) in 1976. The paper discusses the importance of energy sources for the present and future. 3

4. H.A. Bethe says that the use of solar power may be expensive, but he proposes a solution to minimize the cost of it. According to his practical proposal, he suggests to have a large field covered by mirrors that can reflect sunlight to the central boiler. The computer will be used to generate electricity. The estimated cost of this solar power is about $2,500 per kilowatt as compared to nuclear fission, which will cost about $500 per kilowatt. So solar power is roughly five times as expensive as nuclear power. SUMMARY OF THE ESSAY 4

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7. There are some reasons why the solar heat for power generation is costly. First, the sun shines for a few hours in the day, not at night. On a sunny winter day, one square mile of focused mirrors can generate an average of 100 megawatts of electric power at the cost of about $250 million (particularly, at noon such a system may generate about 400 megawatts, but at sunrise and sunset, it generates less). This figure shows that to get an average of 100 megawatts, we have to use equipments to generate 400 megawatts. So the equipments such as boilers, turbines, and mirrors for the solar power plant would cost roughly four times more than the nuclear or fossil-fuel power plant. 7

8. The solar power plant of one square mile would cost $125 million that includes equipments such as mirrors and their electronic drive mechanisms ($5 per square foot) as compared to a modest house that costs $30 a square foot. In this way, the cost of the solar power is extremely expensive. 8

9. Q. I. Drawing your information from the passage given above, answer in your own words the following questions in complete sentences. Your answer to every question should not exceed 35 words. a) Describe the most practical proposal that has been made for the use of solar heat for power generation. b) Why is it necessary to have solar equipment generating about 400 megawatts to get an average output of 100 megawatts? c) What would be the cost ratio of a solar power plant compared to a nuclear power plant? d) Does the author feel that the mirrors and their electronic drive mechanisms can be built for about $5 per square foot? Why? 9 EXERCISES

10. ANSWERS: a) A large field covered by mirrors that would reflect sunlight to the central boiler. The mirrors would be driven by a computer and then boiler would generate electricity. This was the most practical proposal that made for the use of solar heat for power generation. b) On a sunny winter day, one square mile of focused mirrors can generate an average of 100 megawatts of electric power at the cost of about $250 million (particularly, at noon such a system may generate about 400 megawatts, but at sunrise and sunset, it generates less). This figure shows that to get an average of 100 megawatts, we have to use equipments to generate 400 megawatts. c) What would be the cost ration of a solar power plant compared to a nuclear power plant? d) Does the author feel that the mirrors and their electonic drive mechanisms can be built for about $5 per square foot? Why? 10

11. c) The estimated cost of this solar power is about $2,500 per kilowatt as compared to nuclear fission, which will cost about $500 per kilowatt. So solar power is roughly five times as expensive as nuclear power.. d) The author feels that the mirrors and their electronic drive mechanisms can be built for about $5 per square foot because the solar power plant including the mirrors and their electronic drive mechanisms of one square mile would cost $125 million. 11

12. Q. II. Analyse paragraph 35 and say how the three basic principles of paragraph writing have been utilized. Assume now that half of the cost is allotted to the mirrors and their electronic drive mechanisms; that would amount to $125 million for a plant of one square mile, or less than $5 per square foot. It is hardly conceivable that the mirrors and their drives could be built that cheaply even in a mass production, when a modest house costs $30 a square foot. I conclude, therefore, that solar power is likely to remain extremely expensive. 12

13. ANSWER: The paragraph 35 tells us that the solar heat for power generation would be too expensive as compared to the nuclear or fossil-fuel power plant. For example, the solar power plant including the mirrors and their electronic drive mechanisms of one square mile would cost $125 million, which is extremely expensive. The author has used the inductive order to develop this paragraph. The topic sentence is given at the end of the paragraph that precedes the detailed explanation of the cost of the solar heat for power generation. Also, the paragraph moves from the particular statement to the general statement. 13

14. For coherence in the paragraph, the author has used repetition as device. For example, the words such as ‘mirrors’ and ‘drives’ and ‘square’ have been repeated to link the sentences for coherence. Similarly, the author has used contrast as a device for emphasis in the paragraph. For example, this device states the negative side of an issue, to emphasize the author’s positive point of view. The author states the negative side of the solar power plant, saying that it is too expensive but it is good for the environment, which is the positive view of he author. 14

15. Q. III. Analyse paragraph 33 and say what technique has been utilized to write this introductory paragraph. Give reasons for your answer. ANSWER: In paragraph 33, the author discusses about the use of solar heat for power generation, but it very expensive. However, he provides the most practical proposal for the establishment of the solar power plant for electricity, which is the environment-friendly source of power. By providing data about the construction of solar power plant, he says that it would be more expensive than the nuclear power plant. 15

16. The author has used a concrete illustration of the thesis to write the introductory paragraph. He gives a vivid explanation of the practical proposal for the establishment of the solar power plant. His proposal is relevant for the introductory paragraph because he wants to say that though solar heat for power generation is expensive, it is environment-friendly and alternative source of energy. 16

17. Q. IV. Analyze the following introductory paragraphs and say what techniques have been utilized in writing them, bearing in mind that there is a vital link between the introductory paragraph and the rest of the essay. Give reasons for your answer. 36. In 1926, a nine-year old American boy, Russell Tremain, refused to salute the flag in school because of his religious beliefs. He was taken from his parents and put in a state institution. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) objected, contending Russell had a right not to salute, and won his release. ANSWER: This paragraph is about the freedom of having religious beliefs. Russell stands against the religious discrimination and ultimately gets justice for religious rights. Here, a concrete illustration of the thesis has been used to write the introduction. The author provides the vivid explanation of Russell who was discriminated in 1926. 17

18. 37. The main issue of the scientific revolution is that the people in the industrialized countries are getting richer, and those in the non-industrialized countries are at best standing still: so that the gap between the industrialized countries and the rest is widening every day. On the world scale this is the gap between the rich and the poor. ANSWER: This paragraph is about the consequences of the scientific revolution. One of the negative effects of the scientific revolution is that the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Here, a simple, factual statement has been used to write the introduction. The author provides the factual evidence of the negative side of the scientific revolution. 18

19. 38. Unemployment on an unprecedented scale has emerged as one of the most pressing political and social problems of the 1970s. While governments in industrial countries have been grappling with a pernicious combination of inflation and unemployment, rates of joblessness throughout the Third World have reached extraordinary levels. Two ominous features of the global employment picture stand out; the job opportunities will probably worsen before it improves, and it is unlikely that conventional economic remedies will offer sufficient relief. ANSWER: This paragraph is about the unemployment that occurred during the 1970s. Both rich and poor countries suffered from it. The author suggest some solutions to this problem. Here, a concrete illustration has been used to write the introduction. The author provides the vivid explanation of unemployment condition of rich and poor countries. And finally, solutions have been suggested in order to eradicate unemployment. 19

20. Q. V. Write an introductory paragraph for an essay on ‘Student unrest is a common phenomenon.’ First draw up an outline for the essay, then write the paragraph. Show clearly the link between the introductory paragraph and the outline of the essay. State the technique utilized and also state how the paragraph has been given unity, coherence and emphasis. Have you introduced enough variety in the paragraph? 20

21. ANSWER: Student Unrest Is a Common Phenomenon OUTLINE: 1. Student’s unrest is a common phenomenon 2. The main cause – Lack of experience 3. Other causes – inquisitiveness, impatience, etc. 4. Your conclusion, justifying the writer’s point of view 21

22. Student Unrest Is a Common Phenomenon Unrest is a common phenomenon among the teenage students. For example, 90 percent of them who are teenagers have the problem of unrest. They often change their mind and want to have different kinds of hobby. They even change their friends because they often do not stick to their words. This happens when they make promises for something, but the next day they change their promises and make a new promise. 22

23. ANALYSIS: In the above introductory paragraph, a simple, factual statement has been utilized as a technique for writing the introduction. The figure of 90 percent students is the factual statement that gives a overall picture of students’ mentality and is related with the topic. The author of this paragraph has used the deductive order as a device for unity in the paragraph. The paragraph moves from general statement to the particular statement, using the first sentence as the topic sentence. 23

24. Similarly, both pronouns and repetition have been used as the cohesive device. The pronouns like ‘they’, and ‘their’ have used to substitute the noun students. Not only pronouns, the paragraph has also applied repetition as a device for coherence. For example, the word ‘change’ has been repeated many times. For emphasis in the paragraph, the author has utilized space as a technique to emphsize the main idea. This is the most commonly used device for emphasis. In this paragraph, the author give more space to the idea to be emphasized. 24

25. Finally, enough variety has been introduced in the paragraph in order to avoid monotony. For example, some sentences are short and some are long. Some sentences are simple, but others are compound and complex sentences. The use of repetition has been applied with care. On the whole, the paragraph is a well written paragraph that applies all three basic principles of paragraph writing. 25

26. Dr. Min Pun Lecturer, Department of English Tribhuvan University, PN Campus, Pokhara minpun@gmail.com www.minpun.com.np 26