Today, we’re going to tackle your GUM U7, L2 & L3 Cause and Effect Essay!

Chat me your best sentence using the word conscientious.

Good Morning Conscientious 7th Graders!

Rainforest Destruction: Causes and Effects

Could human lives be impacted by the depletion of tropical rainforests around the world? The tropical rainforests of West Africa, Brazil, Latin America and Southeast Asia are some of the most important environmental regions of the world. They hold millions of unique plants, animals, and people. Because rainforests are being destroyed rapidly from lack of government protection, logging, and mining, tropical rainforests are experiencing catastrophic loss of flora and fauna, erosion of soil, and global warming.

Introduction

Causes

A complex web of factors is contributing to the destruction of the rainforests.

Causes 1

One of the biggest contributors to rainforest destruction is that they are often located in developing countries. As a result, the forests lack protection and are in danger from wealthy developers, companies and from poor landless people.

Causes 2 A second main cause is logging for timber. Millions of hectares are cut down every year, often illegally. The most valuable wood is taken and not replaced. Landless people move in along the new logging roads.

Causes 3

Third, mining companies are responsible for much deforestation. They cut down trees to extract gold and other minerals. Their activity often causes pollution.

Effects

Rainforest destruction has many catastrophic effects.

Effects 1

A tragic effect of the loss of the rainforest is the extinction of plants and animals that could provide us with food, medicine or valuable products. Thousands of species disappear each year. This leads to a poorer world with less biodiversity.

Effects 2

Next, one surprising result of the destruction of the rainforest is that soils and nutrients are washed away. When the trees are cut down, the soil is exposed to the heavy rain and quickly becomes infertile and useless. The forest cannot grow again, and the people who used the land have to move on.

Effects 3

Finally, one of the most serious effects is global warming. When the trees in the rainforest are cut down, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide acts as a blanket, trapping the sun’s heat and warming the planet. This can have huge consequences for the world’s climate.

Conclusion

In summary, the rainforests are important for the environment because they produce oxygen, store carbon and have huge stores of timber, minerals, medicinal plants and food. They are potentially a huge source of genetic material. Human activities are damaging this treasure. If we do not take action now, this vital part of our heritage will be lost forever.

Sources

http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/rainforest.html#where

http://www.davesite.com/rainforests/review2.shtml

http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_006.htm

http://www.msu.edu/user/urquhar5/tour/slide0.html

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/where.htm

Rainforest Destruction: Causes and Effects

What do you think of the title?

Could human lives be impacted by the depletion of tropical rainforests around the world? The tropical rainforests of West Africa, Brazil, Latin America and Southeast Asia are some of the most important environmental regions of the world. They hold millions of unique plants, animals, and people. Because rainforests are being destroyed rapidly from lack of government protection, logging, and mining, tropical rainforests are experiencing catastrophic loss of flora and fauna, erosion of soil, and global warming.

What is hook? The thesis statement?

• The tropical rainforests of West Africa, Brazil, Latin America and Southeast Asia are some of the most important environmental regions of the world. They hold millions of unique plants, animals, and people. Because rainforests are being destroyed rapidly from lack of government protection, logging, and mining, tropical rainforests are experiencing catastrophic loss of flora and fauna, erosion of soil, and global warming.

How can I prove what the thesis statement is? I’ll show you!

Topic Ideas

• Something you’ve learned about in science

• Something you’ve learned about in history

• The impact when a parent loses a job

• Repercussions of cheating in school

• The effects of exercising

• How bullying affects victims

• Effects of telling lies

• The impact of technology on family time

• The impact of technology on religion

• The effects of smoking

• Why friendships end

• The effects of divorce

• The effects of traveling abroad

Topic Ideas • What would happen if aliens landed in your town

• What causes kids to try drugs for the first time Why ships sink

• The effects of poison ivy

• How Christmas trees became a part of American culture

• Effects of eating too much junk food

• The effects of going without sleep

• What causes natural disasters

• The effects of the moon missions

• Effects of the Black Death in the Middle Ages

• The effects of over-fishing

• How procrastination affects grades

• The events that led to the fall of Rome

Planning

1. Pick a topic that interests you and that you can research.

2. Use the graphic organizer in your OLS to plan.

3. Craft an engaging title and hook & thesis in your introduction!

4. Write your first draft.

Go get ‘em!