Effective Expression: Writing and Editing
Sienna is writing an argument in favor of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Read the draft of her introduction and her notes, and then complete the item(s) that follow.
Ending Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels
The ancient Romans burned coal in Britain: the ancient Chinese may have used it before then. Use of fossil fuels, including coal and, later, petroleum products such as kerosene and gasoline, expanded greatly with the Industrial Revolution.
These fuels are still a dominant source of power today. Since 1900, at least 80% of the energy we use in the United States has come from fossil fuels. Fossil fuel includes the gasoline we put in our cars, and it also includes the coal burned to make the electricity that runs our computers, lights, and appliances.
Unfortunately, use of fossil fuels comes at a price. I believe the government should create more policies to support alternatives.
Sienna made these notes about her argument.
fossil fuels—lead to air pollution
despite regulation, still create greenhouse gas emissions, still a problem
scientists warn: emissions add to global warming
fossil fuels—nonrenewable (means cannot be replaced); made by nature millions of years ago: earth presses on dead plant matter, takes millions of years to make fossil fuels, in the meantime, we are running out
fossil fuels—problems producing:
sometimes we depend on other countries (roughly half of the oil we use is imported); problems when price goes up or countries don’t get along
methods of producing, such as fracking, can be controversial: people question impact on environment
alternatives—renewable energy resources:
include solar power and wind power, biofuel (for example, ethanol made from sugar cane), geothermal
solar, wind, geothermal: no greenhouse gas emissions
biofuel: can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (plants used for fuel are replaced; they eat up carbon dioxide in the air!)
government policies needed: help encourage businesses to build for the future (for example, tax credits for businesses that work on solar)
Read the following sentence from Sienna's draft:
The ancient Romans burned coal in Britain: the ancient Chinese may have used it before then.
Which revision best corrects the punctuation error in the sentence?
A. The ancient Romans burned coal in Britain; the ancient Chinese may have used it before then.
B. The ancient Romans burned coal in Britain: the ancient Chinese—may have used it before then.
C. The ancient Romans burned coal in Britain [the ancient Chinese may have used it before then].
D. The ancient Romans burned coal (in Britain): the ancient Chinese may have used it before then.