Research Paper on "Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: William F. Ruddiman"
Research Paper 7 pages (1936 words) Sources: 7
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Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: William F. Ruddiman's Evidence for Long-Term Anthropogenic Climate ChangeA family huddles together for warmth in a the center of an especially thin-walled thatch hut, the sputtering fire little warmth to combat the wind that finds its cold and hungry way into every possible corner of the one-roomed home. Wrapped in a blanket that is woven of coarse, thick wool if they were lucky, or of a thinner and more permeable fabric if times were harder, these human creatures are forced to wait out the cold winter with little else, hoping that what food they had would be enough to last because more would not be easily forthcoming in the harsh landscape outside. There were neighbors of course, and a lord that ostensibly offered cared for his vassals, but these offered no certain protection against the vagaries of the environment and the potential for destruction that it carried with it at the turn of every season, and especially as the days shortened.
Such scenes were common in the Middle Ages, and it is difficult to imagine that the people of Europe -- the majority of whom lived in huts similar to those described rather than large cities or stone castles as is popularly imagined -- were actually having a significant impact on the global environment when it was so obviously and so extensively having an effect on them. Yet according to the claims and considerable evidence presented by William F. Ruddiman in his book, Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum, this is precisely what was occurring at key times throughout human history, and particularly the development of Western civilization.
Ruddiman makes an excellent case for his assertions, citi
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William F. Ruddiman
Though William F. Ruddiman was quickly drawn to a study of the environment, his initial education did not take place in either atmospheric or environmental sciences. Ruddiman was actually trained as marine geologist. His first major research project, however, involved a study of the migration patterns of sea sediments and their relationship to sea surface temperatures. These in turn have, of course, an effect on -- and are influenced by -- global temperature and climate changes, now a long-standing interest of the author (Ruddiman 2010).
Ruddiman has long been an innovator in the study of global warming, approaching the topic from a multitude of scientific angles and disciplines and always receiving consistent praise for his careful consideration and presentation of evidence, even -- and perhaps especially -- when presented in laymen's terms, as in Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum (Bert 2003). His long-standing respect in the scientific research community is marked both by his current position as a semi-retired professor emeritus at the University of Virginia, and by the prestige of his alma mater, Columbia University (Ruddiman 2010). Ruddiman also has several other published books and numerous articles, and has collaborated with many other researchers in varying fields to develop cutting-edge and comprehensive concepts of what is driving global climate change, and what role human beings might be playing -- and possibly should be playing -- in the global environment (Ruddiman 2010).
Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum
The argument that Ruddiman puts forward in his book is relatively simple and straightforward, even if the evidence behind this argument and the research used to obtain that evidence are not. Essentially, Ruddiman maintains that large changes in the human population and in the degrees and extent of human agriculture, as well as other large-scale human activities as civilization "progressed," have led to periods of global warming and cooling in the past (Ruddiman 2005). Greenhouse gases, though newly a household term, are not new byproducts of human activity, and they were having an effect -- according to Ruddiman -- since civilization began.
Ruddiman begins his argument with the development of agriculture approximately eight thousand years ago, during a time when carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere should have been decreasing according to the Earth's natural cycles. Instead, Ruddiman observed an increase of these gases as preserved in ice core samples, and he attributes this to the expansion of human society after the development of agriculture (Ruddiman 2005). Any imaginable combustible fuel, from standard gasoline to cow chips and wood, releases carbon and other greenhouse gases into the air, and the expansion of human populations and the establishment of cities, in Ruddiman's view, necessarily led to greater fuel consumptions and greenhouse gas releases from other human activities (Ruddiman 2005). This is the source of the gas increase observed in the ice core, according to Ruddiman, and evidence of humanity's long-term influence on the environment.
Ruddiman does not leave off here, but travels to the Middle Ages and other periods in the development of human history when less savory things than the agricultural revolution occurred. The bubonic plague, for instance, which wiped out possibly as much as two thirds of Europe's population during the 1300s, coincides with a brief downward "wiggle" in the level of greenhouse gases found in the geological records, a fact which Ruddiman denies is coincidental at all. Instead, according to him, hugely suggests that the massive reduction in human population is tied to the reduction in greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere, for the same reasons that population growth caused an increase (Ruddiman 2005).
Ruddiman concludes his text by examining our current and potentially future state, particularly with our use of petroleum and other fossil fuels. Though many of these actually burn far cleaner than older fuels used in the times Ruddiman discusses, the human population is exponentially larger than it was in the Middle Ages and is still growing, and greenhouse gas emissions are significantly higher now than at any other time in human history. Ruddiman insists that this will lead to a warming trend, and doubts that sufficient technological steps will be taken in the near enough future and on a massive enough scale -- if such a thing were even physically possible -- to alter the situation, especially given the continued use of such fuels (Ruddiman 2005). After making such a compelling argument about long-past events and effects of humanity, Ruddiman's warning strikes especially prepared and well-attuned -- and well-informed -- ears.
Opposing Views
Other well-informed ears find something amiss in Ruddiman's arguments, however, and these opposing views are not without their merits. Though the evidence for Ruddiman's arguments is compelling, it is not certain, and is in fact far from what would be considered even scientifically certain. Ruddiman points out what appears to be a strong correlation between human population increases and depletions and levels of greenhouse gases. This does not show a causal effect, nor does it establish a scientific link between the greenhouse gas levels observed and warming trends -- this too is simply another observation of correlation.
There are several other points of contention that other researchers have found with Ruddiman's work. Even those who agree with most of Ruddiman's science disagree with his ultimate conclusions. Gary Shaffer's (2008) relatively recent article in Geophysical Research Letters recommends the controlled use of fossil fuels in order to forestall another glacial period, thus making practical use of the heretofore accidental cause-and-effect relationship Ruddiman posits. Other researchers take direct issue with the science that Ruddiman relies on, rather than the direction towards which he points it. Claussen et al. (2005) researched climate change and atmospheric gas cycles around the same medieval period that Ruddiman uses as one of his examples, and claim that glaciation would have been averted regardless of human population changes due to the Earth's natural cycles.
William Broecker is even more direct in his refutation of many of Ruddiman's conclusions, citing the author of Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum directly in his claim that it is in the orbital eccentricities and patterns of the Earth as it travels around the Sun, as well as patterns in the Sun's own internal cycles, that are responsible for the warming and cooling patterns observed on Earth, rather than the changes in greenhouse gas emissions whether anthropogenic or natural in origin. Many social commentators and scientists still question… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: William F. Ruddiman" Assignment:
Write a research paper over the novel, Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum by William F Ruddiman. Your task is to write an extended paper with three major parts: an analysis and evaluation of your nonfiction book choice; a research component that shows what other sources argue regarding the major claims in your book; and a synthesis of
your own view of the major claims.
The Paper:
Section I: Introduction and Context
In this section, you will flex your writing skills and write a powerful, moving,
persuasive introduction to your critique of this author*****'s book. Make the topic matter
to your readers. Feel free to allow your bias to show through your writing in subtle
ways, and in the end make your overall evaluation of the book you read clear. Strive
to engage your reader and make a convincing argument-- don*****'t introduce too many
pieces of specific evidence yet (save them for later).
Sections I and II:
Introduction and Context and
Author*****s Background. The first
paragraph makes a powerful,
moving, relevant, and persuasive
introduction to your paper, the
issue, and your book, convincingly
establishing your ethos as a *****;
the second section critically evaluates
your author*****s credibility and
the overall effectiveness of the
book.
Embed quotes, use commentary following the citations!
Section II: The Author*****'s Background
In this section, you will argue for or against the author*****'s credibility. Keep your eye
on your argument about this book*****'s overall effectiveness. Do you think this author
has the authority or experience to speak about this issue? What are the author*****'s
credentials? What might bias the author*****'s argument? How do other books written by
this author or other stances taken by this author influence the way this author writes
about this topic? Could the author have ulterior motives?
Section III: The Book*****'s Argument
This is the meat of your paper and should be your longest section.
In this section, you will convey both what the book argues and how the author
makes his or her argument. Be very specific about both what the book*****'s primary
message is and the rhetorical strategies that the author uses. Convey both the big
picture-- the general movement of the book*****'s argument as the book progresses--
and the small picture of how this author chooses words and structures sentences.
Again, keep your eye on your ultimate argument about this book. Don*****'t launch into
your own opinion about this issue just yet (stick to analyzing this book), but
definitely point out flaws and weaknesses in this author*****'s argument as well as
strengths.
Section III:
The Book*****s Argument. This
section accurately conveys the
author*****s claims, assertions, and
overall purpose and effectively
analyzes the rhetorical choices
the author has made in order to
construct his/her argument. In
addition, this section should successfully
evaluate the author*****s
argument, pointing out both flaws
and strengths of the book*****s claims.
Your own assertions should be supported
with specific evidence and
insightful commentary!!!!
Section IV: Opposing Points of View
This is the second-most important part of your paper, and so it should be almost as
long as Section III. In this section, discuss the opposing points of view that you
unearthed in your research. Discuss how they do or don*****'t actually conflict with the
book you read. Explain contradictions. Convey and explain judgments about which
sources are the most credible. Be sure to use appropriate documentation in this
section (use Chapter 22 of Everything*****s an Argument to help you).
Section IV:
Opposing Points of View. This
section critically and effectively
synthesizes the researched material
in order to show their relationship
to the author*****s overall argument.
Pointing out and evaluating
contradictions and judging validity,
the ***** shows a solid understanding
of the issues.
Section V: Synthesis and Evaluation
Here, you can once again use your own persuasive rhetoric. You convey your final
judgment about the book and argue passionately for the position that you agree
with. Leave your reader with a memorable and convincing final impression.
Section V: Synthesis
and Evaluation. The final paragraphs
eloquently and convincingly
wrap up the paper, conveying your
final judgment and convincingly
arguing for your position on the
issue.
Section VI: Works Cited
A list of the works that you actually cited in your paper, in MLA format. Don*****t forget
that your primary book must be listed. Again, use Chapter 22 of Everything*****s an
Argument as a resource. Do not ignore the minor changes we made in order to
comply with the 2009 update to the MLA handbook.
Additional Information:****
You are required to use at least six sources, one of which must be a visual. You MUST!! include MLA embedded quotations throughotu your writing, followed by insightful commentary.
How to Reference "Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: William F. Ruddiman" Research Paper in a Bibliography
“Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: William F. Ruddiman.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2010, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/plows-plagues-petroleum-william/963210. Accessed 28 Sep 2024.
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