Grading

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Content
and Ideas

Description
Clear argument about social issue
Support uses

Points
10

4 or more credible sources used

Antithesisaddressed and refuted*
Effective introduction and conclusion
include hook, thesis, and final statement

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30

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ethos
logos
pathos

Organization

20

3 organized paragraphs include claims,

explanations, and transitions
Se uence is 10 ical
Writing is all in 3rdperson
u S
Quotations are embedded an propeA
cited within the essay
0-3 Errors in grammatic I structure

Creative title/rough draft r dy on

editing day 2/16-17
Proper MLA formatting; heading that
includes student name, insuctor's
name, class, and date
Works c ted a e isa ended.

100

10

20

30

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a comment

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10

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Jake R. Kidd

Mrs.Grimaldi
Honors English Language Arts
17 February 2016

Keystone XL Pipeline Controversy

e---Todayis a time of uncertainty and questioning for us ll. The Keystone XL

pipeline is a crude oil pipeline that the US and Canada can use to transport crude oil to refineries
on the east coast. Its construction would certainly grow the US energy sector and provide a boon
c,lqrit
kcthrase
to not co truct this pipeline.
reason
logical
o
is
there
for the US economy. t can be seen that

the Keystone XL pipeline should be approved by the US government as

it will create jobs and boost the American economy while

no real effect on the

environment.

its
The proposed pipeline would create an impressive amount of jobs through not only
construction, but additionally through businesses that would spring up and rely on its creation.
The Keystone XL pipeline would "support more than 42,000 jobs, ranging from construction

jobs for welders and pipefitters to supportjobs at hotels and gas stationsall without spending a
dime of taxpayer money" (Thune). Also, the pipeline would pay billions in property taxes for
local governments. You

see thht "In South Dakota alone, the pipeline would bring in $20

million per year in property taxes" (Thune). 42,000 jobs and $20 billion dollars are huge
numbers and they only consider the pipeline itself. The point is that while the numbers above
very impressive, there will be tremendously larger numbers when jobs and businesses created
that aren't as directly related to the pipeline. "While pipeline welding (like all construction jobs)

Jake Kidd 2

is not permanent work, increased economic activity often leads to funher development including
new businesses and other construction work" (Generous). A product of the Keystone's creation
will be the hundreds of thousands of people that will have stable jobs and better livelihoods.

"From the workers manning ethylene crackers and gas-to-liquids plants to the manufacturing
jobs necessary to make and maintain them, these facilities along the supply chain will yield
thousands of jobs. Furthermore, cheaper energy and a wider network of pipelines means
entrepreneurs and heavy manufacturing have the option to keep jobs in the United States,
including the parts of the country recovering most slowly from the recession" (Generous). As
stated, the jobs created will be diverse and the pipeline will provide opportunities for
entrepreneurship and a chance greater economic prosperity. The Keystone XL will help the US
economy in many more ways than one can imagine.

Not only will there be a large amount of jobs created, but the pipeline wilhallow the
American energy sector to grow and

farmers more railways to transport their crop. Today,

both crops and oil are transported along railroads to their destination. The new pipeline would

"carry oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota to refineries along the Gulf Coast. This
would help alleviate the rail overcrowding that is preventing farmers in the Midwest from getting
their goods to market" (Thune). In fact, the new pipeline would take "800,000 barrels a day off
train tracks" (Generous). Although there will be a noticeable increase in industry as a result of
Keystone, there will also be more rail space for farmers who normally would seem somewhat

unrelated to the pipeline's construction. In addition, the pipeline is a necessarypieee

r the (IS.

energy sector to grow. To understand the vital importance of the Keystone XL, one must
understand that the energy sector has three basic parts: upstream, midstream, and downstream.
The upstream is the actual extraction and collection of oil and gah e downstream
is the final

Jake Kidd 3

refining and creation of a usable product for the consumer, while the midstream

is the

infrastructure, logistics, and transportation of it all. The United States has always had a strong

downstream to manufacture the oil that we import. Recently however, large energy reserves have
been found in the northern parts of the US. "Prior to 2012, U.S. gas and oil companies focused

primarily on domestic or foreign sources of oil (upstream) and final processing and delivery to
the customer (downstream). With more natural gas reserves being discovered and harnessed in
the continental United States, a robust midstream infrastructure is now essential" (Generous).
These reserves are responsible in the drop in the price of gas seen lately and the growth of the

upstream in America. "Missing from many stories about America's energy revolution is the
industry's midstream sector. This is the chain of transportation and rough processing of raw oil
sectors" (Generous). In order
and natural gas and the link between the upstream and downstream
with needs of the up and
for the energy sector to grow, the midstream has to keep up
an incentive to keep the
downstream. The recent rise of the American upstream provides
on money, jobs, economic
midstream stron . Choosing to ignore thiSRischoosing to miss out
this)
gro

Middle-Eastern oil and to create a powerful energy sector at home.

Not everyone sees the rationality in building the Keystone XL. Opponents of the
believe that it will harm the environmentmainly through emissions of carbon dioxide.

pipeline

"C02

contributes to climate change because of the cumulative nature of its effects" (Lieber).

Opponentsjustify opposingthe pipeline because of these environmental concerns, but "five

separate environmental reviews by the State Department have found that the pipeline will have
no meaningful impact on the environment" (Thune). Transporting oil by pipeline is actually
more efficient and better for the environment than by rail and truck which

e now. " anada

00

Jake Kidd 4

will extract its oil regardless; the only question is whethe

we antit to come here
via the

pipeline, along with the thousands of jobs it will create,

or whether

e ant Canada to ship it

overseas via less environmentally friendly methods"

(Thune). Marco Rubio, a respected
Florida
senator and 2016 Presidential candidate, describes the
opposition to the pipeline and the global
warming scare as a "fear campaign" (Peters). Rubio also states
that although
appeal t you y "labe

the party may try to

g themselves 'progressives,' they take great

pride in opposing economic

progress" (Peters). The fact is that many credible sources have shown
its impact on the
environment will be meaningless, and so the question is do e
agenda against the pipeline or do e

t to believe a corrupt political

sh to build the pipeline and with it a stronger economy.

Through examining several sources, it can be concluded that constructing the Keystone

XL pipeline would be greatly beneficial to all Americans. Its ability to create jobs and bolster the
US economy would be substantial. Think of all the people who will have a secure future for
themselves and their families. Reliable sources have shown the Keystone to have obvious
benefits and a lack of any real detriment. Logically speaking, not building this pipeline gives up
so many jobs and sokene ts for the economy. The Keystone XL pipeline is what America
needs, and it can be clearly seen that it should be approved by the government of the United
States of America.

Jake Kidd 5

Works Cited
Generous, Theodore E. "Between the Well and the
Pump." WeeklyStandard. 18 May 2015: 1820. SIRS Issues Researcher. web. 11 Feb. 2016.
Lieber, Don. "Keystone XL Pipeline Climate Catastrophe."
E Magazine. Mar/Apr 2012:27.

SIRS Issues Researcher. web. 11 Feb. 2016.

Peters, Jeremy W., and Coral Davenport. "Rubio Comes Out Strong for Drilling and Fracking."
New York Times. 17 Oct. 2015: A.14. SIRS Issues Researcher. web. Il Feb. 2016.
Thune, John, and Anna Eshoo. "Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline." American Legion
Magazine. Mar. 2015: 12. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.