Do the benefits of exploring Mars outweigh the risks?
Claim
(1 sentence)
The benefits of exploring Mars (highlight one: DO or DO NOT) outweigh the risks because…..
(Reason #1) =We can potentially gain new information and resources
… and (Reason #2) = We can also have another planet to live on incase we can't live on earth anymore.
Intro
Paragraph
4-5 sentences
Hook (Interesting fact, quote):
Space exploration might be important for the future of humanity.
Background Information (2-3 sentences of a brief description of the history of the topic or the cause of the problem the topic addresses. In this case, use a few facts to support your claim: Why is space exploration/traveling to Mars a good idea or a bad idea?):
The idea of exploring Mars has been a topic of interest for scientists and researchers for decades. With advancements in technology, it's now becoming more possible to send humans on missions to the red planet. However the debate remains. Do the benefits of exploring Mars outweigh the risks?
Insert Claim from above:
The benefits of exploring Mars __do___ outweigh the risks because… (We can potentially gain new information and resources) and (We can also have another planet to live on incase we can't live on earth any more).
Body Paragraph #1
Topic Sentence (Reason #1 from above) and transition
One reason the benefits of exploring Mars outweigh the risks is the potential to gain new information and resources. For example…
Quotes and Facts for #1
Possible starters:
-According to Title of Text,
-The author states,
-According to the “Article,” the text states,
Mae Jemison talks about a project called the 100-Year Starship. This project wants to develop tools to travel to other star systems within the next 100 years. Not just scientists, but also artists and writers are working on this project. Mae Jemison says it is important for everyone to be part of space exploration. She also believes that exploring space can lead to new ideas and tools that can help us on Earth.
Where is this evidence from (Starter to the direct quote)?
“According to the article Future of Space Exploration Could See Humans on Mars, Alien Planets” Jaemason states…
DIRECT QUOTE from the text (should be in quotation marks):
"The reason we’re not on the moon has nothing to do with technology and everything to do with public will and commitment."
Explain how the quote or fact proves the claim:
This statement proves the importance of public involvement in space exploration. Jemison also states the benefits of space exploration by stating that it often leads to unanticipated advancements in technologies that benefit Earth-based programs.
Quote/Evidence #2
Where is this evidence from (Starter to the direct quote)?
"Why Space Exploration is Important for People" states…
DIRECT QUOTE from the text (should be in quotation marks):
"What does it mean? Remember about comets and asteroids. Thanks to special technological inventions, such as satellites, scientists can predict when some of the space bodies impact our planet."
c. Explain why the quote or fact proves your argument:
The quotes from the article prove how space exploration has benefits, such as saving lives through laser surgery and improving communication with cell phones.Also, the technology developed from space exploration, like satellites, allows scientists to predict and prevent potential impacts from space bodies, making sure the safety of our planet.
Body #2
Topic Sentence (Reason #2 from first page) with transition
Another reason why space exploration is important is so we can also have another planet to live on incase we can't live on earth anymore.
Quotes and Facts for #2
Possible starters:
-According to Title of Text, the author states,
-According to the “Article,” the text states,
(Quote/Evidence #1)
Where is this evidence from (Starter to the direct quote)?
According to the article "Why Space Exploration is Important for People," the text states...
DIRECT QUOTE from the text (should be in quotation marks):
"Many scientists are convinced that the colonization of Mars is only a matter of time. In some 50 years or faster, we’ll expand our kind on other planets. This is very important for Earth because overpopulation will finally lead us to extinction."
Explain how the quote or fact proves the claim:
This quote brings up the potential for colonizing Mars as a big step in ensuring the survival of humanity. It shows the importance of exploring Mars as a potential alternative living space in case Earth becomes overpopulated or unliveable. This supports the argument that the benefits of exploring Mars outweigh the risks because it can be the solution to the future of humanity.
Quote/Evidence #2
Where is this evidence from (Starter to the direct quote)?
According to the article "Future of Space Exploration Could See Humans on Mars, Alien Planets." Jemison states...
DIRECT QUOTE from the text (should be in quotation marks):
"I believe that pursuing an extraordinary tomorrow will create a better world today"
c. Explain why the quote or fact proves your argument:
Jemison highlights the potential of space exploration not only to shape the future but also to bring positive benefits in the world today which is one step closer to gaining the ability to be able to live on Mars.
Counterclaim
Another reader might say that..…
Type here
The reason he or she might think this is…..
Type here
The evidence that supports this opposite position is…..
Type here
However, my position is stronger because…
Type here
Counterclaim
Another reader might say that the risks of exploring Mars, such as potential health hazards for astronauts and the cost of space missions, outweigh the benefits.
The reason he or she might think this is because sending astronauts on long missions to Mars can have negative effects on their physical and mental health, and the cost of space missions is extremely high and could be better spent on other issues here on Earth.
The evidence that supports this opposite position is the fact that sending humans to Mars poses several risks, including exposure to cosmic radiation and isolation in a confined space for extended periods.
However, my position is stronger because the potential benefits of exploring Mars, such as gaining new information and resources and having an alternative planet to live on in the future, outweigh these risks in the long term. Additionally, the advancements in technology and knowledge gained from exploring Mars can benefit us here on Earth as well.
stick with the isolation in a confined space for extended periods.
Counterclaim
Another reader might say that the risks of exploring Mars, such as the potential negative effects of isolation in a confined space for extended periods, outweigh the benefits.
The reason he or she might think this is because extended periods of isolation can have detrimental effects on astronauts' mental health, leading to issues such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation. These psychological impacts can outweigh any potential benefits gained from exploring Mars.
The evidence that supports this opposite position is the well-documented psychological challenges that astronauts face during long-term space missions, such as those on the International Space Station. Studies have shown that the confinement, lack of privacy, and isolation experienced in space can take a toll on astronauts' mental well-being.
However, my position is stronger because while isolation in a confined space is a legitimate concern, the potential benefits of exploring Mars, such as gaining new information and resources and having an alternative planet to live on in the future, still outweigh these risks. Additionally, advancements in technology to address mental health issues during space missions are ongoing, and lessons learned from studying the psychological impacts of space exploration can have applications here on Earth as well.
Another reader might say that..…
The risks of exploring Mars, such as the potential negative effects of isolation in space for extended periods of time leading to chronic boredom, outweigh the benefits.
Counterclaim
Another reader might say that the risks of exploring Mars, such as the potential negative effects of isolation in space for extended periods of time leading to chronic boredom, outweigh the benefits.
The reason he or she might think this is because extended periods of isolation in space could lead to astronauts experiencing chronic boredom, which can have detrimental effects on their mental health and well-being. Boredom can lead to decreased motivation, cognitive function, and overall mood, potentially outweighing any benefits gained from exploring Mars.
The evidence that supports this opposite position is the psychological studies on the impacts of boredom in isolated environments, such as in Antarctic research stations or on long-duration space missions. Research has shown that chronic boredom can lead to increased stress levels, decreased performance, and interpersonal conflicts among crew members.
However, my position is stronger because while the risk of chronic boredom in isolated space environments is a valid concern, the potential benefits of exploring Mars, such as gaining new information and resources, and having an alternative planet to live on in the future, still outweigh these risks. Additionally, measures can be taken to mitigate boredom during space missions, such as providing engaging activities, psychological support, and communication with loved ones on Earth. The knowledge gained from understanding and addressing boredom in space can also have broader implications for improving mental well-being in other isolated environments.
use this for evidence
Danger!
This Mission to Mars Could
Bore You to Death!
Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death! 153
Copyright © SAVVAS Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTESResearch at the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and
Simulation (HI-SEAS) project, funded in part by NASA, is a
continuation of a long history of attempts to understand what will
happen to people who travel through outer space for long periods
of time. It’s more than a technical problem. Besides multistage
rockets to propel a spacecraft out of Earth’s atmosphere, years
of planning and precise calculations and massive amounts of
fuel, traveling the tens of millions of miles to Mars will take a
tremendous amount of time. With current technology, the journey
takes more than eight months each way.
Which means that astronauts will get bored. In fact, a number
of scientists say that—of all things—boredom is one of the biggest
threats to a manned Mars mission, despite the thrill inherent in
visiting another planet. And so, attention is being paid to the
effects of boredom at HI-SEAS, and on the International Space
Station. But because of the causes of chronic boredom, scientists
say, research facilities in Antarctica might actually provide a better
simulation of the stress of a journey to Mars.
Most living things constantly seek out sensory stimulation—
new smells, tastes, sights, sounds or experiences. Even
single-celled amoebas will move to investigate new sources of
light or heat, says Sheryl Bishop, who studies human performance
in extreme environments at the University of Texas Medical
Branch. Animals deprived of naturalistic environments and the
mental stimulation that comes with them can fall into repetitive,
harmful patterns of behavior. Anybody of a certain age will
remember zoos full of manically pacing tigers, bears gnawing on
their metal cages and birds that groomed themselves bald—all a
result, we now know, of their rather unstimulating lifestyles.
Human boredom isn’t quite as well understood, says James
Danckert, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University
of Waterloo. He’s currently working on what he says may be the
first study of how our brain activity changes when we’re bored.
Danckert is hoping to find out whether boredom is connected to
a phenomenon called the “default network”—a background hum
of brain activity that seems to remain on even when you aren’t
directly focused on something. There’s a lot of observable activity
in the brains of people who are staring at a blank screen—way
more than anybody expected, Danckert says. The default network
maps closely to the brain-activity patterns scientists see when
someone’s mind is wandering. It suggests that what we call a
restless mind is just that—a mind desperate for something to
amuse it, searching frantically for stimulus.
Boredom, it turns out, is a form of stress. Psychologically, it’s
the mirror image of having too much work to do, says Jason
Kring, president of the Society of Human Performance in Extreme
2
3
chronic (KRON ihk) adj.
lasting a long time or
recurring often
4
5
stimulus (STIHM yuh luhs) n.
something that causes
action or reaction 6
CLOSE READ
ANNOTATE: Mark
descriptive details you find
in paragraph 4.
QUESTION: What point
is the author making by
listing such details?
CONCLUDE: Do the details
effectively support the
topic sentence of the
paragraph?
154 UNIT 2 • A STARRY HOME
Copyright © SAVVAS Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTESCLOSE READ
ANNOTATE: Mark facts
in paragraph 7 that show
the challenges with which
astronauts are faced.
QUESTION: Why did
the author include
these facts?
CONCLUDE: How do these
facts help you to better
understand the reason
that chronic boredom is
especially problematic for
a Mars mission?
Environments, an organization that studies how people live and
work in space, underwater, on mountaintops and other high-risk
places. If your brain does not receive sufficient stimulus, it might
find something else to do—it daydreams, it wanders, it thinks
about itself. If this goes on too long, it can affect your mind’s
normal functioning. Chronic boredom correlates with depression
and attention deficits.
Astronaut candidates go through two years of training
before they’re even approved to fly. And before they are chosen
to be candidates, they have to compete against thousands of
other applicants. The 2013 class, for instance, had more than
6,000 applicants and only 8 were chosen. Astronauts are rigorously
tested for psychological as well as physical fitness. But no mission
in NASA’s history has raised the specter of chronic boredom to
the degree that a Mars mission does, because none have involved
such a long journey through nothingness.
What if, millions of miles from home, a chronically bored
astronaut forgets a certain safety procedure? What if he gets
befuddled while reading an oxygen gauge? More important,
Danckert and Kring say, bored people are also prone to taking
risks, subconsciously seeking out stimulation when their
environment bores them.
The cognitive and social psychologist Peter Suedfeld says
that people will sometimes do reckless, stupid things when they
suffer from chronic boredom. In Antarctica, where winter can cut
scientists and crew off from the rest of the world for as long as
nine months, the isolation can lead to strange behavior. Suedfeld
told me he has heard about Antarctic researchers venturing
outside in 40-below weather without proper clothing and without
telling anyone else they were going out.
The diaries of early polar explorers are full of tales of extreme
boredom, depression and desperate attempts at entertainment
reminiscent of prisoners’ stories from solitary confinement.
An important lesson that Antarctica can impart on a Mars
expedition is this: even scientists on important missions can get
excruciatingly bored.
One effective way astronauts combat boredom is by staying
busy with work. That’s a strategy at HI-SEAS, where the crew
member Kate Greene told me that her schedule is packed—every
hour planned and accounted for, from the time she wakes up to
the time she goes to bed at night. Life on the International Space
Station is similar. (In fact, historically, NASA’s problem has been
overworking people: in 1973, the exhausted crew of Skylab 42
actually staged a relaxation rebellion and took an unscheduled
day off.) But Antarctica is different from HI-SEAS or the
2. Skylab 4 mission aboard United States space station Skylab.
7
8
subconsciously (suhb KON
shuhs lee) adv. occurring in
the mind without one’s full
awareness
9
10
excruciatingly (ehk SKROO
shee ay tihng lee) adv.
painfully; miserably
11
Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death! 155
Copyright © SAVVAS Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTESInternational Space Station. Communications are limited. There’s
nobody outside the base directing your day. Spectacular views
vanish in a haze of white. It’s just you, the people you came in
with, no way out and little to break up the monotony.
And so some researchers there have learned to actively fend
off boredom by creating what you might call a unique office
culture. They celebrate a ridiculous number of holidays, both
traditional and invented. You need something to look forward to,
Suedfeld says, and planning the events helps change the routine.
Even Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic crew found ways to put on
skits and concerts. On one expedition, Shackleton brought a
small printing press. At McMurdo Station,3 the 1983 winter crew
created costumes, learned lines and acted out scenes from the
movie Escape From New York. It’s possible that we may, someday,
watch recordings of Mars-bound astronauts acting out other
John Carpenter films. (It’s not so far-fetched. Chris Hadfield, a
Canadian astronaut, made a tribute to David Bowie’s “Space
Oddity” that racked up more than 16 million views on YouTube.)
It might sound absurd, but many scientists say strategies like
this are necessary because, without proper mental stimulus,
we risk making a physically and technologically challenging
endeavor into a psychologically grueling one. It would be
catastrophic if humanity’s greatest voyage were brought low by
the mind’s tendency to wander when left to its own devices. ❧
While the exploration of Mars offers various benefits, such as the potential to gain new information and resources, one concern is the potential negative effects of isolation in space for extended periods of time leading to chronic boredom. Research conducted at the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) project, funded in part by NASA, highlights the psychological impacts of long-duration space missions. The article "Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!" discusses how chronic boredom is considered one of the biggest threats to manned Mars missions, as astronauts are likely to experience boredom during the long journey, despite the excitement of visiting another planet. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing boredom in isolated environments to ensure the mental well-being of astronauts during space missions. This evidence supports the counterclaim that the risks associated with isolation and chronic boredom in space could potentially outweigh the benefits of exploring Mars.
use this
The reason he or she might think this is…..
Type here
The evidence that supports this opposite position is…..
Type here
However, my position is stronger because…
Type here
The reason he or she might think this is because chronic boredom can have detrimental effects on astronauts' mental health and well-being, potentially posing a significant risk to the success of Mars missions.
The evidence that supports this opposite position is the research conducted at the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) project, which funded in part by NASA, highlighting the potential impact of chronic boredom on astronauts during long-duration space missions. The article "Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!" provides insights into the psychological challenges of isolation and boredom in space, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues for the mental well-being of astronauts.
However, my position is stronger because while chronic boredom in space is a legitimate concern, the potential benefits of exploring Mars, such as gaining new information and resources, and having an alternative planet to live on in the future, still outweigh these risks. Additionally, strategies can be implemented to mitigate boredom during space missions, ensuring the overall success and well-being of astronauts. The knowledge gained from studying and addressing boredom in space can also have broader implications for improving mental health in other isolated environments.