Question

After reading the topic question and the evidence provided below, you will organize an argument. Remember: Write in complete sentences, Write in the third person point of view, Do not use feelings or emotions.

Topic question: Should pesticides (spray used for destroying insects) be used on farms?

Instructions: You will organize an argument against the use of pesticides on farms because it is harming the bee population. Read the evidence below and then organize your argument.

Argument Organizer:
Claim: Pesticides should not be used on farms because they are harming the bee population. If farmers don’t stop using pesticides then the bees will die off, possibly go extinct, and the growth of flowers and other things that bees pollinate will die off.

Reason 1: Pesticides are affecting the memory of honey bees.
Support for Reason 1: In the last 50 years, there has been a decrease of honeybee colonies. Where are the bees? Normally, bees have a built-in memory system so they can leave the hive, collect pollen and nectar, and then return safely to their hive. But, as they consume pesticides from the flowers, their brains are negatively affected, and they forget the location of the hive making it impossible for them to return. This has been decreasing the number of bee colonies. (Excerpt from "Natural Farming Journal")

Reason 2: The use of pesticides on farms is causing the honey bees to have infections.
Support for Reason 2: Pesticide exposure in bees may cause infections in honey bee colonies. Scientists detected 35 different pesticides in the pollen. They found more infections in bees that consumed pollen with these pesticides. These infections are a cause of honeybee deaths. (Excerpt from "Journal of Biological Research" PLOS One)

Counterclaim: Why stop the use of pesticides? They prevent product waste.

Rebuttal Support: The way humanity manages honey bees will define our future in the 21st century. The fact is that 70 percent of our crops are pollinated by bees. If the bees disappear because we are using pesticides, these crops will disappear because they will lose their major pollinator - the bee. (Excerpt from United Nations Report)

Conclusion Clincher: Negative effects that will occur if your readers do not follow your claim: Loss of bee population, potential extinction of bees, and the decline in the growth of flowers and other crops that rely on bee pollination.

Answer 1

Pesticides on farms can impair bee memory and health, leading to colony decline. The use of pesticides also threatens the essential pollination services bees offer, which are crucial for most crops. Organic practices and reducing pesticide use can help protect bees and ensure sustainable agriculture.

Step-by-step explanation:

Argument Against the Use of Pesticides on Farms

The claim that pesticides should not be used on farms due to the harm they cause to bee populations is supported by compelling evidence. Pesticides have been linked to diminished bee memory, making it difficult for bees to return to their hives, contributing to a decrease in bee colonies. In addition, pesticide exposure has been linked to infections in bees, further contributing to colony decline. While pesticides prevent product waste by controlling pests, they also lead to collateral damage, such as harming non-target species, particularly pollinators like bees. Considering that bees are responsible for the pollination of the majority of crops, the continuation of pesticide use poses a significant threat to both bee populations and agriculture.

Support for Claim

Research indicates that pesticides affect the memory of bees, leading to a decline in their colonies. Pesticides have also been associated with higher infection rates, compounding the threats to bee health. Although pesticides can save farmers money, the trade-off is not sustainable, as the long-term effects of losing pollinators could be catastrophic to ecosystems and food production.

Rebuttal to Counterclaim

While pesticides may protect crops in the short term, the loss of critical pollinators like bees jeopardizes future crop yields and biodiversity. Organic farming practices, while not perfect, provide a viable alternative by reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides, encouraging more environmentally friendly pest control methods, and preserving beneficial species.

Conclusion

The detrimental impact of pesticides on bees, who are essential for pollinating a vast array of crops, underlines the necessity of re-evaluating our agricultural practices. A decline in bee populations can result in lower crop yields and further ecological imbalance. Therefore, alternatives to pesticide usage must be seriously considered to protect both the environment and the long-term viability of agriculture.