Read the following excerpt from an article that appeared in the magazine section of a local daily:
The ban on single-use plastic is impractical. The purpose of articles like bags and packaging is ultimately to make human life easier. Plastic articles do this well, so they shouldn’t be banned.
Write a paragraph to analyse the given argument.
You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken the given conclusion and include rationale / evidence that would strengthen / counter the given argument
Answers
The reasoning being given in favour of continued usage of single-use plastic showcases both shallow (lacking depth) and myopic (short-sighted) thinking. Man tries to make life more convenient, but it is not possible to prioritise convenience all the time. For instance, stopping at traffic signals, waiting for one's turn at the doctor's clinic or even opening and shutting doors are inconvenient. However, each of these activities is important, because there are certain rules that need to be followed to avoid greater inconvenience in terms of accidents, disorganised dealing and security. Likewise, banning single-use plastic is necessary to prevent greater problems, particularly environmental issues. Single-use plastic over time is known to cause pollution, affect life on land as well as in water and upset ecosystems, which in turn can make survival of humans very difficult. Thus, if one weighs the options of convenience and survival, it becomes clear that convenience is a short term joy, while survival is a long term goal. It is evident that the argument for using such plastic is invalid.
Answer:
ARGUMENT FOR EXCERPT- BAN ON PLASTIC
I don’t agree that the plastic ban is impractical. No doubt, plastic has become an integral part of our fast-paced life but it does not mean that its side effect can be ignored.
Hot food packed in plastic container reacts with plastic and causes many diseases. Negligent disposal of plastic bags leads to choked drains. Animals swallow plastic bags with the food mistakenly. This non-biodegradable object should be banned completely.
Citizens must co-operate with the government by using traditional cloth bags or reusing a bag before throwing it away. To break the habit single-use should be charged separately. It can compel people to carry their own carry bags or containers. The ‘say no to plastic bags’ campaign must start from an individual level to National level to make it a success.