Year 11 Pre-Diploma Biology

Should We All Become Vegetarians?

The loss of energy in food webs, shown by ecological pyramids, has important implications for
human food production. Since more energy is available to primary consumers than to secondary
consumers, more energy will be available to humans if we eat plants than if we eat animals. As a
result of the energy loss at each trophic level, in theory over 20 times the number of people can
be adequately fed on a vegetarian diet than on a diet of meat. There are of course many other
arguments, some not so scientific, for being vegetarian
Your assignment is to write a short essay no more than ! page" in which you defend your
opinion on whether or not everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet. Support your opinion with at
least two arguments, based on ecological, economic, geographic or other considerations. #se
actual data where possible.
Rubric for the Defended Opinion Essay
3 ! " Score
#itle An appropriate title
is given, which is
informative, bold
and concise
A title is given,
related to the
arguments
A title is given
which is not
relevant to the
arguments
$o title is
given
$ntroduction The introduction is
relevant to the
content of the
essay, and
demonstrates an
understanding of
the ecological
principles of energy
loss
The introduction is
relevant to the
content of the
essay, but it
demonstrates little
understanding of
the ecological
principles of energy
loss
The introduction is
relevant to the
content of the
essay, but it
demonstrates no
understanding of
the ecological
principles of energy
loss
$o
introduction
is given
Arguments At least two
arguments are
presented, and all
are supported by
facts
At least two
arguments are
presented, but only
one is supported by
facts
%nly one argument
is given, and it is
supported by facts
$o
arguments
are supported
by facts
%onclusion The conclusion
gives a concise
summary of the
main arguments
and does not
present any new
arguments
The conclusion
gives a concise
summary of the
main argument, but
also gives new
arguments
The conclusion
does not summari&e
the main arguments
$o
conclusion is
given
&age and
&resentation
The essay contains
few grammatical
errors and has
fewer than '00
words
The essay contains
some mechanical
errors, but has
fewer than '00
words
The essay contains
many mechanical
errors, but has no
more than '00
words
The essay has
more than
'00 words
Score 'rade
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