Persuasion Model Text - Script
Hook
KvA: Breaking news! There is a rise in the number of disposable coffee cups at the Kensington campus! Did
you know they can hurt our planet? Let’s find out why and what we can do about it!
MC: Imagine this – you just finished your yummy hot chocolate from a disposable cup. You throw it away, and
then what? That cup goes to the trash, and it stays there for a long, long time. Yikes! What if everyone keeps
using disposable cups? That's a lot of trash!
Argument 1 (strong)
KvA: First up, let’s talk about waste. According to government research, approximately 3.75 billion disposable
cups are used in the UK every year. That’s enough to stretch around the world eight and a quarter times! This
is a problem because the massive amount of waste puts a huge strain on our planet.
MC: Most disposable coffee cups are made with a plastic lining and are therefore waterproof. This might
sound like a good idea, but it actually makes them super hard to recycle. As a result, less than 1% of these
cups get recycled. The rest end up in landfills, where they take hundreds of years to break down. And while
they're sitting in those landfills, they can release harmful chemicals into the environment. Yikes!
Argument 2 (medium)
KvA: Next, let’s think about the materials. Think about the resources needed to make them. Trees are cut
down for the paper, and fossil fuels are mined for the plastic. Consequently, this heavy resource use has a big
impact on our ecosystems.
MC: Cutting down trees means destroying forests, which are home to many animals. When these forests
disappear, the animals lose their homes and food sources. And as we know, trees are important for keeping
the air clean!
KvA: Plus, the fossil fuels used to make the plastic release greenhouse gases. This contributes to climate
change, affecting weather patterns and making it harder for plants and animals to survive.
MC: All these impacts on ecosystems can disrupt food chains. For example, if trees are cut down, the insects
that live in them die out. Therefore, birds that eat those insects then struggle to find food, and this continues up
the chain, eventually affecting animals higher up, including humans who rely on these ecosystems for food.
Argument 3 (strongest)
KvA: But here’s the biggest issue - marine life. When these cups end up in our oceans, they break down into
tiny pieces called microplastics. As a result, marine animals, like fish and turtles, often mistake these for food.
Eating plastic can be deadly for them.
MC: And it doesn’t stop there. When marine animals eat plastic, it can eventually make its way up the food
chain and end up on our plates. So, in a way, we’re eating our own trash. Yikes! That’s a serious problem that
affects everyone.
Ending with impact
KvA: So, let's all be heroes for our planet. Next time you have a yummy drink, use a reusable cup! Tell your
parents, your friends, and everyone you know.
MC: Together, we can make a big difference. Thanks for watching, and remember – reusable cups will help
make our Earth happy and healthy!
Bibliography
Britannica - Problems caused by deforestation
House of Commons Environmental Report
National Geographic - Microplastics
