DamsHydropower dams are massive concrete walls placed inside rivers or streams to hold back water. Holes in the dam allow controlled amounts of water to pass through and as it moves through these holes, it passes through a machine, which converts that mov

Essay topics:

Dams

Hydropower dams are massive concrete walls placed inside rivers or streams to hold back water. Holes in the dam allow controlled amounts of water to pass through and as it moves through these holes, it passes through a machine, which converts that movement into electricity. Dams are incredible engineering marvels that represent one of the most beneficial and effective forms of electricity creation today.

First, dams positively impact the environment. Once constructed, these massive walls hold back tremendous amounts of water, forming artificial lakes. These lakes produce not only a wonderful habitat for fish but also a beautiful recreation area for local citizens, which serves to help the local population stay aware and respectful of nature. Additionally, through irrigation, these lakes bring to life millions of acres of ground that would otherwise lie barren.

Second, the power generated from a dam produces no harmful pollutants. This is in direct contrast to the dominant source of electricity production today—coal power plants, which are the leading cause of smog, acid rain, and air pollution. One large dam generates roughly the same amount of electricity as a typical coal plant. Consequently, dams, by replacing these plants, eliminate, among several other toxic pollutants, an average of 3.7 million tons of the global warming gas carbon dioxide per year.

Third, dams create no financial burden for the community. Because dams generate electricity and provide irrigation water for local agricultural concerns, they provide two means of bringing in revenue for owners. Combined, this revenue more than covers the significant expenses incurred during operation of the dam, resulting in significant profits. For example, the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington produces approximately 15 billion in revenue per year and requires only 5.7 billion in operating costs.

The reading claims that dams provide an incredible engineering marvel that is considered beneficial and effective way of creating energy. However, the professor explains that there are so many points that pose drawback for this point of view and we need to do more research to say that they have positive effect on our society. So, he refutes each of author's reasons.

First, the article posits that dams place positive impact on the environment. The professor contends that environment actually suffers because of dams. He explains that construction workers have to stop the water flow in order to build a damn. This causes a lot of problems for migrating fish. After finishing construction, they open the damn, so the water that was accumulated behind the dam can flow. But, the problem is this flow rate is lower than the natural flow rate which can affect the ability of fish in its reproduction through laying eggs.

Second, the reading asserts that dams do not produce harmful pollutants to the environment. The lecturer opposes this claim by stating that dams flood their surrondings, often. The flooding causes dense vegetations to die. When dead organic vegetations rot, they release methan which one of the global warming gases. In addition, plants, themselves, release carbon dioxide which is one of the global warming gases, as well. Dams not only do kill plants but they also cause all of these gases to release to the environment and increase the global warming.

Third, the article avers that dams are not considered financial burdens for the community. The professor refutes this statement by re-mentioning that lakes increase flooding in the area, so the local residents or permanent residents have to relocate to other places. And, relocation is not cheap. Also, dams' constructions cost a lot of money which are usually impossible without governmental fundings. And, government collects money from local taxes which is definitely a burden to the community.

Votes
Average: 7 (2 votes)
Essay Categories

Comments

that is considered beneficial and effective way
that is considered as a beneficial and effective way

methan which one of the global warming gases
methan which is one of the global warming gases

Dams not only do kill plants but they also cause all of these gases
Description: 'Not only...but also' is not used properly. can you re-write this sentence?

are not considered financial burdens
are not considered as financial burdens

government collects money from local taxes which is definitely a burden to the community.
government collects money from local taxes, which is definitely a burden to the community.
government collects money from local taxes which are definitely a burden to the community.

Sentence: The lecturer opposes this claim by stating that dams flood their surrondings, often.
Error: surrondings Suggestion: surroundings

flaws:
No. of Grammatical Errors: 5 2

No. of Words: 321 250
Write the essay in 20 minutes.

Attribute Value Ideal
Score: 22 in 30
Category: Good Excellent
No. of Grammatical Errors: 5 2
No. of Spelling Errors: 1 2
No. of Sentences: 20 12
No. of Words: 321 250
No. of Characters: 1614 1200
No. of Different Words: 183 150
Fourth Root of Number of Words: 4.233 4.2
Average Word Length: 5.028 4.6
Word Length SD: 2.636 2.4
No. of Words greater than 5 chars: 113 80
No. of Words greater than 6 chars: 91 60
No. of Words greater than 7 chars: 58 40
No. of Words greater than 8 chars: 38 20
Use of Passive Voice (%): 0 0
Avg. Sentence Length: 16.05 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 7.392 7.5
Use of Discourse Markers (%): 0.6 0.12
Sentence-Text Coherence: 0.281 0.35
Sentence-Para Coherence: 0.473 0.50
Sentence-Sentence Coherence: 0.105 0.07
Number of Paragraphs: 4 4

Not only A... but also B. A and B should have exactly same structures:

Dams not only kill plants but also cause all of these gases

more examples:

I come not only to bury Caesar, but also to praise him. [RIGHT]

I come to not only bury Caesar, but also praise him. [RIGHT]

I come to bury not only Caesar, but also Brutus and Cassius as well. [RIGHT]

--------------------------
Once the 'Not only' is put at the beginning of a sentence, there is an inversion:

Not only do dams kill plants, but they also cause all of these gases