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Essay about the life of rachel carson
Biography essay on rachel carson
Essay about the life of rachel carson
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One of the prime ecologists in the world, best known for her book Silent Spring, was Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson’s book caused controversy and a scare for the progression of the environmental movement.
“(Silent Spring) spells out in memorable detail through out the book the effects of synthetic insecticides and herbicides on water, soil, plants, wildlife, fish and human beings. But in the book’s final chapter she suggests alternative courses of action for mankind —- a way out of this march toward death.” (Holmes, Pg. 123)
Rachel Carson had several accomplishments throughout her life many of which started at a young age. Carson was born in May of 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She was the third child born to Roger Carson and Mana Mclean. Her parents raised her with a strict Presbyterian background and a middleclass status. Her parents owned a farm and orchard which helped influence Carson’s love of the environment. Carson’s mom encouraged this love of the environment by teaching and learning with her. They continued to be best friends throughout her life.
Carson had her first story published in St. Nicholas magazine at the age of ten. The story was about war and was inspired by letters that had been sent home by her brother who was a soldier in World War I. In 1922 Carson wrote her first article about nature. It was called My Favorite Recreation, Going Bird’s Nesting.
Carson Graduated from Parnassus High School in 1925. She participated in sports but was quiet and her main focus was her studies. She graduated top of her class where she then decided to go to college at the Pennsylvania College for Women in Pittsburg. This was a liberal arts college stationed sixteen miles from her home. Rachel Carson’s first interest was in English composition but she later changed her major to biology. She graduated in 1929 and went on to work at a marine biology lab. At the same time she continued her education at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. She graduated with a master’s degree in Zoology in 1932. Carson was then employed at the University of Maryland as an instructor. She did not acquire her PHD because she ran out of funds for research due to The Great Depression. (Quaratiello, 2004)
One of Carson’s great inspirations during college was her biology professor Mary Skinker who Carson later turned to for help. Skinker recommended Carson for a job in the Zoological division of the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington D.
My initial observation was that simple conservation actions such as reducing the use of pesticides can achieve measurable improvements in habitat quality and environmental health. Herbicides are toxic to most mammals as well as to the beneficial insects that you want to encourage in your garden. Sometimes herbicides seep into the ground water; causing contamination of which the long term effects are not known. Herbicide application can also result in drift or movement in the soil, this endangers wanted vegetation nearby. Herbicides are used far too rampantly. Excessive use of toxic herbicides is used when not necessary and because most are not aware of the many other natural alternatives. We must find more ways to cut back on the use of chemical herbicides and change to biological weed control methods.
Rachel Carson, before publishing Silent Spring, would major in marine zoology at Pennsylvania Women's College, where she would develop her interest in the naturalism and conservation going on at the time (Lear, 23). After graduating, she would take a job at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, where she would write about different issues concerning the environment at the time. After writing several books to some success, she would begin work on Silent Spring, as she would find her naturalist causes to be her impetus. She even later on in her life wrote to her friends, What I discovered was that everything which meant most to me as a naturalist was being threatened, and that nothing I could do would be more important. " (Carson, 17)
By citing credible organizations and offering her own eco-friendly alternatives, she proves to the reader that she takes a particular interest in the environment and is educated to speak on it. Pairing powerful understatements and hyperboles to contrast with one another show the reader that the practice is both needless and selfish. These rhetorical techniques have a powerful impact on the reader, whose ignorance prior to reading the excerpt can no longer suffices to excuse the lack of action. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is a deeply persuasive book that not only advocates for an end to pesticides but also speaks to the obligation humans hold to protect their
The rhetorical occasion of this excerpt is to inform others about the dangers of chemicals on earth’s vegetation and animal life.
Saukko , Linnea.“How to Poison the Earth.”The Brief Bedford Reader. Bedford/St.Martin’s Boston: 9th edition ,2006.246-247.
In 1962, the publication of Silent Spring Rachel Carson captivated the American public. Carson wrote about the harmful effects of chemical pesticides in the environment, and her writing was very reflective of the events occurring at the time. There is a strong connection between Carson’s writing and the Cold War. In fact, if it were not for the war, the American public may not have responded in the same way to Carson’s writing. Carson used tone and content as methods of getting her point across to the public. Silent Spring shined a light on the damage done to the environment as a result of the Cold War, and this issue was finally being recognized by American public.
Her work as a writer, scientist, and ecologist became the heartbeat of the movement. According to a biography written by Linda Lear found at the website rachelcarson.org/bio, Carson was always a lover of nature. Studying marine biology, she attended and graduated from college at the Pennsylvania College for Women. She went on to receive her masters in zoology from Johns Hopkins University in 1932. She was hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. From there she worked in the federal service as a scientist and editor. In 1936, she was haired as the "Editor-in-Chief of all publications for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Lear)." This gave her years of experience and provided a background of credibility that would aid her in the years to come. In 1941, Carson published her first book titled, "Under the Sea-Wind." This was followed by her second book, "The Sea Around Us" published in 1952. That same year she resigned from the government to spend more time on her writing. In 1955, she published her third book, "The Edge of the Sea." These books made a name for Carson and developed a better understanding of the interworking 's of the ocean. Carson 's work and research made waves in society and its culture. However, what is arguably Carson 's greatest accomplishment was the publishment of her fourth book titled "Silent Spring." Published in 1962, "Silent Spring" focuses on Carson
Two essays read by the class, “Fables for Tomorrow” and “The Clan of One-Breasted Women”, target the idea that chemical compounds have an impact on nature. They make it a priority to get their points across that limiting pesticides and chemical compounds will help make America, and other places around the world a better place. They provide very educational messages in getting their points across about the dangerous roles the pesticides play in the world today. Humans and the government cause this through authorization of plenty of the events going on in the environment. Both of the authors, who are female activists for the environment, focus on chemical compounds causing diseases and harm to the environment.
Rachel Carson was born in 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania during the height of the Industrial Age (Griswold 8). Her mother, Maria Carson, was an avid bird-watcher and
Ben Carson was born on December 18, 1951, in Detroit. His parents were both very young, his mother only being 20 when he was born. His parents divorced, and he lived with his mother and several siblings. They were extreamly poor. Ben attended a small school, and initially he struggled with school. However, his mother made him write book reports once a week, and he started to get better grades in school. He has very distinct personal qualities. Ben is known for having a distinct, soft spoken voice. He is slow to
In August 1945, the United States dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When she began writing Silent Spring in the 1950s, Carson was acutely aware of the short and long term impacts of these events (Carson, 1962). As a naturalist and scientists, she worried about the long term effects of nuclear fallout and the misuse of pesticides. Her work for the U.S. Department of Fisheries gave her unique insight into the rapid ecological system changes due to pesticide use and our own culpability in creating the insect and pest problem to begin with (Biography, 2011).
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring revolutionized the American point of view concerning the environment. It rejected the notion that pesticides and chemicals are the right choice for “controlling” various animals that are seen as an inconvenience. Carson writes about the dangers of pesticides, not only to nature but man himself.
Rachel Carson is well known for writing the book, Silent Spring. This book, which was written
Rachel Carson began her scientific and environmental career at John Hopkins University. Her talent for writing led her to enroll at Pennsylvania College for Women as an English major. However, when her biology professor noticed her unique drive for biology she recommended she switch majors and focus on scientific research. After switching her major, John Hopkins University noticed her unprecedented work in the field and offered Carson a full academic scholarship to the school.10 She worked hard at the university and in 1932 she graduated with masters degree in biology. Carson took on jobs after college solely for money because of her need to support her family,
Through her book, Rachel Carson spoke out against the use of pesticides and technology to control nature. At the time, her book was revolutionary and her words had the power to cause a shift in public awareness about the environment. This one person speaking out helped start the environmental movement that impacts so many areas of our life today.