Essay Thesis/Outline on peak oil

I am doing my thesis paper on topic #3. This is just a start to the outline, and will be revised during the course of the assignment. I have many sources but to try to organize it, here’s a start.

Thesis statement:
History of oil crises and current events of oil prices fluctuating tell us that peak oil is upon the United States and over the globe. The impact of future crises on America will be long lasting. Americans are learning to preserve our recourses and will continue to, even after we overcome the next crises due to the need of prevention of the next crises.
Main points:

1.Intro/ Par. 1: History of oil production, what is peak oil, what experts are saying. What government and local actions are being done to maintain our well-being and keep our life-style.

2.4 Past oil crises of price increases in 1973 (Arab Oil Embargo), 1979 (Iranian Revolution), in 1986 and then fluctuated again in early 1990’s. Currently, since the start of war in Iraq in 2001, prices are continuing to fluctuate. Will there be another crises in the near future? Sources say that peak oil will happen within the next 10 years.

3.What America and Cleveland, OH have done to prevent peak oil; what actions/ programs have we maintained; how have we adjusted to the prices increasing and decreasing.

A.Car pooling, walking, biking, buses, work closer to home
B.The “going green” campaigns
C.Alternative gas recourses

4.Reasons for our dilemma. What we’ve learned from history of oil crises. What America/Cleveland need to do in the future to prevent peak oil

A.Recourses won’t last, there needs to be changes happening right now
B.We’ve learned to preserve our oil and not waste what we have

5.Impact of a future crises on the U.S.: Long lasting. The amount of life-style changes needing to be made and how long it will take the nation to overcome and get back to normal will take a while. Changes being made need to be permanent so supplies last.


Counter argument:
The changes that need to be made are too severe for the nation or globe to make. We will have to completely change how we get supplies/ oil and start over with something new.