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"Wildfires in Texas" - admission essay for UT


MoreJosh 2 / 7  
Aug 13, 2009   #1
Here's the prompt: Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

It's 5 o clock as you open the door of your car. As you sit in the seat and start your car, the blazing hot air scalds your skin, and it engulfs you like an invisible fire. The feeling is miserable, and you drive off, waiting for the air conditioning to cool you off, and you squint your eyes to see something in the distance. You slow down, see large plume of smoke rising from the forest on the right of the road, and all of the sudden, an inferno bursts from the tree line, quickly pushed by hot winds. Your car is quickly surrounded, and flames lick at your windows. The heat builds up, and your chest hurts from the extremely hot air, which is starting to blister your skin. Dazed, you try to open the door, but you start feeling light headed, and can't get out. Within a few minutes, you're suffering from third degree burns as your car is covered in flame, and you can't breathe. The smoke is filling your lungs, and your eyes slowly close, and you drift into eternal rest.

It sounds scary, but just be glad this kind of thing isn't commonplace in the Texas hill country. The Texas hill country has the capability of being a potential tinderbox just waiting to burn up, and the conditions are just right for dangerous wildfires to start and endanger many people, homes, and land. It could happen soon, it could even happen today.

A place where this kind of situation is more common is California. California, a hot, windy, Western state, is plagued by thousands of wildfires each year, which break out in the brush and continue to be fueled by dry plants and prevailing Santa Ana winds. Low humidity is a usual thing in California, and it causes the plants and trees to be dry and prone to burning. Next, the strong, dry Santa Ana winds fuel fires and make them move fast. Also, California's growing population poses two problems: More people cause more fires, and there are more people who may fall victim to the fires.

The frightening part is that our own Texas Hill country has many of the same characteristics that make California such a vulnerable place. The hill country is also a home to many plants which become dry in the summer heat, making a perfect fuel for flames. There are also hot, dry, prevailing southerly winds in the hill country, which can help spread fires. Texas is one of the biggest, most populous states, and people only continue to spread, especially into the hill country. And more people means more fires, and more victims.

The hill country has a few special threats which also make it a dangerous place. Cedar trees, the most common trees in the hill country foliage, have a volatile trick. Because they hold so much oil in their bark, the oil can heat up and literally explode with sparks and flame, catching surrounding plants on fire. Texas is currently in a very severe drought, and a heat wave, with daily temperatures this summer peaking up to 104 degrees, and precipitation for the summer less than a few inches. The winds are also moderately strong this summer, gusting at a maximum of 45 mph, averaging 20 mph, and steady winds blowing at 10 mph.

The only huge difference between California and Texas is that Texas is not plagued by fires... yet. Texas natives are not too concerned with the danger of potential outbreaks of fire, and do not take very good precautions against it. We need to take action to protect our land and people from fire, and should be aware of the danger it poses. I do not want to see my home get burned up, and it is important to me to get the word out that we are in danger.

The Central Texas hill country is vulnerable to quick-spreading wildfires, but we are fortunate that they haven't occurred yet. So we must realize the potential danger that these fires pose to our homeland, and be mindful and protective of our countryside, so it doesn't end up being constantly on fire like California's forests.
Llamapoop123 7 / 442  
Aug 13, 2009   #2
The feeling is miserable, and you drive off, waiting for the air conditioning to cool you off, and you squint your eyes to see something in the distance.

Strong strong essay. I would like to see a much much better conclusion though.
OP MoreJosh 2 / 7  
Aug 13, 2009   #3
Yeah, I know this one has much room for improvement, I just want some ideas/criticism to help me fix it up. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll work on the conclusion. :]
EF_Simone 2 / 1,986  
Aug 13, 2009   #4
The Central Texas hill country is vulnerable to quick-spreading wildfires, but we are fortunate that they haven't occurred yet. So we must realize the potential danger that these fires pose to our homeland, and be mindful and protective of our countryside, so it doesn't end up being constantly on fire like California's forests.

The whole essay -- which is very strong -- leads to this very weak conclusion. If you feel strongly about this issue, then you must have some specific ideas about how Texans can be more mindful and protective of the environment. It's great that you include so many details earlier in the essay; now you've got to match that with a similarly detailed conclusion.
OP MoreJosh 2 / 7  
Aug 13, 2009   #5
Okay, thanks Simone. I'm going to write up an improved conclusion tomorrow, and post it
tal105 7 / 130  
Aug 13, 2009   #6
this essay is very good.
at first i thought o boyy, heres another essay beginning with descrpition, but then i read on and then you contrasted the two and stuff.

it was great.

conclusion is like... thouhg. but i mean you know that.


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