Draft Essay Using the Design Process

When engineers design solutions to problems, they go through a process of brainstorming, testing different ideas, learning from mistakes, and trying again. This is called the engineering design process.

The engineering design process is a great way to work through any challenge that involves creating something that did not exist before, such as building a bridge or writing an essay. You’ll use the design process as a framework to guide students through researching and writing their essay solutions.

Warm Up: Tap into Prior Knowledge about Electricity

Launch the essay by getting kids to think about electricity. Ask them to list 10 things they did before they got to school (e.g., woke up to an alarm clock, made breakfast, checked text messages, etc.). Which of these use electricity and how?

Have students share what they already know about electricity and how it is generated and transmitted. (See Resources for additional information about electricity.)

Point out that electricity is a secondary source of energy; we use many energy sources to make electricity. Ask students to list different energy sources used to generate electricity (e.g., coal, wind, natural gas, nuclear energy, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, batteries, etc.). Next, ask students to define (or provide them with a definition) of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Then have students identify which energy sources on the list are renewable and which are nonrenewable.

Define the Problem, Learn the Specs

To get started, engineers define the problem they want to solve and the project requirements.

Help students define the problem by reviewing the essay topic together. How would they describe the essay problem using their own words? What are the different parts of the problem (choose an alternative energy source; describe how they would generate and transmit electricity using this energy source; analyze the benefits and risks of using the energy source; and incorporate into their design ways to reduce risks)? Remind students that the energy source they choose will likely be one of multiple sources of energy used to generate electric power. 

Brainstorm Solutions

Next, engineers brainstorm a range of possible solutions.

Begin by having students individually write down and sketch ideas and solutions. Encourage them to think about which energy sources interest them (those in use today or being developed for tomorrow) and which energy sources would work best for their city (e.g., consider city design features, location, landform, etc.). Then have students share ideas and brainstorm as a group.

Once students finish the brainstorming, have them settle on two energy sources to begin researching. As they research, it’s likely they’ll need to refine their ideas and solve problems that come up. This is part of the process. Help students get started by pointing them to Resources.

Finding New Ways to Power the Future

To produce electricity, we rely on a mix of energy sources—coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, hydropower, and other renewables. The way we use these fuels to make electricity has changed over the years. For example, just over 50 years ago nuclear energy played no role in producing electricity in the U.S., but in 2009 nuclear energy provided 20% of the fuel used to generate our electricity. The way we generate and deliver electricity is also changing. While most electricity made in the United States today is generated by large, central power plants, we are moving toward individually generated and managed power systems. 

New sources of energy are being used every day and no energy source is perfect—each comes with its own set of benefits and risks. Wind power, for example, is a clean renewable energy source but wind turbines can be loud, obstruct views, and endanger the lives of birds and bats. Coal is inexpensive but burning coal produces greenhouse gases. Finding ways to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks is part of the challenge. Engineers and scientists are working to solve these problems by finding new energy solutions. What new ways can you imagine to power your future?

Select and Design a Solution

From their initial research, have students choose one energy source to research in depth and describe in their essay. As students research, invite them to consider the following issues. Note that they should eventually select at least 2 issues (in addition to environmental impact) to discuss in their essay: 

• Energy Efficiency (How much energy is lost as you convert the primary energy source into electrical energy?)
• Environmental Impact (How does the production and transmission of electricity affect the environment, such as clearing land to build a power plant, disturbance of the visual landscape, air emissions, building access roads and transmission lines, disposal of waste, etc.?)
• Fuel Availability (Is the energy source renewable or nonrenewable? How easy is it to obtain the fuel?)
• Fuel Cost (What costs are related to supplying the energy source?)
• Generation Cost (What costs are associated with converting the energy source into electrical energy, such as building the power plant, storing the fuel, etc.?)
• Reliability (Is electricity available whenever you want and in whatever volume you want?)
• Safety & Security Issues (How would you protect against energy delivery disruptions, supply shortages, and vulnerability to natural disasters—such as earthquakes—and human-caused disasters—such as cyber attacks on the smart grid?)
• Storage (How would you store excess electricity to use during heavy demand or when the energy source is not available?)
• Sustainability (Can this energy source be used to meet present energy needs, as well as the needs of tomorrow?)
• Transmission/Infrastructure (How will you move electricity from where it is generated to where it will be used?)
• Waste Management (How will you dispose of associated waste?)

Share Results

Engineers present their work to colleagues to show how they solved a problem and learn new ideas from each other.

Now it’s time for your students to write their essay—the perfect vehicle for sharing their ideas with a panel of judges and kids across the country. Review with students the essay outline (see below) which describes the sections judges will be evaluating.

Remind students that the essay should be no longer than 1000 words and they should cite at least three sources of information. Students should use a variety of sources of information, such as interviews with experts, reference books, periodicals, and websites. (NOTE: Wikipedia is not accepted as a source of research.)

MLA Template

Use the Modern Language Association (MLA) template to format your references.

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