An outline for my short essay

Here is what I have so far!

Thesis:
Although there may be some Americans who refuse to ease up on the use of oil, I believe the majority of Americans will continue to conserve oil, even if prices decline, due to related patterns shown in history, the effects of drastic increases in gasoline, food supplies, etc., and the importance of saving our environment from pollution, created by oil.
Main Points:
1.) Similar events in history prove that Americans will continue to be conservative with oil, even if prices drastically decline.
a. Prices have never been this high in the past
b. Increase in gas prices by 20% from 1975-1980 showed a cut of 6% per capita nationwide in gas consumption (The Boston Globe)
2.) Drastic increases in gas prices, food supplies, etc. has created several changes in many families across the country.
a. Over six years of rising prices has forced Americans to change their driving habits
b. Many products used daily contain oil, so the price in weekly groceries has gone up, too (class handout)
3.) Damage reported within the environment is currently being aimed towards the use of oil in the world.
a. Burning of oil is effecting the decrease in ice caps and life among mammals living in cold regions
b. Global warming may take over our environment unless we change our habits
Counter Argument:
Even though statistics show Americans will continue to conserve the use of oil if prices go down, there are also past incidents that occurred which proves otherwise.
a. Oil consumption went back up in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s as the price went down
b. Many upper-class citizens have not changed daily routines due to the price of gas


Woks Cited
Krauss, Clifford. “Driving Less, Americans Finally React to Sting of Gas Prices, a Study Says.” New York Times on the Web 19 June 2008, . 10 September 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/business/19gas.html?fta=y.
Krauss, Clifford. “Reaction to gas price rise not what it used to be.” Boston Globe Online 8 April 2007. 10 September 2008 http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/04/08/reaction_to_gas_price_rise_not_wh....
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. (OPEC). A brief history of OPEC. 15 September 2008 http://www.opec.org/aboutus/history/history.htm.
U.S. Department of State. Second Arab Oil Embargo, 1973-1974. 21 September 2008 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dr/96057.htm.
Yergin, Daniel. The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.