ILA #5

The source chosen for this ILA is “A STUDY REGARDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS” written by Dr.
Ionela Ramona. The database used to find this source was Academic Search Complete, which
was found through the USC Library website. This source is more on topic in comparison to other
sources that were found. This source clearly addresses a counterargument to why internal
combustion engines are efficient and useful, by addressing the claim that they are harmful to the
environment. By clearly addressing a counterargument, there is a clear negative to internal
combustion motors that must be looked at in order to prove their worth. In the future, the
research process used could be made more efficient by looking at more databases, which would
provide a wider range of source to pull from.
This source argues against the claim that internal combustion motors are efficient by
claiming that much of the energy produced by an ICE (internal combustion engine) is not used
by the motor. Rather it is sent out of the engine as exhaust gases which harm the surrounding
environment. The primary argument of this source is that either cars which use internal
combustion motors need to be made way more efficient or environmentally friendly, or an
alternative fuel/ power source needs to be used. The points in this article which are contradictory
to the researched argumentative essay is the idea that internal combustion motors should be
faded out sooner rather than later. Whereas, my argument is that with technologies such as
turbocharging, ICE’s can be made more efficient and cost effective while the price of electric
vehicles can drop over time. Electric cars and hybrids are too expensive for most people right
now, so there needs to be a bridging technology that can make internal combustion more
efficient until the cost of electric cars comes down.
The credibility of the author was verified by looking up other works that she has written,
as well as by seeing if the study was used in any other peer reviewed articles. The biases present
within the article is the dead-set idea that ICE’s are inherently inefficient in comparison to other
motors (such as electric). ICE’s can be made much more efficient and less environmentally
impactful through the use of various technologies, such as turbocharging and catalytic
converters. However, the author does handle the bias effectively by pointing out various ways in
which the impact they have on the environment can be improved. The stakeholders in this source
are the author, and the credibility of the journal which publishes this article. The stakes are the
authors credibility, as well as people’s thoughts on modern ICE’s and how they impact the
environment.
This source would be countered in my argumentative essay by pointing out that it is
much more cost effective to simply improve ICE’s rather than find an alternative fuel or use
solely electric power. As previously mentioned, there needs to be an intermediary before electric
cars become cheaper and more mainstream. Making internal combustion engines more efficient
at their job would be the perfect way to do this. It would cost auto manufacturers less to do, and
therefore reduce the economic cost on the end consumer. Granted, the source is correct with the
idea that ICE’s do cause environmental damage, but it can be argued that these can be offset by
using various technologies. Turbocharging being a very useful technology to offset the negatives
brought up by this article.
 Works Cited

Ionela, Ramona. “A STUDY REGARDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF INTERNAL

COMBUSTION ENGINES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.” Fiability & Durability,
2014, doi:10.1016/j.pecs.2018.02.003.