The idea of a pandemic is frightening for many people. In our modern era, with man-made problems on the rise, the world has never been more susceptible to novel diseases that can span continents in a week. The global village is now feeling both the good and bad effects of mass production and mass travel. For instance, despite sanitation levels rising, we see an increase in obesity and diabetes worldwide because it’s much easier to find processed food anywhere you go.
The scientific community is working hard to keep diseases from spreading, but with the rapid increase in globalization, the odds are stacked against them. As new diseases spread and new drugs are found, it is up to us to protect ourselves – and that’s where you come in.
As a student of history or a history teacher yourself, you have an important responsibility: to teach your students about humanity’s past and current struggles with the disease. The essay below provides two excellent examples of how to do this in an engaging and informative manner.
Pandemics are defined as “an epidemic that sweeps across a large region within a specified period, usually one year or less.” There are two types of pandemics: those that affect multiple continents and those that affect only one continent at a time. Although pandemics have been present throughout history, it was not until the early 20th century that we began to notice and study them. We now have a much better understanding of pandemics because of the internet and modern technology.
The two most recent pandemics that deserve special mention are SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and H1N1, or “swine flu.” The first strain, SARS, swept across Asia in 2003, resulting in 775 deaths within months. The second strain, swine flu, killed thousands of people worldwide within a matter of days. By the time it was contained, swine flu had already infected over 25,000 people (World Health Organization).
There is currently COVID-19, a pandemic outbreak from 2020-2026 that is spreading throughout the world, killing thousands.
These are only the most recent pandemics–countless others occurred centuries ago or more recently.
Writing a pandemic essay will require you to have a good understanding of the outline of an essay, in this case, one that describes the causes and effects of pandemics. Your essay will be written on several different topics that will be discussed off and on throughout your essay:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: The conditions leading to the pandemic
Paragraph 3: The effects of the pandemic itself
Paragraph 4: What can we do about it?
End your essay with a strong conclusion that sums up your views on the subject and finishes with a strong closing sentence. Remember to make sure to include an appropriate concluding sentence for each section you write!
Example Evidence:
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