In the book, The Future of Life, Edward O. Wilson has two passages that are satirizing the language of two different organizations opposing viewpoints about environmentalism. Wilson uses tone, appeal to pathos, and cause and effect to satirize the use of such discussions and how unproductive they can really be. Throughout the two passages, Wilson uses a condescending and mocking tone to appeal to the different audiences and grab their attention. In the first passage, Wilson starts out by saying, “Environmentalists or conservationists is what they usually call themselves. Depending on how angry we are, we call them greens, enviros, environmental extremists, or environmental wackos.” That whole statement is very condescending; Wilson is mocking
Jonathan Kozol revealed the early period’s situation of education in American schools in his article Savage Inequalities. It seems like during that period, the inequality existed everywhere and no one had the ability to change it; however, Kozol tried his best to turn around this situation and keep track of all he saw. In the article, he used rhetorical strategies effectively to describe what he saw in that situation, such as pathos, logos and ethos.
“The Onion’s” mock press release on the MagnaSoles satirical article effectively attacks the rhetorical devices, ethos and logos, used by companies to demonstrate how far advertisers will go to convince people to buy their products. It does this by using manipulative, “scientific-sounding" terminology, comparisons, fabrication, and hyperboles.
During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the fight for equal and just treatment for both women and children was one of the most historically prominent movements in America. Courageous women everywhere fought, protested and petitioned with the hope that they would achieve equal rights and better treatment for all, especially children. One of these women is known as Florence Kelley. On July 22, 1905, Kelley made her mark on the nation when she delivered a speech before the National American Woman Suffrage Association, raising awareness of the cruel truth of the severity behind child labor through the use of repetition, imagery and oxymorons.
I chose this word because the tone of the first chapter seems rather dark. We hear stories of the hopes with which the Puritans arrived in the new world; however, these hopes quickly turned dark because the Purtains found that the first buildings they needed to create were a prison, which alludes to the sins they committed; and a cemetery, which contradicts the new life they hoped to create for themselves.
Quammen’s main point is that the word “environmentalism” has a connotation that implies the sole importance of the survival of humanity. The destiny of mankind depends on his environment, but the environment is not a “background.” He suggests the replacement of the “environment” with “nature.” When one thinks of nature, one thinks of animals, plants, waterways and such. It is a broader term, but it better captures the whole picture. The word is dangerous because of what it might lead people to believe, much like the beginning paragraph of the
World War I, or the Great War, lasted from 1914 to 1918. In harsh battles between some of the world’s strongest economic powers, millions of people were killed and wounded. Woodrow Wilson was the President of the United States during these years, and he yearned for peace. Towards the end of the conflict, Wilson delivered a speech called “Fourteen Points” on January 8, 1918. His goal in doing so was to create some stability in a time of crisis. Even though the leaders of some countries did not jump on board right away, they eventually agreed to signing the Treaty of Versailles, officially ending the war. Through emphasizing peace, security, and freedom, President Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” paid off overall, ultimately revealing that
Ehrlich, P. R., & Ehrlich, A. H. (1996). Betrayal of science and reason: How anti-environmental rhetoric threatens our future. Washington, D.C: Island Press.
Pollan’s article provides a solid base to the conversation, defining what to do in order to eat healthy. Holding this concept of eating healthy, Joe Pinsker in “Why So Many Rich Kids Come to Enjoy the Taste of Healthier Foods” enters into the conversation and questions the connection of difference in families’ income and how healthy children eat (129-132). He argues that how much families earn largely affect how healthy children eat — income is one of the most important factors preventing people from eating healthy (129-132). In his article, Pinsker utilizes a study done by Caitlin Daniel to illustrate that level of income does affect children’s diet (130). In Daniel’s research, among 75 Boston-area parents, those rich families value children’s healthy diet more than food wasted when children refused to accept those healthier but
One strength of his article is that it can easily elicit an emotional response from the more sympathetic readers and outdoor enthusiasts. Duane appeals to pathos when first setting the scene of a day in the wilderness. He describes what it would be like if one had the “good fortune” to spot a Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in the wild. He writes, “You unwrap a chocolate bar amid breathtaking views . . . the sight fills you with awe and also with gratitude for the national parks, forests, and yes, environmental regulations that keep the American dream of wilderness alive” (Duane 1). For the audience that connects to this emotional appeal, this instantly draws them in to the article and can arouse feelings of amazement and wonder toward the sight described. It can likewise leave readers wondering whether or not this scene is truly so perfect. This statement can also appear too dramatic for those less passionate. When Duane writes, “The sight fills you with . . . gratitude for the . . . yes, environmental regulations that keep the American dream of wilderness alive,” it seems almost untrue, as most people do not think twice about the environmental regulations that keep animals in their
It is generally agreed that modern environmentalism begins with ‘A Fable for Tomorrow’, the first chapter in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962). The fairytale-like opening to the book begins with the words, ‘There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings’, painting a classic pastoral picture where she describes civilization far from modern ills coexisting with nature yet away from the perceived danger of the wild. However pastoral peace swiftly gives way to destruction- 'Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Some evil spell had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep
As found in all styles of persuasive compositions, the appeals are vivid and thoroughly present here in the forms of ethos, logos, and pathos. Ethos, the use of credibility, authority, and/or character to persuade the audience, is used by Carson where she quotes the Fish and Wildlife Service on the dangers of the use of parathion. This not only displays to the reader that another also feels this way about parathion, but it also introduces a highly credible and authoritative establishment that shares this idea. Logos, the reasoning that the audience finds in the media, appeals to the reader’s common sense where Carson logically explains, “The problem could have been solved easily by a slight change in agricultural practice—a shift to a variety of corn with deep set ears not accessible to the birds…” The reader understands that there are better alternatives and may begin to question the morals of the farmers. Immediately after this application of logos, the tone becomes dark and accusative as Carson implements pathos, influence achieved from the manipulation of feelings, desires, or fears, by presenting the farmers as persecutors. She does this by us...
He gives an example of a college student that found a red spider. This student, ironically, passes the Endangered Species Act and becomes powerful. This student rose from the bottom because of his “conservationists” beliefs. The example allows the writer to move into a mocking conclusion. He states that these power hungry men and women do not actually know best for the environment as much as property owners do. Just because they state that they are “ all for the environment”, it doesn’t mean that they know
The speakers mostly base their arguments off emotions and opinions rather than facts. For example in passage A Wilson says, “Relax your guard when these people are in power and your property rights go down the tube.” The speaker sets a situation in which he know no one will oppose. The speaker states that if these environmentalists could have the power they would take your land away to preserve an endangered species. Of course it is important to preserve life, but no one wants to lose their property and money that they have worked for. As stated emotion is also used in passage B when Wilson says, “ They keep their right-wing political agenda mostly hidden when downgrading climate change and species extinction, but for them economic growth is always the ultimate, and maybe the only, good.” The speaker insinuates that the anti-environmentalists look over situations that have to do with conservation and only focus on the money. The intentions of this statement is to anger the reader by informing him that anti-environmentalists only care about the money. Emotion is used in both passages to create a deeper connection with the reader in attempt to convince them that they are
He compares moral annoyance on to an “apocalyptic fear-mongering that previously took the shape of repent or burn in hell, but now it is recycle or burn in the ozone hole” (27). Asma uses metaphors to mock the comparison between religion versus environmentalism. His article advocates for an ideology that is not as dominated by these feelings of guilt and believes that we should “lighten our fervor to more reasonable levels.” Asma’s comparison to religious extremities and environmentalism creates diction among what the audience may value or not agree with. By pursuing such controversy, Asma’s points of view allow the audience to take thought on the parallels between their aggression and self-reflection, as well as the green marketing ploys made to persuade the members of the modern society. Throughout Asma’s argument, he frequently uses a diction to lead to the humorous tone of his submissive counterargument. He mentions that we may not be able to punch the people we want to punch in real life, so we turn our aggression to the retrobates of TV land. Comparing a “joyful hatred” to such TV shows may justify the defense of our own “virtue and orthodoxy”. The diction created by the specific word choice allows the diction to affect the overall tone of the article -- satirical with a slight serious approach. If he were to use different words, it would be less effective. His metaphorical explanation also appeals to pathos because it represents another set of emotional feelings the audience feels. By mentioning the common appeal to modernized television, Asma enables the audience to connect on a personal level to a controversy that is not related to environmentalism, but is similar in a way that it makes everyone feeling guilty all feel the
In many works of literature, authors often have a point they are trying to convey. This may be something about religion or politics, for example. In From Walden by Henry David Thoreau and Against Nature by Joyce Carol Oates, both authors are trying to make different claims regarding the topic of nature. Thoreau’s piece speaks more positively of nature whereas Oates’ piece contradicts the romantic views some writers have about nature. In making their claims, both authors utilize different structures to convey clear messages to the reader.