Elephants Can Lend A Helping Trunk Rhetorical Analysis

Comparative Essay
Payton Altman and Mikayla O’Neill

Have you ever wondered how animals interact and work together to get a job done? Many times, animals put their minds together to complete a task. But what many people do not realize is that animals interact with one another just as humans would. In many instances, people don’t realize the amount of intelligence and common sense that animals, such as the elephant, possess. The study of elephant’s thoughts and thinking were explained and backed up through three different mediums. This information was explained through articles, videos, and passages. Combined, these pieces of work clarified what the experiment was, what it was testing, the purpose behind it, and how the different pieces were

set up. There were many parts in these mediums that were similar, and others that were different. One of these differences was the tones that the authors used, which will be further explored throughout the next paragraph.
Although each of these pieces are similar in many ways, one way in which they are all different is by the tones the authors use.

To begin, the article, “Elephants Can Lend a Helping Trunk” by Virginia Morell, had information that was presented in a very lighthearted and formal way. Even though the author conveyed the information in a cheerful manner, she still got the point across in a very informative and intellectual way. The article reads, “Elephants know when they need a helping hand-or rather, trunk...To test the elephants’ cooperation skills, a team of scientists modified a classic experiment first administered to chimpanzees in the 1930s, which requires two animals work together to earn a treat. If they don’t cooperate, neither gets the reward,” (Morell Paragraph 2). This quote demonstrates the fact that the author used the technique of adding humorous sentences when appropriate or needed to break up all the important information she was saying. Not only did she include amusing phrases, but she included sentences that were relevant to the experiment and the overall topic of the article. Next, in the video, “Elephants Show Cooperation” which was presented by Discovery News, the tone was very cheerful and informative. The narrator in the film said the information in a very light and happy way, so it made the reader want to listen to what he was saying. Also, the way that he conveyed the information in a very easy manner was beneficial to the audience because they could understand the point he was trying to get across. Not only did the author relay the information in a light and pleasant way, but he also did so in a way that was informative. He gave the reader a wide variety of information to take away about the experiment, and it really allowed the audience to envision what the whole test looked like. Finally, in the passage, “Elephants Know When They Need a Helping Trunk in a Cooperative Task” by Joshua M. Plotnik, the tone was very serious, yet factual. The

tone of the author was very bland and showed no emotion, but the depth that Plotnik went into was remarkable. The passage says, “The table apparatus was comprised of two pieces of plywood painted and bolted to a rectangular PVC pipe frame 3.3 m wide and 1.2 m deep. The table was placed 4 m beyond two trees, and three wooden planks set in the ground ensured smooth movement of the table,” (Plotnik Paragraph 1). This quotation shows that this specific piece of writing based upon the elephant experiment went into very much depth upon the exact measurements and dimensions of each object involved in the experiment. This characteristic of the tone enabled the reader to completely imagine what the setup of the trial looked like. As you can see, the tone in each of these mediums was different in several ways.
While each medium is written to explain the experiment in depth, they have other intentions specifically for the piece. For starters, the video is used to give a visual clarification for the viewer. It allows them to see the experiment in action after reading it in the other pieces. Despite the detailed explanation in the passages, some may still have a difficult time imagining what was occurring, which may alter their understanding of the experiment as a whole. This is extremely beneficial for someone who identifies themselves as a visual learner. In addition, the passage, “Elephants Can Lend a Helping Trunk,” serves as a more conversational piece which puts the experiment in understandable terms. For those of us who are not highly intelligent, the technicalities of the experiment may be difficult to understand if it is in the words of a scientist. By having it written in a dulled down manner, it is easier to comprehend. This becomes extremely helpful when the author explained the basis of the experiment. The text reads, “To test the elephants cooperation skills, a team of scientists modified a classic experiment first administered to chimpanzees in the 1930s, which requires two animals to work together to earn a treat” (Morell Paragraph 2). This easily understood explanation takes a complicated process and puts it in easier terms. Lastly, the third form serves as a more scientific piece which included the technicalities of the experiment. Those who find science and mathematics come easier will have a better understanding of the test through this work. It includes the dimensions of the table apparatus, the volleyball net, the rope and more. Each material was given a detailed explanation, which can help the reader better visualize the test. The text states, “The table apparatus was comprised of two pieces of plywood painted and bolted to a rectangular PVC pipe frame 3.3m wide and 1.2 m deep” (Plotnik Paragraph 1). As noted in the quotation, the purpose of this piece is to give a more thorough and scientific explanation of each component. It also included a chart, which is beneficial to visual learners. The chart took the mathematical concept of intervals and success rates the text explained and turned it into a more comprehensible form. To conclude, while all mediums want to inform the audience regarding the experiment, they have their own individual purposes as well.
In summary, the three mediums allow for a fully comprehended knowledge of the experiment. Whether it be through a video, article, or passage, the reader sees the test from a different set of eyes. Every variation of learners has a form to suit their needs, while all combined give an even further understanding. It is quite evident that the experiment demonstrated the intelligence and social skills found in elephants. The three mediums proved how the creatures are more intellectual than we perceived through a teamwork task. The elephants even found creative shortcuts to add efficiency to the test. By reading a passage, viewing the process through a video, and being enlightened on the technicalities, the reader saw each aspect of the examination. How do you feel your comprehension of the experiment would be different if you were only exposed to one of the mediums?