Rhetorical Analysis for “Ghost of the Future” and “Biodiversity Loss”

My Rhetorical Analysis is directed to my peers and teacher. I had to tailor writing by making sure that I used words that connected with the topics in my analysis. I had to make sure that it was well worded and connected to the readings as well. My objective was to make sure that my analysis was able to explain the information from the texts I chose and complete the requirements for the rhetorical analysis assignment. Throughout my text, I made sure that all I described was my purpose of using the quotations and keeping my readers well informed through my writing.

This assignment helped me gather a better understanding of rhetorical devices and their purposes. I also learned that there were more than just Pathos, Ethos, and Logos. Rhetorical Devices are used through every writing in order to make a well-organized piece of writing. They also help style writing and give it a clear understanding of it. I learned is that it is way easier to understand a text if you take the time to dissect each part and find what different writing devices are being used in that section. It helped me acquire a stronger understanding of the text, and it made it easier to find its purpose. Rhetorical features are used to appeal to a person’s imagination, emotion, and trust.

In this piece of writing, I was introduced to doing something that I do not often do, which made it more difficult for me. The purpose of this writing was to analyze a piece of writing and find what rhetorical devices the writer used and what their purpose was. Through this phase, I had the chance to decide what reading I wanted to study and pick parts of those reading to explain them. This had a more academic exigence for me, I had to make sure that my work was accurate to the point and that I was meeting all of the requirements I was given.

In this phase, I was able to “Explore and analyze, in writing and reading, a variety of genres and rhetorical situations”. While writing my paper, I had to carefully dissect both texts and search for their rhetorical usage and their purpose for using them. It also showed me the importance of rhetorical strategies in a piece of writing is. How they help convey to a readers emotions and trust and what is the reason for writers to appeal to them. Through conveying to these, they were able to guide the reader through their writing and indirectly explain their purpose for writing those articles. As a result, writers make sure that their pieces do an excellent job of persuading the reader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earth’s history has been going for billions of years, it started as a deserted planet, and through the years, it began to develop into what we know today. Until less than 4 billion years ago, the first living organisms inhabited earth; microscopical organisms. These were the first form of life on earth, and they developed into more complex animals. Throughout the years, this animal would evolve and become more complicated and advanced. Although these changes were necessary to keep life on earth, they would happen to allow for the survival of the organisms; still, many of those animals would be extinct and become fossils. This is what is argued in “Ghost of the Future” by Sarah Kaplan, and in “Biodiversity Loss” by Ceballos et. al. Both texts talk about how the changes that have happened to earth have led to the extinction of many animals. Also, they talk about how the said change would be coming to us because of what we have done to the earth. Kaplan does a great job at using rhetorical devices such as pathos and logos to help connect with the reader, and show their position in the argument. On the other side, Ceballos et. al. also show their position and purpose through using devices such as ethos and logos to provide the audience with information that explains their argument. Both make usage of Rhetorical Devices that help express and understand what is the target of their writings.

Kaplan starts by speaking about the findings she got from a trip she had, where she found more information about animals from the past, animals that could not get through the changes they were going through. All those organisms are ancients of the animals we know today. This trip helped her realize how those animals might have been affected by the changes that allow us to exist today and how those changes can come to us in the future. One example of this could be climate change; it has increased at a fast rate in the last decade, affecting many animal ecosystems. This argument is mentioned in the text when the following is stated, “But then I think of the invasive bark beetles, spurred by a warming climate, that are eating away at this forest. I think of retreating glaciers and vanishing species and all the consequences of unchecked carbon consumption that are still to come.” (Kaplan, Page 4). In this part of the text, she talks about how the usage of carbon fuel has had a significant impact on our atmosphere, causing damage to it and leading to an uncontrollable change in the temperature around the world. This has led to the melting of glaciers in Antarctica and the burndown of forests around the world. If no changes are applied soon enough, this will lead to the extinction of many living organisms and significantly impact humans. She uses this to inform the reader about what is happening around us, helping the reader think about our effects and what they are taking us to. Kaplan gives an accurate description of what she believes will happen if things stay the way they are, which helps the reader create an image of what she is saying.

Around 2017-18 it has been argued that we have a period of ten years to abate climate change; it was not until long that it was found that our time to bring ideas and changes has diminished. If actions are not taken fast, we would be heading toward the destruction of ecosystems and decreased animal diversity. In Kaplan (2019), it is mentioned how it will be possible to avoid this when they say the following, “Starting next year, global greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 7.6 percent annually, reaching zero by the middle of the century.” (Kaplan, Page 10). This information is essential to the reader because it helps them understand how quickly change has to happen to stop the rapid increment in global warming. In less than a decade, we have to reduce greenhouse gases emissions to halt the extinction of many organisms that contribute to the stability of our environment. Kaplan appeals to Logos in this part of the text by providing us with accurate information in order to persuade the reader to take action in this major issue we all are going through. This shows her position in this argument, showing us that they are a voice to everyone who supports the implementation of changes to control climate change.

Carbon emissions have had a tremendous increase since the 19th century, a few years after the Industrial Revolution. Around this time, different usages for carbon and other fuels were discovered, leading to increased demand for carbon fuels.​ This increment in carbon usage was affecting our world, damaging the earth’s atmosphere, and allowing for climate change. These earth changes lead to the extinction of many animals and other organisms that inhabit the earth. This is argued in Ceballos, et. al. (2015), when the following is stated, “More species extinction records date from the 19th century and include numerous species of mammals and birds. Records of extinction for reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, and other organisms have mainly been documented since the beginning of the 20th century” (Ceballos, Page 1). Although these are some species that have been recorded as extinct, many of these species have become extinct at a fast rate, hundreds of them in the last 100 years. This is an excellent example of the effects that carbon fuels have had on our earth; many of these species’ ecosystems have been affected by climate change; some of these species did not have a chance to evolve and get used to these changes that occurred because of human actions. The text informs us of what is happening to some of the animals, bringing our attention to our current situation. This conveys a usage of Ethos in the text; they use the information they have gotten from other resources giving them more credibility.

Many people do not take climate change as a big issue, and we tend to misjudge the situation and barely pay attention to it. Climate change is taking away many essential organisms and ecosystems from us, and we are not putting much importance into fixing these problems. The loss of many organisms can have a catastrophic effect on the stability of life on earth. This is argued in Ceballos et al. (2015) when they say the following, “This affects human well-being by interfering with crucial ecosystem services such as crop pollination and water purification and by destroying humanity’s beautiful, fascinating, and culturally important living companions” (Ceballos, Page 3). This helps emphasize the importance of these organisms to human stability, not only for alimentation but also for oxygen and water maintenance. Animals, plants, and microorganisms significantly impact the maintenance of ecosystems; a more considerable change in biodiversity can be hazardous to us. They appeal to pathos by making the audience feel some type of compassion for those organisms that have been affected and those to be concerned if things do not change. This text conveys the idea of human dependence on animals and plants. In conclusion, This is critical information that could help persuade the reader to change to help fix things.

In conclusion, Kaplan uses various rhetorical strategies through their text, helping them support their point on this argument and helping the reader have a clear understanding of her point of view in this argument. Kaplan gives the reader the chance to imagine certain things she saw in her trip to YOHO national park in British Columbia, clearly describing what she sees. Also, she mentions her thoughts while she is there, giving a chance for the reader to understand how she is feeling. Through the text, she provides us with information from studies that have been done on fossils, helping us to have a deeper understanding of what could have led to their extinction. As well as more information about fossils and the last of the earth. On the other hand, Ceballos et. al.’s text provides the reader with data and information about what has been happening in the last few centuries and the effect that we have had on our ecosystems. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of organisms to maintain the earth’s diversity and stability. Finally, both texts show their stance on the global warming issue and help persuade the reader by using different rhetorical devices, which appeal to their feelings and knowledge.