TOW #3 (Written Text)- "Climate Panel: Warming ‘Extremely Likely’ Man-Made"

Written by Karl Ritter

In his recent article, “Climate Panel: Warming ‘Extremely Likely’ Man-Made,” Karl Ritter asses the conflict over global warming. Ritter, the Associate Press Bureau Chief in Stockholm, analyzes a report put forth this week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Six years after their last global warming report, the IPCC now believes that global warming is “extremely likely” to be caused by human activity. The 2,000-page report was put together by world-renowned scientists, calling for help, in order to slow down global warming. They have found that since the beginning of the 21^st century, the atmosphere and oceans have continued to warm, snow and ice has melted in the artic regions, the ocean level has increase and there are higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The IPCC has come to this conclusion after thorough scientific investigations, which Ritter hopes will serve as the basis for United Nations negotiations for a new climate deal. Karl Ritter directs this belief and analysis of IPCC information towards wealthy, industrial nations that have the greatest contribution towards global warming. He acknowledges that emerging economies in Asia and Africa are adding to the problem, but Ritter believes that established nations such as the United States must lead by example and begin cutting the amount of carbon they pump into the atmosphere. Ritter also targets a much larger audience around the world, urging all people and political leaders to take action and ensure that the UN takes steps towards solving the global warming problem, before it becomes unfixable.

Karl Ritter’s primary use of rhetoric is his inclusion of statistics from the IPCC’s report in order to appeal to logos, ethos, and pathos. Ritter states, “The IPCC raised its projections of the rise in sea levels to 10-32 inches (26-82 centimeters) by the end of the century. The previous report predicted a rise of 7-23 inches (18-59 centimeters).”  This statistic appeals to logos, as it provides factual evidence for why people around the world should take action and help slow down the effects of global warming. It also leads readers to perceive Karl Ritter and the IPCC as an expert on the topic. It shows that they have conducted multiple experiment and made accurate predictions regarding the ongoing problem of an increasing sea level. Finally, the use of statistics appeals to pathos, because it strikes fear into readers. Readers feel as though they are contributing to the destruction of Earth, and are more inclined to push for environmental protection. This combination of the three appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) effectively communicates Ritter’s purpose for writing this article that analyzes the IPCC report pushing for change in order to slow down global warming caused by human activity.


Article Source- http://science.time.com/2013/09/27/landmark-climate-change-report-adopted/

Source-fabiusmaximus.com

Effective use of propaganda portraying the human race destroying the Earth.

Tow # 2 (visual text)- Pepsi Advertisment

Source- http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/07/31/collection-of-cool-pepsi-ads/

In this Pepsi advertisement, Pepsi is being compared to its rival soft drink, Coke. The Pepsi marketing experts that created the advertisement use it to attack Coke and portray Pepsi as the better drink. The Pepsi and Coke bottles are juxtaposed side-by-side and both have straws. Although, the straw going into the coke can is attempting to repel itself from the bottle. The straw is given hands at the bottom that push the straw up from the top, an effective use of personification. This portrays the Coke negatively and gives readers the idea that Coke tastes bad. In addition, the advertisement uses color to persuade the readers to choose Pepsi over Coke. The Pepsi bottle, which is blue, fits in well with the background, while the Coke bottle, which is red, looks out of place. Overall, the advertisement was created not just to make Pepsi look good to consumers, but also to attack their major rival, Coke. In doing so, Pepsi’s clear goal is to better their product in the large soft drink market and create more sales. Pepsi directs this advertisement towards teens and adults that understand their use of personification and juxtaposition to show that Coke does not taste as good as Pepsi. In my opinion, this is great advertisement that surely accomplished Pepsi’s purpose. Personally, I have always been a supporter of Coke, rather than Pepsi, but when I saw this advertisement it made me want to go out and drink Pepsi. It effectively appeals to pathos as I thought the straw repelling from the Coke bottle was quite humorous, and the personified straw really caught my attention and gave me a negative view towards Coke. The only criticism I have towards this advertisement, is that the Pepsi logo and slogan is very small, and located in the bottom corner. It may not be visible to most readers, so the comparison between Pepsi and Coke may confuse them.

TOW #1 (written text)- "A Plea for Caution from Russia"

Written by Vladimir Putin

            In the article, “A Plea for Caution From Russia,” author Vladimir Putin discusses the United Nations’ and United States’ current debate over whether or not they should invade Syria. Putin, who is the president of Russia and important member of the United Nations, believes the Unites States should seek peaceful negotiations with the Syrian government in order to put an end to the ongoing conflict between the government and Syrian opposition groups. In a recent meeting with President Obama, Putin brought to attention the previous attempt of US military intervention in Northern Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan, which all failed. The United States’ use of brute force has failed in the past to bring democracy to Middle Eastern countries, and has led to thousands of civilian casualties. 

            The context of this article is very serious and may have a large impact on the future. Putin fears that if the US decides to invade Syria, it could lead to violence throughout the Middle East, beyond Syrian borders. In order to avoid a much larger conflict, Vladimir Putin argues that the United States and United Nations should peacefully negotiate with the Syrian government and come to a compromise, so they stop killing innocent civilian. Putin directs this argument towards the American people and political leaders because the US in on the few countries in the United Nations that did not veto a military invasion of Syria. He hoped to gain the support of the American people and convince them that invasion will only cause more trouble, which will help persuade Obama and the US government.

            In his article, Vladimir Putin’s use of nostalgia convinces readers to support his opinion by appealing to their emotions (pathos). While talking about US-Russian relations, Putin recalls, “We were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together.” This reference back to the 1940’s shows that Putin and Russia hope to return to that time period, when Russia and the United States had a strong and positive alliance. This statement appeals to American readers’ emotions as they look back at one of the greatest American victories of all time, defeating Hitler and the Nazis. By doing this, Putin is viewed positively in the eyes of American readers before he puts forward his new plan to conduct peaceful negotiations with Syria. In the article, Putin’s use of rhetoric that appeals to the audience emotions effectively allows him to communicate his argument to Americans. At such a critical time in American history, I feel Putin did a great job of convincing the American people and government to seek peaceful negotiation, rather than violent military intervention.

Source-geostrategicforecasting.com

This map displays recent conflicts in Syria between the government regime and multiple opposition groups.

Article- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

IRB Intro Post #1

For our first IRB asignment, I have chosen The Lost City of Z by David Grann. This nonfiction piece tells the story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, who set out to find a fabled civilization in the Amazon Jungle in 1925, but never returned from the deep, dark jungle. David Grann is a staff writer for the New Yorker, a novelist, and has spent a large amount of time as a journalist in Mexico and South America.  The Lost City of Z is a top selling action and adventure novel recommended to me by a friend. From this novel, I  hope to learn about great and dangerous journey Percy Fawcett endured in the Amazon, and become familiar with rhetorical devices and strategies used by nonficion writers to prove their argument to the audience.

Source- telegraph.co.uk

This picture depicts Percy Fawcett talking with a local man in the beginning of his long journey in the Amazon.