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  • Essay / Rhetorical Analysis of James Hansen's Speech on Climate Change

    The old opening line of NASA's mission statement, "Understand and protect the home planet," served as a reasonable basis for Dr. James Hansen to devote his life to study. of climate change and present his findings to most of the modern world. Yet despite being a credible source and producing factual information, Hansen's efforts were not taken seriously. So, in 2012, Hansen, now head of the Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions program at Columbia University, decided to broaden his audience and presented a TED talk on the reality of climate change, as well as the consequences that could inevitably result from this. Throughout his speech, Dr. Hansen asserts that climate change is indeed happening and that if humanity does not take action against it, the situation will only get worse over time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Although the overall presentation could have used more passion, Hansen's speech contained effective use of ethos, logos, and pathos; so much so that he was able to present his subject in a sensible and logical manner, while still making valuable personal connections with his audience in an attempt to make their case. From the beginning, Hansen established himself with a strong sense of ethics. He begins by introducing himself as the son of a modest farmer who was able to continue his studies with the eminent academic James Van Allen, a professor once involved in the construction of the first American satellites. In doing so, he pays homage to his humble beginnings, without presenting himself as an individual who has forgotten where he came from. I would even say that his physical appearance played a role in establishing his philosophy. Presenting himself as an ordinary citizen, wearing a hat, blue jeans and a plain button-down shirt, Hansen has the ability to appeal to the general public who can view his talk on the TED website. Shortly after, Hansen goes on to explain how he spent his early career working as a principal investigator for NASA and mentions one of his reports published in Science magazine, a feat that eventually led him to testify before Congress: as well as members of a presidential task force on climate. By giving a brief but concise overview of his career, Hansen certifies his credibility. Additionally, his audience is able to determine that he is an educated, published, and reputable source of information. In addition to providing general knowledge about his professional career, Hansen also uses his research testimonials to further establish his credibility. Examples include mention of how Greenland and Antarctica are losing mass at an accelerating rate, methane is being released into the atmosphere, the current amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is measured at around 391 ppm , and this “total energy imbalance”. . “on Earth, it is now”. . . about six tenths of a watt per square meter. » Even more impressive than Hansen's presentation of ethos is his compelling use of logos. Throughout his book, Hansen presents scientific information in a comprehensive and understandable manner. This allows him to offer data and figures that may attract the appreciation of academics, while also including an audience that may not understand this information. One example is his comparison of how adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is essentially similar to ". . . throwing another blanket on the bed.?