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A Rhetorical Analysis Of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge By Jimmy Carter

770 Words4 Pages

Most people feel protective towards things they love, and hate the idea of losing those things. In his foreward to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, President Jimmy Carter presents a case for why he believes the national park ought to be preserved, playing upon that protective feeling. The piece uses a mostly emotional appeal to convince the reader, with some factual backing. The piece is organized in such a way that it carries the reader through Carter’s argument, building within the reader an emotional connection to the Refuge. The piece primarily uses its organization and emotive word choice to persuade the reader, as well as a small amount of factual evidence. The piece is organized such a way that it leads the reader to forming an emotional connection with the Refuge, making them value and want to protect it. It begins with the President sharing a personal anecdote, …show more content…

He describes the Refuge as “magnificent,” “timeless,” and “a symbol of our national heritage.” This strong language serves to convey the depths of Carter’s passion for the Refuge, and helps the reader to feel some of that passion as well. This use of emotion helps to build Carter’s case as the audience becomes more connected to the place he wants to protect. After describing the Refuge using such grand terms, Carter goes on to describe the threat faced by the Refuge in similar fashion, describing the development of the land as a potential “tragedy” that would “forever destroy the wilderness character of America’s only Arctic Refuge,” as well as endangering the “precious human rights” of the area’s indigenous people. This powerful language causes the reader to feel that the refuge is under serious threat, and any harm that might come to the Refuge would be devastating. These feelings lead the reader directly into supporting Carter’s message of protecting the

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