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Guiding Question
How does the writer of this text use humor, as well as other strategies, to engage the reader in his opinion about zoos?
Grade 5
Grade 6

Grade 7

The text “Zoos are prisons for animals – no one needs to see a depressed penguin in the flesh” is an opinion column written by Romesh Ranganathan for The Guardian in 2015. While the primary purpose of the text is to paint the “miserable” reality of zoos, the author satirizes its hypocrisy to commence his argument that zoos should be banned. With this purpose, the text appeals to a broad audience which include parents who often visit zoos with their children. As the author utilizes humor, personal pronouns, and anecdotes in his piece to construct his opinion about zoos, he creates an emotionally resonant experience for his readers .
Immediately in the exposition of his writing, Ranganathan skillfully melds humor with his critique to affect the audience on a profoundly emotional level. This is evident from the title, as mentioning a “depressed penguin” in a lighthearted manner still allows the author to clearly present his stance about zoos which he perceives to be “prisons for animals.” Moreover, the text is keen to give specific examples instead of providing general arguments; note how the text starts off with a sardonic introduction to “Gerry the goat” with a peculiar appetite of “[playing] a game in which he looks like he has been crying.” The specificity of the opening serves as visual imagery, guiding the audience to vividly imagine the situation at hand. Alongside that, by anthropomorphizing Gerry, the text creates a disheartening mood where the audience can sympathize with and pity Gerry’s state of despair. The comical way Ranganathan chooses to capture Gerry’s state juxtaposes the tragic and dire stakes of the situation; the nonchalance reflects how zoos turn a blind eye on their depressed animals and refuse to take responsibility. Essentially, the nonsensical explanation not only provides levity but also highlights the outrageous nature of the situation, mocking zoos for its incompetence and nudging the readers to judge them in a similar manner.
An interesting feature of the text is how Ranganathan also ridicules the visitors of zoos, which by extension, are the readers. The author again provides a comically specific example of “Timothy” and his parents visiting the zoo to “wander round ... before going home to post on Facebook about the educational day.” By contrasting the ostensibly educational purpose of zoos with the mindless consumption that takes place in it, the text challenges the traditional idea of zoo’s “educational merit” and forces the readers to ponder if they are complicit in zoos serving as entertainment. However, despite stimulating contemplation, directly criticizing the audience runs the risk of coming off as patronizing and may alienate the audience. To avoid such detriment, Ranganathan strategically utilizes the pronoun “we.” Instead of using “you,” which would create a clear distinction between the author and the reader and place the author on the moral high ground, by using “we,” the author implies that he is also morally compromised, communicating that he is not belittling the audience but is calling for a collective introspection. However, it is true the pronoun “you” is also used in the article. For example, the author states “If you don’t believe me, visit a farm park,” communicating the author’s confidence in the prevalence of animal maltreatment. Here, the assumption that the audience will not believe him may be perceived to be too confrontational; however, Ranganathan follows it with a humorous remark, nullifying its seriousness.
To engage the readers in his opinion about zoos, the personal presence of the author is further established through the use of his anecdotes. Ranganathan shares his experience “[visiting] a marine theme park” where “a two-minute video about saving dolphins” was followed up by a “10-minute demonstration” of them performing tricks. Though expressed in a casual tone, the disparity in values emphasizes the disingenuity of zoos and their pretense. Furthermore, the use of the word “enslave” reinforces the idea that “zoos are prisons” -  an extended metaphor introduced in the title to frame the overall argument.  Within this anecdote, the author reveals his selfishness when he states he questioned the zoo’s actions as much as he “wondered why [his] own children hadn’t been offered” the dolphin-boat ride. One could argue this decision damages the author’s ethos as it reveals his fallible nature. However, the author’s candidness compliments the emotional genuinity that he aims to establish as the foundation of his argument. Ultimately, considering the target audience encompasses parents, they may identify with the author knowing he also is a parent and share the primal urge to want the best for their children.
In conclusion, Ranganathan effectively creates an emotional appeal to argue that zoos should be banned. While the use of humor alone may have potentially portrayed him as an illogical and ingenuine writer, his combination of robust diction and anecdotes have successfully strengthened his opinion about the antiquated as well as unethical operations of zoos.
Text A
Guiding Question
Explore how the writer develops their argument about the seriousness of climate change.
Grade 5
Grade 6

Grade 7

In the wake of rapid technological advancements, our collective neglect of environmental concerns has reached critical levels, with climate change emerging as a paramount challenge. National Geographic, an iconic organization at the forefront of environmental education, utilizes its webpage to disseminate crucial scientific discoveries about climate change, aiming to educate both its internal subscribers and the broader public. Through a strategic blend of diction and persuasive appeals to pathos and ethos as well as its utilization of an objective tone, National Geographic effectively underscores the urgency and severity of climate change, prompting the audience to take action to overcome this global issue.
The opening paragraph sets a tone of urgency through hyperbolic and rhetorical language. By succinctly declaring, "The planet is warming, from the North Pole to the South Pole," National Geographic immediately presents the factuality of the issue through the word choice “is.” Simultaneously, the range from the "North Pole to South Pole" accentuates the universality of global warming, compelling readers to acknowledge the severity of the crisis. The imminent nature of climate change is also established within alliterative phrases like "rising temperatures aren’t waiting for some far-flung future,” evoking an acerbic tone as a way to place responsibility on the readers to act now. Furthermore, by stating that “scientists have already documented," the past tense verb suggests that although we may not directly see its impacts, the problems of global warming have already seeped into our modern day. As such, National Geographic creates a sense of urgency through the use of rhetorical and tonal techniques to highlight our society’s placidity, while scientific research proves the constant worsening and seriousness of the climate crisis situation.
Furthermore, National Geographic bolsters its credibility by providing detailed descriptions of its impacts. The use of tricolons used to list the effects of global warming on “extreme weather events, wildlife populations, and rising sea levels,” presents various aspects that are affected and thus the importance of prevention. Moreover, by denoting their empirical data in clear and succinct listings, its meticulous inclusion serves as an anchor, providing irrefutable evidence. By starkly stating that "the number of glaciers have declined from over 150 to less than 30," the writers leverage statistical evidence to underscore the gravity of climate change, also compelling both new and returning readers to understand National Geographic's commitment to factual accuracy and scientific rigor. Moreover, National Geographic appeals to readers' emotions and sense of self-preservation by vividly depicting the proliferation of disease-carrying pests such as "mosquitoes, ticks, jellyfish, and crop pests.'' Tapping into readers' innate aversion towards such nuisances, this manipulation of pathos not only elicits an instinctual response but also reinforces the severity of the situation, as the hyperbolic use of "thriving" further amplifies the sense of alarm. Hence, the flourishment of these pests serves as tangible evidence of the destabilizing impact of climate change on ecosystems. Thus, the desperate urgency of global warming's effects are reflected in the readers’ fears, highlighting the importance and seriousness of preventing climate change.
Strategic use of logos and structural listings serves to effectively highlight the impending impacts of global warming and emphasize the critical importance of immediate action. Firstly, NatGeo’s deliberate inclusion of phrases such as “other effects (that) could take place later this century,” serves to target the younger audience as it stresses the potential ramifications for future generations. Moreover, the deliberate use of a low modal verb "could" serves as a subtle reminder that while prevention of climate change is still possible, the responsibility is placed in our hands. As such, readers are not only presented with the dire consequences of inaction but are also empowered to take steps towards environmental preservation. Furthermore, the listing of potential consequences such as “malaria” reappearing, intensifying “hurricanes”, and escalating instances of "floods and droughts" with the heightened risk of "decades-long 'megadroughts' by 2100,” underscore the importance of preventing climate change. Hence, mentioning the multifaceted impacts of global warming in a progressively worsening order, an apocalyptic and fearful tone is formed. Moreover, empirical evidence alongside the listings enhance the organization's ethos. Meanwhile, anchoring these to a visually evocative photograph of the Arctic further amplifies the readers’ visceral response and deep-seated desire to combat climate change. As such, through the strategic deployment of logos and listings, National Geographic masterfully conveys the urgency and severity of the climate crisis while simultaneously fostering a sense of solidarity among readers.
In conclusion, in their webpage article, National Geographic manages to produce an effective, emotional, and educative appeal for the prevention of climate change. By highlighting the impending impacts of global warming through the use of listings and logos, while targeting the readers’ pathos through hyperbolic rhetorics and photos, National Geographic successfully develops their argument about the seriousness of climate change.
Text B