Text B

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.

Criteria	Mark	Feedback
A	5	The essay demonstrates a clear and thorough understanding of the text and its purpose. The student effectively explores how National Geographic develops its argument about the seriousness of climate change. The student provides detailed and nuanced interpretations of the text, addressing the use of rhetorical devices, empirical evidence, and appeals to ethos and pathos.
B	5	The student shows a deep appreciation of the writer’s choices, analyzing a variety of techniques such as hyperbole, deictics, tricolons, and listing. The essay explains how these choices impact the reader, enhancing the argument about climate change and conveying a sense of urgency and responsibility.
C	5	The essay is well-organized with a clear and logical structure. Each paragraph is well-developed and contributes to the overall argument. The introduction sets the stage effectively, and the conclusion ties the analysis together, reinforcing the main points.
D	5	The language is sophisticated and appropriate for academic writing, with varied sentence structures and precise vocabulary. The essay maintains a formal tone and is free from grammatical errors, enhancing readability and engagement.
20 / 20