Delavega 1
Delavega 2
Emily Delavega
Celia Sigmon
RWS 200
2/25/19
The importance of decarbonization
Climate is a part of our everyday lives. Climate change is a global environmental issue, which concerns the whole humanity. Climate change is caused by increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide that’s produced by fossil fuels, which changes climate patterns. Climate on Earth has been gradually changing due to the changes of the intensity of the sunlight. Greenhouse gases are another important factor. It is often said that humans are a reason of global warming, though there are a lot of natural reasons that contribute to climate change. To reduce the greenhouse gases that are causing climate change you would have to decarbonize the economy. “Research on educational attainment and income indicates that persons of higher socioeconomic status are less likely to perceive climate change as risky” stated by Paul Kellstedt. Many people around this time didn’t see global warming as being serious. It was not a main focus until as of recently when climate change has progressed more for people to notice. In the article The Next President’s First Task: A Manifesto by Robert F. Kennedy published by Vanity Fair in 2008, which Robert F. Kennedy Jr argues for decarbonization throughout his article. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to ‘abolish carbon usage and sees a direct comparison to the end of slavery. “Carbon dependence has eroded our economic power, destroyed our moral authority, diminished our international influence and prestige, endangered our national security, and damaged our health and landscapes. It is subverting everything we value”. An analysis of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s essay will identify and detail Kennedy’s argument to abolish the usage of carbon by identifying one claim and evidence, and one context element that connects to the larger conversation.
There are several parts to Kennedy’s project: purpose, goal, stylistic choices, and overall activity/general strategy. Kennedy’s purpose is to inform and persuade his audience on why carbon dependency is ruining America. In his thesis he states that carbon dependence has eroded our economic power and presents this topic to inform his audience of what he will be discussing throughout his article and to persuade them on how to prevent this from happening. Kennedy’s goal throughout his article is to change the mind of his audience and consider his point of view. The audience of this article are people that follow Kennedy and also people that read vanity fair. Kennedy’s followers may be democratic, and vanity fair’s audience is predominantly higher class and also middle age people.
Kennedy uses many stylistic choices and overall activity and/or general strategy in his article. One stylistic choice is his use of formal tone. He uses formal tone by the use of his topic which is the next president’s task, also the use of verbs he chooses throughout his article make it formal, and the structure of...
