Analysis of the Satirical "Burning Sensation"

The Daily Show's "Burning Sensation"

Claim: The government and current administration lacks to have developed a response to the issue of Global Warming, often times saying that it may not even be an issue.

Evidence: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - "The expectation would be that if we keep emitting Greenhouse Gases at current rates we will see bigger changes in this current century than we did in the last century."

Warrants: The evidence the video provides is a credible video source.
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Humor: Using the groundhog from "Groundhog" day to show us how animals - creatures that are very aware of their surroundings (not to mention that the groundhog does foretell the fate of winter) - are responding.

Personification: Creating the groundhog to have a person's voice and name.

Juxtaposition: First, Jon Stewart shows that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (an international scientific group) trying to address and fix problems about global warming. Then, he shows American scientists in a food kitchen, hinting at the problem that Americans are more concerned about what they eat (and if it tastes good!) than the future of our planet.

Graph Source

Claim:

Based on evidence from the past 1000 years, carbon emissions, CO2 concetrations, and temperature change are interrelated. Now, these levels are exorbidantly high.

Media/Video Source

The Big Melt: The Arctic Ice Cap

First Print Source Analysis

This picture was taken on March 25th, 2008 (YESTERDAY!). A ice shelf (The Wilkins Shelf) the size of seven Manhattans broke off from the main Antarctic land ice because of global warming.

BBC article "Global Warming - An Overview"

Claim:

Global warming, which can no longer be disputed as nonexistent, has clear scientific causes and an abuse of these causes has effected humans because of the pecific, detrimental changes in the earth's atmosphere

Evidence:

1. "Globally 1998 was the warmest year ever recorded and eight of the ten warmest years fell in the last decade. Global ice sheets have decreased, so has global snow cover."
2. "...this is the most rapid rise in temperature since the end of the last ice age. So evidence is mounting that we, mankind are affecting the global climate, and the current warming has exceeded the natural fluctuations."
3. "Since the industrial revolution amounts have increased by 30%."

Why the claims are warranted:

All three claims cite scientific, hard evidence in order to achieve being warranted. The first provides quantitative evidence to show us, almost visually, that we have had such a great effect on climate change. The second one shows us that we are heading into a horrible period in human history if we are not careful, using qualitative evidence. The third one provides quantitative evidence about the ways in which we have increased our "spending" and the correlation that can be made with the global warming increases.

Second Print Source Analysis

New York Times article "Arctic Melt Unnerves the Experts"

Claim:

Scientists can hardly fathom the amount of deterioration in the Arctic Circle this year. The ice has melted so much more than other annual averages, that scientists are beginning to wonder how much longer until more drastic changes occur. Can this phenomenon be ascribed to anything besides overactive, overindulging humans? Unfortunately, scientists would give the disappointing "no" to that answer. A bigger concern, though, is next year's summer and its melting period, because this year the ice deficit is so low.

Evidence:

1. "The Arctic ice cap shrank so much this summer that waves briefly lapped along two long-imagined Arctic shipping routes, the Northwest Passage over Canada and the Northern Sea Route over Russia."
2. "Astonished by the summer’s changes, scientists are studying the forces that exposed one million square miles of open water — six Californias — beyond the average since satellites started measurements in 1979."
3. "...this winter’s freeze is starting from such a huge ice deficit."

Why the claims are warranted:

The first two claims cite scientific evidence that is warranted by the facts that are provided (i.e. "six californias," "beyond the average since satellites started measurements in 1979"). The third fact also contains scientific evidence, but shows to us that it would make sense why this becomes a snowball (pardon the pun) effect. Besides that, we believe these three because they are scientific facts and because this print source (NYTimes) is credible.

Why the claims are warranted:

Third Print Source Analysis

New York Times article "Global Warming"

Claim:

The New York Times article agrees with that global warming trend is unambiguous and that humans do have a major effect on the global warming occurring. Undoubtedly, changes have been occurring and have been documented, leading us to the conclusion that the fact that global warming exists is no longer, but the ways in which we can combat global warming is.

Evidence:

1. The article cites that the United Nations declared that global warming has changed exponentially in recent decades, and cites human activity as a result.
2. The article cites the Supreme Court voting that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) does have an authoritative role in the battle against global warming.
3. "The greenhouse effect has been apart of earth's workings since its earliest days."
4. "Since 1970, temperatures have gone up at nearly three times the average for the 20th century."

Why the claims are warranted:

It is explicit that both the United Nations and Supreme Court are credible sources and can be relied upon for evidence on the issue of global warming. The other two sources are warranted by scientific facts, but are not necessarily cited. However, the fact that NYTimes is a credible source in itself warrants the scientific facts.

And I thought I was finished...

What effect does your chosen rhetorical term have on the argument?

In "The Lives of A Cell," Lewis Thomas uses hyperbole when he writes, “[Man] sits on the topmost tiers of polymer, glass, and steel, dangling his pulsing legs, surveying at a distance the writhing life of the planet” (p. 358). This quote appears early on in his essay (actually, in the beginning of the first paragraph), and intentionally so - he wants his audience to understand their place in the World in relation to nature and less powerful creatures/organisms today before he begins talking about the changes that the earth has undergone recently. And, he wants to do all of this without insulting his reader explicitly. (Who's gonna read it if he does that?) By writing the above quote, he shows the reader (in an exaggerated way) the status that humans hold in the world today (or, in 1971). By using hyperbole, he convinces his reader of the damage that his lofty social position in the World can incur as well as makes an appeal to pathos. Because he chose his words carefully, Thomas doesn't write "Humans have caused everything to go haywire in this World!" Instead, he writes in a more satirical (albeit, not necessarily humorous, but exaggerated nonetheless), yet effective, way. He makes Man look both very deadly and too powerful, which is a position that most of us humans would be unwilling and/or embarrassed to accept. When he makes his appeal to pathos, he wants the reader to feel affected by the status he holds in the world today - a status of ultimate power, yet the greatest wisdom. He doesn't, however, want to insult the reader with scathing words or a shaking of the finger. By citing out wisdom, Thomas sheds some hope on this unfortunate situation, knowing that humans can find a solution for the growing problems.

"The Marginal World" Précis

Ian Dunne
Mr. Ehret
AP English Language
April 16, 2008

“The Marginal World” Analysis
by Rachel Carson (p. 214 – 219)

The author describes the natural, indefinite rhythms that the tides of the oceans follow. She calmly explains their course and rhythm, hinting at the elusive boundary that develops. The shore and the sea have dual natures, sometimes being exposed to the land world, other times being exposed to the water world. She describes the difficulty it takes for plants and animals to live in such a harsh environment, yet the tide lines are teeming with life. Life dwells in some of the most unlikely places, burrowing itself in the sand and spreading over rock surfaces. All creatures are linked intricately with another, just as the shore and sea are linked with each other and have been since there has been earth and ocean. The author describes her favorite place that she remembers for its exquisite beauty, and details her trip to this place. She describes the moss-covered ledges, the hidden pool in a cave, and the clarity of the water within this place. Once the pool had emptied, the author marvels at all the ephemeral sea life that dwells within this place. Plants, too, cover the caves and low water pools. The author describes a trip she took to the Georgia shore line, and all the life that exists there. The shore at night is a much different world, though; with ghost crabs lurking under the light of a torch, the author imagines a primeval world. The mangroves and other plants that connect places give a greater sense of creation to humans. The flow of the tides creates a sense of the indefinite, continuing flow of time. Evolution accounts for the sequence and meaning of the drift of time. Thus, life is varied because of the evolutions that have occurred. The spectacle that we see is evolution at work.

Vocabulary
Spars – a thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship
Limpid – (of a liquid) free of anything that darkens; completely clear

Tone
Informal, amazed

Rhetorical Terms

Personification - "...waves have broken heavily against the land, where the tides have passed forward over the continents, receded, and then returned" (p. 215)

Simile – “…spheres of protozoa, small as pinpricks” (p. 215)

Simile – “…water that was clear as glass” (p. 216)

Simile – “…Tubularia, pale pink, fringed and delicate as the wind flower” (p. 216)

Personification – “…the mangroves…reaching down, grasping and holding the mud, building the land out a little more” (p. 218)

"Insert Flap 'A' and Throw Away" Précis

Ian Dunne
Mr. Ehret
AP English Language
April 16, 2008

“Insert Flad ‘A’ and Throw Away” Analysis
by S. J. Perelman (p. 186 – 189)

The author sets the scene for the reader and describes the situation/conflict. When doing this, he adds humorous aspects and writes with witty satire. With great detail, he describes a ridiculous project of a moth net that he was trying to assemble to no avail, though. After a lengthy description of that project, he says that it was superseded by a newer one which he had to complete on Christmas morning. He details how and why he doesn't want to complete the task, but commences because of his children's whining. He writes about how easy the project will be, but as he writes, he realizes how much harder it is becoming. The author mentions that the project itself is causing the problems, such as when the box separates itself after he has already affixed the folds together. He attempts to teach his children how to read such easy directions and how to assemble something from a diagram. Instead, he ends up becoming more and more frustrated, and eventually becomes so frustrated that he cuts himself with a nice on accident. In all the mayhem, he suddenly blacks out, and wakes up to find his wife speaking to a doctor about how many pills he should take a day.

Vocabulary
Dolorous – feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress
Trice – in a moment; very quickly

Tone
Satirical, Humorous

Rhetorical Terms

Hyperbole – “…the subject is placed in a sharply sloping attic heated to 340º F” (p. 186)

Personification – “…the soft, ghostly chuckling of the moths” (p. 186)

Humor – “…I was spread-eagled on my bed, indulging in my favorite of mouth-breathing” (p. 187)

Personification – “The moment I made one set fast and tackled another, tab and slot would part company, thumbing their noses at me” (p. 187)

Allusion – “…my consort, a tall, regal creature indistinguishable from Cornelia, the Mother of the Gracchi” (p. 187)

"The Lives of a Cell" Précis

Ian Dunne
Mr. Ehret
AP Language and Composition
April 16, 2008

“The Lives of a Cell” Analysis
By Lewis Thomas (p. 358 – 360)

Modern man has been separating himself from nature with artificial advancements. Man is a great force in the delicate ecosystems that already exist, and he knows this. Yet, Earth can withstand far more than a single human can; we are more vulnerable. Man creates himself the head of the nature that exists, and always has, embedding himself in nature and becoming a great part of it. We are becoming more aware of our relationship with nature and our unwarranted power we hold to it. Our existence is made of smaller entities, smaller pieces that control and enable our humanlike functions. Because these smaller pieces (e.g. mitochondrion, different parts of cells, etc.) enable us and make our lives possible, do they actually enjoy more of our life than we do? Plants are also made of smaller, symbiotic organisms that give them their traits. A single cell accounts for our uniformity in this world. Because of this, viruses are evolving and beginning to affect all types of organisms – insects, plants, mammals. To what can life be compared? An organism? A single cell?

Vocabulary
Transient - lasting only for a short time; impermanent

Tone
Informal, intrigued, excited

Rhetorical Terms

Simile – “My cells are no longer the pure line entities I was raised with; they are ecosystems more complex than Jamaica Bay” (p. 359)

Personification – “…we live in a dancing matrix of viruses” (p. 360)

Simile – “…the earth is pictured as something delicate, like rising bubbles at the surface of a country pond, or flights of fragile birds” (p. 358)

Metaphor – “Evolution is still an infinitely long and tedious biological game, with only the winners staying at the table, but the rules are beginning to look more flexible” (p. 360)

Hyperbole – “[Man] sits on the topmost tiers of polymer, glass, and steel, dangling his pulsing legs, surveying at a distance the writhing life of the planet” (p. 358)