Lett 1

Julie Lett

Mrs. Williams

Freshman English A

17 February 2020

Rhetorical Analysis

In the article,” Is That Plastic in Your Trash A Hazard?”, Michael Todd is informing the

audience about what harmful chemicals make up trash. Michael Todd is a social science

communications manager for SAGE and was previously a writer for Pacific Standard and online

editor at the Miller-McCune center for research, media and public policy. Throughout the article

Todd uses facts that are impossible to disagree with. Not only does Todd inform us of the

chemicals used in plastic, he also talks about how much plastic we waste. While doing so, Todd

is trying to reach out and extend his audience to everyone. He, also, doesn’t show any opinion

throughout this piece, he is just stating facts and informing his audience.

Todd starts off his article by talking about the chemicals in plastics that are harmful and

how these chemicals are “linked to a Pandora’s box of hormonal and genetic problems”. He

states many facts like “if current trends continue, the 280 million tons of plastic produced in

2012 will grow to 33 billion tons in 2050”. He uses many examples like this throughout his

argument to support his original claim.

He also goes on to interview Chelsea M. Rochman and Mark Anthony Browne, a pair of

ecologists leading a research team. During the interview, he mentions how neither of the

ecologists are anti-plastic, but they are finding ways to cut down on plastic or find safer ways to
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produce it. They point out the increase of plastic milk containers in Britain as an example of

plastics overreach. Milk used to be in reusable, glass containers. These containers were

sustainable and helped increase local production then plastic containers entered the system and

was cheaper and could travel farther. When these containers came along no one knew the

dangers that plastic can cause.

Todd then moves to talk about how much plastic is used for containers and packaging

(45%) and how much is actually recycled (12%). When reading this I was in shock, so I had to

do some research. We are producing over 300 million tons of plastic every year worldwide and 8

million tons are dumped into our oceans every year. These statistics really made me think about

how much plastic I use daily and how much I waste. I know that when I am older and have a

family, I don’t want to jeopardize them growing up how I did. If we continue to waste as much

plastic as we do, we will eventually run out of places to dispose of it, which would force people

out of their homes.

In the article I have identified the use of logos, ethos and pathos. He uses logos with the

statistics and facts used throughout the argument. He can gain your trust, ethos, by interviewing

ecologists and including their thoughts. He then uses pathos to provoke your emotions. He wants

you to feel upset or mad about how much plastic we do waste yearly.

Todd does a good job at convincing his audience of being more conscious of how much

plastic you use and waste. He wants his audience to recycle. Recycling is not a difficult task, so

everyone should do it.

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Works Cited

Todd, Michael. “Is It Time to Label Plastic a Hazardous Waste?” Pacific Standard, 22 Mar.
2013, psmag.com/environment/could-that-plastic-in-your-trash-be-hazardous-54252.

“Facts . About Plastic . Help - Plastic Oceans Foundation.” Plastic Oceans International,

plasticoceans.org/the-facts/.