Matusa 1

Paragraph 1 – Pathos (+Ethos)

The effects of climate change are endangering wildlife. Climate change is slowly but surely

harming wildlife in a multitude of manners. Many food sources are being drastically eliminated.

Polar bears feed on seals that live on the ice’s edge. The feeding they do during the early summer

lasts for two thirds of the year (Pidcock). The National Wildlife Federation reports ice sheets

rapidly melting –due to climate change—that greatly diminish a polar bear’s feeding season

(NWF). Because of this, polar bears are not getting enough energy, and as a result, the body of a

polar bear is weakened and many die, including young cubs, endangering wildlife. Rising sea

levels destroy more and more habitats. As the sea level rises, the ocean floods the shores, which

are home to many costal animals. Delicate sea turtle nests are washed away, taking many young

offspring with it too. The destruction of costal habitats results in leaving a multitude of costal

animals homeless, forcing them to try and survive in the harsh environment. Unfortunately, a lot

of them do not, endangering wildlife, and this number is only increasing as climate change

progresses. Finally, climate change affects and therefore endangers the animal’s body itself.

Cheetahs are slowly but surely becoming endangered as their reproduction rate lowers and

lowers. This is caused by lack of hormones and reproductive cells, a direct result of climate

change –the rise in temperature (Lauwrens). Climate change is affecting the cheetah’s ability to

reproduce, diminishing its population, and therefore endangering it. The effects of climate

change not only affect wildlife’s habitats and food sources, killing indiscriminately both adult

and kid, but also affect many animals’ bodies, rendering them less and less capable of producing

offspring, leading to an eventual and tragic end. Climate change is constantly endangering

wildlife, and action must be taken at once.

 Matusa 2

Paragraph 2 – Logos (+Pathos)

Masks and facial coverings should be made mandatory nationwide, in public places.

During the beginning stages of the pandemic there was uncertainty as to whether the mask

helped slow or stop the spread of Covid-19. The mask has been proved to work. In a recent

study, researchers found that the hundreds of droplets generated when speaking a simple phrase,

were nearly all blocked by a damp washcloth (Bai). This then translates to masks having the

ability to block droplets containing Covid-19. Since masks are proven to work and slow the

spread of Covid-19, they should be mandatory. Another simple benefit of masks is that it stops

the wearer from touching their face –an incredibly common way of spreading the virus. Since

actions like scratching are so unconscious and hard to control, the mask constantly reminds one

not to touch their face, after they have touched a surface. This is incredibly important in public

places where the virus most found sitting on surfaces, and is therefore another reason to mandate

masks and face coverings. Lastly, when one wears a mask, they isolate their germs and droplets

from the public. It is estimated that 40% of people infected do not show symptoms, yet they can

easily spread it (Stanford). Wearing a mask contains the virus, where the wearer protects the

public. If everyone wears a mask, one is protected by having everyone else contain their germs.

This way, a person protects others by wearing a mask, and the others protect the person by, in

turn, wearing a mask. It is therefore why masks should be mandatory: everyone wearing masks

translates to everyone protecting each other, ultimately slowing the spread of Covid-19. Masks

have been proven to work, they not only stop one from touching their face –a common way to

contract the virus, but wearers also protects each other from their own viral droplets, and so,

masks should be mandatory in all public places, nationwide.

 Matusa 3

Paragraph 1 follow up: Pathos was used seeing as climate change has incredibly emotional

consequences. Climate change can often be regarded as “the weather getting warmer”. The real, and

harsh consequences are sometimes overlooked. The truth is that these animals are dying of many

reasons, all linked to climate change. Whether it be habitat loss, or their food becomes scarce, or

simply their bodies changing in a negative way, climate change in the face behind the mask. To

persuade the audience I appealed to the emotions, I emphasized the little polar bear cubs that are

constantly dying due to lack of food, or the baby sea turtles that are so ruthlessly washed away with

their nests. This really plays the emotion card for the reader and makes the persuasion very effective.

The consequences of climate change is a sensitive topic, therefore, pathos –the appeal to emotion—

worked best in this situation. Along pathos, ethos was also used. The idea of an authority backing an

idea makes for a very persuasive text. In this case, the National Wildlife Federation talks about the

melting ice sheets and how it greatly affects polar species. This ads credibility to the text and

increases the chance of persuasion.

Paragraph 2 follow up: Logos was used seeing as the function of the mask was provided, and then

logic was used to show how by protecting others, you, in turn, are protected –if everyone wears a

mask. The main idea with masks is that the wearer protects the public, and naturally, some people

would say “I don’t care about the public, I want to protect myself.” Here is where logic comes in. If

everyone wears a mask and is actively protecting everyone else, then you are being actively protected

by the public. The paragraph follows a cause and consequence flow, where “if you do this then this

happens” which can only be seen with logic. Since the target audience is also one with a slightly

developed common sense (say 12+), they can understand the whole idea of “protect others so you can

be protected”. There is also a hint of pathos in the idea of “protecting each other”, it’s about

sympathy, giving a “we’re all in this together” kind of vibe. Appealing to people’s emotions –taking

care of your neighbor—makes the message more persuasive.

 Matusa 4

Works Cited

Stanford. (2020). 5 Questions: Stanford scientists on COVID-19 mask guidelines. Retrieved July

13, 2020, from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/06/stanford-scientists-

contribute-to-who-mask-guidelines.html

Bai, N. (2020, July 10). Still Confused About Masks? Here's the Science Behind How Face

Masks Prevent Coronavirus. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-

behind-how-face-masks-prevent

Harvey, C. (2015, February 17). Sea-level rise will cause more than flooding - these 5 other

impacts of rising oceans are just as bad. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from

https://www.businessinsider.com/5-terrifying-impacts-of-rising-sea-levels-2015-2

Lauwrens, M. (2020, February 21). Six animals affected by climate change. Retrieved July 13,

2020, from https://www.gvicanada.ca/blog/6-animal-species-and-how-they-are-affected-

by-climate-change/

NWF. (2020). Climate Change. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.nwf.org/educational-

resources/wildlife-guide/threats-to-wildlife/climate-change

Pidcock, R. (2017, July 18). Polar bears and climate change: What does the science say?

Retrieved July 13, 2020, from https://www.carbonbrief.org/polar-bears-and-climate-

change-what-does-the-science-say