Chemistry Goes Green, Essay Example

Introduction

Rhetorical strategies is the practice through which language can establish deeper meaning. As communities of discourse evaluate the rhetoric presented within a text, they in turn debate over the context and meaning of the work. Rhetorical strategies are designed and utilized to influence interpretation and create a prescribed level of understanding within the mind of the reader. Associative meanings and structural relations are assessed between subjects, concepts or particular ideas that exist within text adding more logical arguments to the reasoning of the work as whole. In order to develop a better understanding of rhetoric, this report will assess the use of rhetorical strategies in  Chemistry Goes Green,” by James H. Clark. Declines in fossil fuel reserves, the impact of hazardous chemicals on the environment, as well as other wasteful processes have resulted in a growing interest in ‘green’ technologies. In his article, “Chemistry Goes Green,” James H. Clark at the University of York analyzes how metals, materials and organic compounds can be constructed through the use of clean sustainable technology. Clark uses a wide range of rhetorical strategies, such as establishing sound ethos and logos, amplifying his arguments, and utilizing cause and effect to persuade the reader. It should be noted that Clark’s work is not without its faults. The article is not open ended or composed of any contradictory data or research that might negate or disprove Clark’s position. This makes it very clear that Clark’s main goal is to persuade his readership. The following analysis will break down some of the rhetorical tools the author utilizes in this article to make his point.

Audience

I think the audience of this article is academics, liberals, or pro alternative energy readers, ideally those with interests in the green technology industry. While Clark attempts to present himself as a credible source of information on the topic through the use of substantial research, and logical arguments, the topic itself is too controversial for him toe breakthrough to readers outside this demographic. While there are some readers that the article could potentially reach who disagree with Clark’s position on green chemistry, they would most likely utilize his work as an example of propaganda or take his words out of context for political or ideological purposes.

Genre

The genre of Clark’s article falls within the journalistic and academic text classification. He utilizes data, research, and up to date information to provide the reader with what seemingly is an un bias portrayal of the current state of affairs in regards to green technology. The broader genre reaches into a political readership, as Clark mentions legislative influences and their impact on the use of chemical compounds and the growing need for change in how these compounds are created for business and daily life.

Analysis of Cause and Effect

Through the use of cause and effect Clark demonstrates how policies and legislation developed into environmentally conscious protocols. In the article he notes that, “the legislative, economic and social drivers for change now influence all the stages of a chemical product’s life-cycle. Diminishing reserves and marked price fluctuations have been highlighted for oil — the main raw material for chemicals — but in reality the problem is much wider. Resource depletion of many key minerals and price increases for commodities affect almost all chemicals and jeopardize the survival of manufacturing in its present form” (Clark, 12). He presents this perspective to point out that currently global awareness about the use of chemistry to develop alternative cleaner compounds is at an all time high, due to past impacts of waste and hazardous chemicals on the environment. Clark further points out that there has been mounting pressure from this growing public awareness as well as non government organizations to make drastic changes to how chemists biologists and engineers utilize green technology as an alternative method for sustaining the environment. Through the use of cause and effect Clark demonstrates that there is a need for alternative energy sources based on past mistakes and their impact. He credits mounting pressure from the public and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as the driving force that led to significant growth in product-focused legislation, particularly in the Evaluation, Authorization, European Registration, and Restriction of Chemical substances, or REACH. Clark utilizes all of this information to present the argument to the reader that there is substantial need for furthering research in food stocks as a source for alternative energy and green technologies.

Amplification

Amplification is a rhetorical strategy where the author provides extensive detail to emphasis the validity and importance of an argument. Clark’s main argument is not just that green technology in chemistry will serve as the future source of sustainable energy , but that extensive focus on research need to be invested in this field in order to ensure it happens in due time. He emphasizes this point through the use of the rhetorical strategy of amplification, by pointing out where green chemistry is vulnerable and then going into great detail on regards to the necessary precautions to fill those gaps. Clark’s states that biology and chemistry will need to interface in order to bring about this change and then details exactly why by giving examples of limitations in contrast with their plausible potential. For example, Clark states, “(bio)chemical engineering interfaces are crucial: we need to develop synthetic pathways starting from the oxygenated and hydrophilic molecules produced through most current biomass conversions. That also means we cannot afford to include wasteful and costly steps before these synthetic transformations. A wider range of chemistry in water will help…” (Clark, 12). Through the use of amplification Clark is able to make a bold statement like ‘green chemistry is the answer to pollution’ and then provide a detailed explanation of why, all the wile keeping the main theme alive of his call to action for more research and innovation.  By doing this it adds new layers to Clark’s argument and substantial logic. It is debatable to whether or not the science he uses goes over the heads of his readers.

Ethos

Ethos In rhetorical writing, represents the moral element that determines a character’s actions. Ethos plays a significant part in establishing the author’s credibility as an authority on the subject and whether the reader can view their arguments as factual or ideologically based.  Early on in the article James H. Clark establishes himself as an authority by detailing his credentials as a York University Professor on the subject. Once he has established this position, the research he presents holds more credibility. Clark continues on through his article by presenting a wide range of facts concerning the use of hazardous fossil fuels, the environment, and the history of environmental legislation surrounding it. Only for brief moments in transitional sentences does Clark hint towards a moral, theme or argument of any kind, which reaffirms the ethos he establishes in the beginning of the article when he finally makes his point in the closing paragraphs. The closing paragraph of the article is when Clark introduces his option concerning green technology and its use in chemistry to create sustainable energy sources; but by this point, he has established himself as a credible and informed source on the subject, minimizing his bias in the eyes of the reader. He argues, “the challenge for green chemistry is not just to replace undesirable chemicals such as chromates and polyhaloaromatics but also to make sure that, wherever possible, the substitutes and the chemistry used to manufacture them are green and sustainable” (Clark, 12). By setting up Clark’s argument in this pattern, his position comes across as an ethical appeal.

Logos

The Logos, or logic, of the article is designed in a way that uses the current tends in chemistry, environmental policy and legislation to  promote the argument that green chemistry and furthering research in the field is the solution to the global energy crisis. Clark argues that “today’s waste can be tomorrow’s resource” and he supports this argument with detailed scientific analysis of chemical compounds and their historical use. The problem with the logos of this article is that it tries to appeal to a reader that is either already in favor of green technology, specifically biodegradable fossil fuels, or one who might be on the fence. Any reader that is already against the shift towards alternative energy, and the expected green collar economy that will follow, would view the bulk of Clark’s article as propaganda. This can largely be attributed to the fact that the topic he is covering is already a controversial issue. The main logical point Clark takes from all of his presented research is that, “more research is currently needed to address the challenges that REACH and other product-focused legislation present — safer, more environmentally benign products are required in just about every commercial sector, with particular emphasis on flame retardants, plasticizers, adhesives and primers” (Clark, 12). He bases this on the majority of information and arguments he made when in the amplification segment of his article. This is essentially a call to action, and it’s the logical natural progression of the concerns he presents early on in the piece.

Conclusion

The Rhetorical strategies utilized by Clark in “Chemistry goes green” position his final argument to come across as an ethical appeal to save the environment. The problem is Clark’s article is still bounds within the rules of rhetoric in which it was drafted. On the surface, the community of discourse in which the article comes across as academic or journalistic circles; when in reality, the article is as science based as it is political. The topic of alternative energy, green technology based economies and the role chemistry plays in it, is a hot button issue throughout the globe. The research Clark presents and arguments he makes contributes to the community discourse on how governments should draft environmental legislation, which in turn impacts how businesses operate in regards to the use of these chemicals. While Clark establishes an ethos of him being a credible academic authority on the topic, and he presents logical support for his positions on the subject, to view his argument as 100 percent factual and completely un-bias would be to read his article in a vacuum independent of the outside interests involved.

Clark, James H. “Chemistry goes green.”Nature chemistry 1.1 (2009): 12-13.