I stand before you not as an expert but as a concerned citizen – one of the 400,000 people who marched in the streets of New York on Sunday and the billions of others around the world who want to solve our climate crisis. As an actor, I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters, often solving fictitious problems. I believe that mankind has looked at climate change in that same way, as if it were fiction, as if pretending the climate change wasn’t real would somehow make it go away. But I think we all know better than that now. Every week we’re seeing new and undeniable climate events, evidence that accelerated climate change is here right now. Droughts are intensifying. Our oceans are acidifying with methane plumes rising up from the ocean floor. We are seeing extreme weather events and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates, decades ahead of scientific projections. None of this is rhetoric and none of it is hysteria. It is fact. The scientific community knows it. Industry knows it. Governments know it. Even the United States military knows it. The Chief of the US Navy’s Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Locklear recently said that climate change is our single greatest security threat. My friends, this body, perhaps more than any other gathering in human history now faces this difficult but achievable task. You can make history or you will be vilified by it. To be clear this is not about just telling people to change their light bulbs or to buy a hybrid car. This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make. This is now about our industries and our governments around the world taking decisive large-scale action. Now must be our moment for action. We need to put a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminate government subsidies for all oil coal and gas companies. We need to end the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free market economy. They do not deserve our tax dollars. They deserve our scrutiny for the economy itself will die if our ecosystems collapse. The good news is that renewable energy is not only achievable but good economic policy. This is not a partisan debate. It is a human one. Clean air and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is not a question of politics. It is a question of our own survival. This is the most urgent of times and the most urgent of messages. Honored delegates, leaders of the world, I pretend for a living but you do not. The people made their voices heard on Sunday around the world and the momentum will not stop. But now it is your turn. The time to answer humankind’s greatest challenge is now. We beg of you to face it with courage and honesty. Thank you.

Question

I stand before you not as an expert but as a concerned citizen – one of the 400,000 people who marched in the streets of New York on Sunday and the billions of others around the world who want to solve our climate crisis. As an actor, I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters, often solving fictitious problems. I believe that mankind has looked at climate change in that same way, as if it were fiction, as if pretending the climate change wasn’t real would somehow make it go away. But I think we all know better than that now. Every week we’re seeing new and undeniable climate events, evidence that accelerated climate change is here right now. Droughts are intensifying. Our oceans are acidifying with methane plumes rising up from the ocean floor. We are seeing extreme weather events and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates, decades ahead of scientific projections. None of this is rhetoric and none of it is hysteria. It is fact. The scientific community knows it. Industry knows it. Governments know it. Even the United States military knows it. The Chief of the US Navy’s Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Locklear recently said that climate change is our single greatest security threat. My friends, this body, perhaps more than any other gathering in human history now faces this difficult but achievable task. You can make history or you will be vilified by it. To be clear this is not about just telling people to change their light bulbs or to buy a hybrid car. This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make. This is now about our industries and our governments around the world taking decisive large-scale action. Now must be our moment for action. We need to put a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminate government subsidies for all oil coal and gas companies. We need to end the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free market economy. They do not deserve our tax dollars. They deserve our scrutiny for the economy itself will die if our ecosystems collapse. The good news is that renewable energy is not only achievable but good economic policy. This is not a partisan debate. It is a human one. Clean air and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is not a question of politics. It is a question of our own survival. This is the most urgent of times and the most urgent of messages. Honored delegates, leaders of the world, I pretend for a living but you do not. The people made their voices heard on Sunday around the world and the momentum will not stop. But now it is your turn. The time to answer humankind’s greatest challenge is now. We beg of you to face it with courage and honesty. Thank you.

Essay prompt-

Examine how inclusive language, statistics and facts, and anecdote has been used to convey a specific message in the speech above.

Message: the climate Criss, we all need to act and put a stop to it.

Write 5 paragraphs :
1. Introduction
2. Body paragraph - inclusive language
3. Body paragraph - statistics and facts
4. Body paragraph - anecdote
5. Conclusion

Answer 1

In the speech above, actor Leonardo DiCaprio effectively conveys a powerful message about the urgency of addressing the climate crisis through the use of inclusive language, statistics and facts, and anecdote. By using language that emphasizes the collective responsibility of all individuals, industries, and governments, DiCaprio highlights the importance of unity in addressing this global issue. This inclusive language serves to inspire action and convey the message that everyone has a role to play in combating climate change.

Furthermore, DiCaprio reinforces his argument with compelling statistics and facts that paint a stark picture of the current state of the climate crisis. By referencing specific examples of extreme weather events, melting ice sheets, and rising sea levels, he provides irrefutable evidence of the urgent need for action. These statistics and facts serve to underscore the severity of the situation and emphasize the potential consequences of inaction.

In addition to inclusive language and statistics, DiCaprio employs the use of anecdote to further engage his audience and drive home the message of the speech. By referencing his own experience of participating in a global climate march, he creates a sense of shared importance and urgency among his audience. This personal anecdote serves to humanize the issue of climate change and connect on a more emotional level with the listeners, inspiring them to take action.

In conclusion, Leonardo DiCaprio's speech effectively uses inclusive language, statistics and facts, and anecdote to convey a specific message about the importance of addressing the climate crisis. By appealing to the collective responsibility of all individuals, providing evidence of the current state of the crisis, and sharing personal experiences, he effectively communicates the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action. It is clear that collective action is crucial in combating climate change, and it is up to all of us to come together and make a difference before it is too late.