Think of it this way, your ancestors navigated by the stars, and today most people won’t walk outside without a GPS. That’s a crazy loss of direction or skill at some level for sure. And while Indigenous peoples and many rural peoples can still see the stars, most of the world’s population cannot. That’s particularly an urban thing, where there’s all this light. From my farm, through the open skies, at night I can see the glow of Detroit Lakes, and that’s 25 miles away.
—“A Case for Waawaatesi,”
Winona LaDuke
Which statement best describes the point LaDuke is making in the passage?
How does the writer appeal to the reader’s logic?
How does the writer establish credibility?
The point that LaDuke is making in the passage is that modern society has lost its ability to navigate and find direction without relying on technology like GPS. She also highlights how urban areas with excessive light pollution prevent people from being able to see the stars.
The writer appeals to the reader's logic by presenting a logical comparison between how ancestors used the stars for navigation and how most people today heavily rely on GPS. They also use the example of being able to see the glow of a city 25 miles away from their farm to illustrate the impact of light pollution on the ability to see the stars.
The writer establishes credibility through their personal experience and observation. They mention living on a farm and being able to see the glow of a city at night, which suggests that they have firsthand knowledge of the situation. Additionally, by mentioning Indigenous peoples and rural communities still being able to see the stars, the writer suggests that they have knowledge of different cultures and their relationship with the night sky.
The point that LaDuke is making in the passage is that there has been a significant loss of navigation skills and connection to the natural world, particularly among urban populations. This loss is emphasized by contrasting the reliance on GPS technology today with the traditional navigational abilities of our ancestors who used the stars. The mention of Indigenous and rural peoples being able to see the stars further underscores this point.
The writer appeals to the reader's logic by presenting a clear cause and effect relationship. They suggest that the reliance on GPS and the loss of direct connection to nature and navigation skills is a result of urban living and the prevalence of artificial light. By positioning these ideas side by side, the writer highlights the illogical nature of relying on technology over innate skills.
The writer establishes credibility by mentioning their own experience of living on a farm and being able to see the glow of a city 25 miles away. This personal anecdote suggests that the writer has firsthand knowledge and observation of the issues being discussed. Additionally, the writer's mention of Indigenous peoples' ability to see the stars implies a respect for traditional knowledge and practices, further enhancing their credibility on the topic.
To understand the point that Winona LaDuke is making in the passage, it is important to examine the context and main ideas. In this passage, LaDuke compares the traditional navigation methods used by ancestors, who relied on observing the stars, to the modern reliance on GPS navigation. She highlights the loss of direction and skill that has occurred as a result of this transition, especially for urban populations who are disconnected from the stars due to light pollution. The mention of being able to see the glow of Detroit Lakes from a farm 25 miles away serves to emphasize this disconnection from nature's cues.
To appeal to the reader's logic, the writer presents a clear contrast between the traditional skill of star navigation and the reliance on GPS. By framing it as a "crazy loss of direction or skill," LaDuke implies that the transition to GPS navigation has resulted in a diminished ability to navigate and find direction without technological assistance. This appeal to logic highlights the disconnect between humans and their natural environment.
The writer establishes credibility through their personal experience and observation. LaDuke mentions that she can see the glow of Detroit Lakes from her farm, indicating that she has direct access to a dark night sky and therefore understands the impact of light pollution on stargazing. Additionally, as an environmental activist and author, LaDuke has a background and expertise in the subject matter, which further enhances her credibility on the topic of nature and sustainability.