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Think about strategies the author uses...consider why use this "form" for this
message? (There are many ways to answer this question)
As the World Burns: 50 simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial Reading Log

Derrick Jensen, an environmental activist and ally to the indigenous, is known for his
publications that defend the natural environment and fight against industrial
civilizations. Stephanie McMillan is an editorialist for political cartoons that often times follow
activists ideals. Derrick Jensen and Stephanie McMillan collaborated to create a graphic novel
that depicts how global warming is more than an individual issue. The prologue to the comic
(novel) provides credibility towards both authors before presenting the information to the reader.
The novel, As the World Burns is written in the form of a political cartoon which is
generally used as a method of persuasion that relates to the audiences / readers emotions
(pathos). The two main characters are especially prominent within this method. The first
character, dressed in white, represents the optimistic readers who believe that changing ones
individual lifestyle will help reduce the effects of global warming. Signifying pathos, the
emotional appeal of persuasion, she explains that one can help save the earth by changing minor
aspects of ones way of life. As the cartoon progresses, her hopes and ideas are slowly degraded
as the truth about curing the natural environment is revealed. The truth causes these optimistic
readers to feel sadness and despair, a similar feeling that the character develops as the cartoon
progresses. The characters feelings relay to the reader and appeal to their sense of emotions.
The second character, who is dressed in black, represents the pessimist readers. She is
being told by the optimist that she can help save the environment by changing to fluorescent light
bulbs, recycling, reducing oil consumption, etc After she hears about the simple things one
can to do help the planet or in her opinion stay in denial about the truth of curing the planet,
she calculates the statistical amount of carbon dioxide reduction per year. This character
signifies logos, a means of persuading by the use of reasoning (durhamtech.edu). She
continues to explain that all of those individual lifestyle changes would only be about a 21
percent reduction in carbon emissions and since total carbon emissions go up about two percent
per year the reduction would disappear in so many years (724). In a similar manner, the
character dressed in black appeals to the readers emotional side as she realistically relates to
what many truly believe. Saving the planet requires more than individual sacrifice.
Once the two characters run out of ideas to save the planet, they look towards the animals
that live in the natural environment. The animals signify a more ethical appeal while tapping the
readers emotions. Animals often times symbolize a sign of love and affection, a creature we as
humans care about protecting. To convince the audience to consider the truth behind saving the
planet, the animals arguably explain through ethical appeal what is humans are doing wrong;
stop pushing us out of our living space, we deserve to live as much as you do, stop treating us as
your enemy. As the animals come together to express their voice, it becomes apparent to the
reader how many lives they are truly affecting and endangering and what the real cause is behind
environmental destruction.