Final Essay Question

This essay is NOT a research essay and will NOT require outside sources. However, you will be required to familiarize yourself with plagiarism and MLA guidelines. You are also required to highlight your thesis statement in bold. The essay topic is broad and general, allowing you the freedom to create the essay that you want to write. *Remember* you are creating a persuasive essay with a clear thesis, close analysis and evidence to back up your claims.

This essay should be approximately 800-1200 words and is due, by email, on Saturday July 17th @ 12am. A reminder that my email is jwkscott[AT]gmail.com.

Final Essay Question:

In “The Shadow Our Future Shows” Al Gore argues that it is our “perception of the environmental crisis” which constitutes the greatest threat to our planet. Spurred-on by a genuine “fear of the unknown” and “over analysis without action” Gore explains that the tangible and “certain” threats to our environment are not seriously dealt with because political manoeuvrings take precedence over scientific evidence. In this social atmosphere, Gore argues that procrastination dominates while the global environmental crisis accelerates in scope and measure. In order to alleviate or cure this 'social procrastination,' Gore creates an essay rich in rhetorical devices directed at a wide segment of the North American population. Using close analysis and supporting your argument with evidence, select at least two of Gore's rhetorical devices and weigh their effectiveness in swaying his audience to act.