2022 Paper 1 Sample Response 1 (Climate Change)

Guiding question: Explore how the writer develops their argument about the seriousness of climate change.

The context of an author inevitably shapes, whether consciously or subconsciously, the stylistic elements of the text. In the case of this web article, publisher National Geographic’s position as a respected and regarded proponent of the natural planet around the world shapes their message on the unknown effects of global warming and the climate crisis, and the urgency with which humans must work to overcome them. Published in October of 2020, amidst roaring debates between countries forming climate policy at the Paris Climate Summit and upcoming Conference of Parties (COP26), National Geographic uses allusive language, succinct yet cogent scientific statistics, and a narrative structure comprised of multiple brief statements that work to amplify the text’s overall argument, and warning, not only of the serious destruction that the crisis change will cause in the future, but also of the irreversible damage that has already affected the Earth. As a web article created to be shared on social media, the text likely has a target audience of American readers, given the political and economic power the US has, and the extensive list of past and future disasters mentioned in the text that illustrate the impact of climate change on US cities and forests.

In order to fulfil the intention of creating a sense of urgency about the seriousness of climate change, National Geographic utilises allusive language that contributes to an atmosphere of chaos and movement. After the web article’s introduction, the first sentence (Line 1) starts with an authoritative phrase that the planet “is warming.” More than simple “climbing temperatures,” the author writes about the impacts of “melting glaciers,” “shifting precipitation,” “heat-trapping” gases, and animals forced to be “on the move.” The adjectives that illustrate climate change’s impact resembles a semantic cluster that the author employs to create a sense of urgency through imagery of kinetic and intense change. This semantic cluster is placed by the author in contrast to the typical education about climate change, described simply as “average rising temperature.” National Geographic implores the American reader to challenge the conventional wisdom around them, and the use of allusive imagery assists in informing the audience of the gravely destructive and serious nature of the climate crisis. It is significant that this impactful and bold language is placed near the start of the text, as if to state that the danger of climate change is not up for debate; it is a fact. This allusive language being placed near to the start also gives it close proximity to the National Geographic logo, which subtly lends validity and a sense of authority to the statements in this article: many articles read by Americans online spread misinformation and have a significant political bias, a trait that the National Geographic hopes not to portray to the reader.

The use of scientific statistics is prominently used by National Geographic to underpin the validity and seriousness of climate change. However, for an American ‘common-citizen’, the author ensures that the data is well-contextualised and easily digestible, as not to be ignored as another piece of ‘scientific jargon’ by readers. A key area where the author utilises data and statistics is to illustrate to the American reader the current effects of climate change, so as to convey how it is a problem that cannot be avoided any longer. Preceding the first significant set of data, the author writes that it is “scientists” who have “already documented” (Line 12) the impacts of climate change. To create a more vivid description of the planet’s ice melting, the author alludes to the state of Montana’s Glacier National Park, one of America’s symbols of natural beauty, and how the glaciers have declined to “fewer than 30” from more than 150. The numbers and data are effective in conveying climate change’s destruction, given that the image of Montana’s glaciers is likely one the American reader is familiar with, and the loss of them is not only a loss of simple ice, but also of their country’s beauty and history. This is amplified by the scientific data stating loss of habitat of “butterflies” and “foxes” due to temperature change, a list of living beings that American readers can connect with. This creates a sense of not only physical loss, but “emotional loss,” very loosely resembling the grief felt due to the pain or death of a loved one. Moreover, the web article also states (line 28) that certain animals have “devastated millions of forested acres in the US.” On one level, this is a factual statement presented by the author to the reader. However, on a deeper level, the choice of word “devastated” creates a more intense emotion of loss in the reader’s mind, while the text by National Geographic still feels unbiased and trustworthy to the American reader.

The article’s structure of brief yet cogent statements are highly effective in creating a “snowball” effect that slowly but steadily increases the urgency and seriousness of climate change in the American reader’s mind. The first bullet point (line 13) describes that ice and glaciers are melting worldwide. Next, the impact on said melting ice is shown to be impacting the rise of sea levels. Furthermore, this is conveyed to cause a grave loss the wildlife and their habitat, such as the Adelie penguin, whose populations have decreased dramatically. This structure employed by the author is highly effective in illustrating to the American reader the interdependence of Earth’s ecosystems, and how truly complex and deep they are. The structure of the text helps the American reader understand how their actions, of driving a diesel car, or of choosing to consume large amounts of meat, for example, do indeed have an impact of the future of the planet, as this is a connection that humans often are unable to perceive. The author therefore makes the choice to present the future impacts of climate change (line 30) only after highlighting to the reader the way in which the Earth is already decaying. In the final section of bullet points, a section of more alarming statistics is used, such as how sea levels are expected to rise between a whole 26 to 82 centimetres. This fact is now palatable and understandable to the reader, given their new knowledge of the planet’s current state; the narrative structure allows the American reader to truly comprehend the seriousness of climate change and understand that it is been an insidious and gradual process, not a looming threat that will arrive one day, and therefore that readers can campaign and vote to change the planet’s trajectory. Another significant factor in the text’s structure is the embedding of social media icons at the very start of the page. The author understands that overcoming the climate crisis requires a large number of active and educated citizens that stand in solidarity. The buttons enable for quick sharing of Nat Geo’s message and is key in achieving the author’s intention of conveying the seriousness of climate change in the twenty-first century. Additionally, next to these social media icons at the start of the article is a message that the web article is only a “two minute read,” something unfortunately necessary in today’s world of instant entertainment and constant stimulation.

In order to convey a sense of urgency and seriousness about climate change, National Geographic realises that it is necessary to highlight that the climate crisis will not destroy Earth on one given day in the future, but that it has already destroyed parts of the planet and will only wreak further havoc. The use of allusive imagery that creates a sense of kinetic chaos, contextualized the statistics that lends a new sense of authority, and a succinct yet cogent structure that creates a “snowball effect” work together to highlight to twenty-first century American readers in a minimal amount of time, that the climate crisis cannot be ignored and its impacts extend far further than simple “rising temperatures.” National Geographic hopes to create a voracious enthusiasm for nature and the planet, as it has done for decades, to stimulate passion and protest from citizens to work towards a cleaner planet in the future, hopefully influencing the key policies created by leaders near the time of its publication.

Word count: 1367