Why Dakota Is The New Keystone Rhetorical Analysis

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Bill McKibben’s editorial, “Why Dakota is The New Keystone,” states that Native Americans in South Dakota peacefully oppose the pipeline along the banks of the Missouri River. In the article, McKibben uses diction, ethos, logos and pathos to get his opinion across about the pipeline. With using these techniques McKibben is able to convey the Native Americans message a lot easier. McKibben uses words that are common in the American language. He uses simple and powerful words to get his point across. In doing so he demonstrates the technique of diction. Since McKibben uses easily understood words people are able to relate to his thesis point a lot easier as to if he used big words. He still uses strong words and phrases like “respite” and “vast movement”. When the reader encounters these words the definition can be gathered from context clues or from common knowledge. It is important when writing argumentative papers to keep word choice strong but simple. The reader needs to be able to easily relate. When authors use ethos they are trying to point out common sense ethics to the audience. Authors use this technique to get the reader on their side. McKibben does an excellent job throughout the article of pointing out the ethics of the Native Americans. “Their traditional wisdom now chimes …show more content…
By doing so he uses pathos with a great deal of success. He reaches the emotions of the audience by using several phrases that paint a terrible picture in the audience’s head. “Those heroes on the Standing Rock reservation, sometimes on horseback, have peacefully stood up to police dogs, pepper spray and the bizarre-looking militarized tanks and SWAT teams that are the stuff of modern policing” (McKibben). When the reader imagines what McKibbon describes throughout the article they can gather a picture of what the Native Americans are going through to get what they
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Rhetorical Analysis Of Why Dakota Is The New Keystone

Bill McKibben’s article, “Why Dakota Is the New Keystone” showcases the peaceful and brave Native Americans standing up to the oil pipeline along the banks of Missouri. McKibben tells his audience it is time that the rest of us stand up with them to stop this pipeline. He uses distinguishable pathos, logos, and uses a confident persuasive diction/tone. McKibben uses pathos to convey to the audience that something must be done. His emotion is not over the top, but just enough to pop out to our audience…

Words 588 - Pages 3