Killer Whales Rhetorical Analysis
Full Name
Dr. Lisa Ampleman
English 101-13
10 October 2013
Killer Whales: Rhetorical Analysis of a Blog
Throughout the history of cetacean captivity, two orcas have been labeled as murderers. In the winter of 2009, at the park known as Loro Parque, an orca named Keto killed his trainer, Alexis Martinez. Exactly two months later, in Sea World Orlando, an orca known as Tilikum killed his trainer as well. Tilikum had previously been involved in the deaths of both another trainer and a park visitor. Those that do not support cetacean captivity jumped at this news, and the controversy of cetacean captivity had come out of the darkness. Several websites and blogs have been dedicated to this cause. The Orca Project, for example, expresses …show more content…
With such deliberate placement, the writer seeks to exemplify insight of the article by providing historically iconic dates in cetacean captivity, particularly those which have made an impact in media coverage of the topic. By searching through news articles of these dates, the student is immediately able to locate cover stories and breaking news videos of various attacks. Along with dates, statistics can also be found within the entry. Several times throughout the pages, the whale Tilikum appears in association with three deaths in the past years he has been held in captivity, and his being the largest whale in captivity. This means that Tilikum has a violent past, and can easily overcome a trainer. Another statistical factor that is referenced is that of Mean Duration of Captivity, or MDC. “Based upon the MMIR data, and represented in Appendix A, we have calculated the mean duration of captivity (MDC) to be less than nine years. This is regardless of whether an orca was extracted from the ocean, or born at a theme park.” This statement emphasizes that orcas live shockingly short lives while held in captivity, due to less-than-ideal living conditions. The statistics provide the student with a grasp of exactly of much or how many ways the actions of the parks have an effect on the animals living in captivity. It provides concrete evidence on which we can rely for an image of things such …show more content…
This is where pathos comes into play. Throughout the post, pictures have been placed. These pictures help appeal to the audience to get them to sympathize with the writer, and turn against those that support the idea of cetacean captivity. One example of these pictures, placed after the third paragraph, depicts a whale spouting blood out of its blowhole. This specific picture is used to shock the student and create a feeling of sympathy towards the mortally wounded creature.
As an essay intended to be accurate, one would expect more scientific terms to be placed throughout the website. But, upon further investigation, it appears that the words have been replaced by terms and phrases with the intent of generalizing for the public to read and comprehend. Instead of listing specific terms used for diagnosis of ailments and treatments or medications associated with the orcas, words such as “antibiotics”, “dorsal collapse”, “bacterial infection”, and “collapsed uterus” are used. Using broader and more generalized terms makes the passage easier for students to read and
Dr. Lisa Ampleman
English 101-13
10 October 2013
Killer Whales: Rhetorical Analysis of a Blog
Throughout the history of cetacean captivity, two orcas have been labeled as murderers. In the winter of 2009, at the park known as Loro Parque, an orca named Keto killed his trainer, Alexis Martinez. Exactly two months later, in Sea World Orlando, an orca known as Tilikum killed his trainer as well. Tilikum had previously been involved in the deaths of both another trainer and a park visitor. Those that do not support cetacean captivity jumped at this news, and the controversy of cetacean captivity had come out of the darkness. Several websites and blogs have been dedicated to this cause. The Orca Project, for example, expresses …show more content…
With such deliberate placement, the writer seeks to exemplify insight of the article by providing historically iconic dates in cetacean captivity, particularly those which have made an impact in media coverage of the topic. By searching through news articles of these dates, the student is immediately able to locate cover stories and breaking news videos of various attacks. Along with dates, statistics can also be found within the entry. Several times throughout the pages, the whale Tilikum appears in association with three deaths in the past years he has been held in captivity, and his being the largest whale in captivity. This means that Tilikum has a violent past, and can easily overcome a trainer. Another statistical factor that is referenced is that of Mean Duration of Captivity, or MDC. “Based upon the MMIR data, and represented in Appendix A, we have calculated the mean duration of captivity (MDC) to be less than nine years. This is regardless of whether an orca was extracted from the ocean, or born at a theme park.” This statement emphasizes that orcas live shockingly short lives while held in captivity, due to less-than-ideal living conditions. The statistics provide the student with a grasp of exactly of much or how many ways the actions of the parks have an effect on the animals living in captivity. It provides concrete evidence on which we can rely for an image of things such …show more content…
This is where pathos comes into play. Throughout the post, pictures have been placed. These pictures help appeal to the audience to get them to sympathize with the writer, and turn against those that support the idea of cetacean captivity. One example of these pictures, placed after the third paragraph, depicts a whale spouting blood out of its blowhole. This specific picture is used to shock the student and create a feeling of sympathy towards the mortally wounded creature.
As an essay intended to be accurate, one would expect more scientific terms to be placed throughout the website. But, upon further investigation, it appears that the words have been replaced by terms and phrases with the intent of generalizing for the public to read and comprehend. Instead of listing specific terms used for diagnosis of ailments and treatments or medications associated with the orcas, words such as “antibiotics”, “dorsal collapse”, “bacterial infection”, and “collapsed uterus” are used. Using broader and more generalized terms makes the passage easier for students to read and