Technical Communication Quarterly Dec 2008

Public Communication of Climate Change Science: Engaging Citizens Through Apocalyptic Narrative Explanation

Philippa Spoel Laurentian University ; David Goforth Laurentian University ; Hoi Cheu ; David Pearson Laurentian University

Abstract

Working from the premise that public input is essential to science policy deliberations, we analyze how two recent works of public communication about climate change (An Inconvenient Truth and Climate Change Show) draw on the rhetorical resource of apocalyptic narrative explanation to promote scientific fluency and inspire citizen engagement in the issues. By weaving together the proofs of ethos, logos, and pathos within a framework of cultural rationality, these narratives illustrate available means of persuasion for stimulating the public's informed participation in science policy discussions.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2008-12-04
DOI
10.1080/10572250802437382
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Topics
rhetorical criticism argument
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