Dicaprio Persuasion

Leo DiCaprio’s 2014 United Nations Climate Summit Speech in New York City, is a powerful argument that concerns climate change. This speech presents itself as an argument of persuasion, for the present and the future regarding our planet. DiCaprio skillfully uses two modes of persuasion, which include logos and pathos, when confronting the United Nations. DiCaprio applies modes of persuasion and temporal argumentative techniques when delivering a speech to convince the audience of his viewpoint, which is what an effective orator accomplishes. Throughout the speech DiCaprio is adamant with respect to provoking action from the leaders of the world. DiCaprio states, “Honored delegates, leaders of the world, I pretend for a living but you do not.” Through this statement, DiCaprio stresses a point that climate change is a “real” problem, and not an issue to be taken lightly. Furthermore, DiCaprio is striving to inform and empower the audience that they are able to take action, unlike an actor in a movie. Repetition is a technique used for an argument of persuasion, …show more content…
It is apparent that DiCaprio does not utilize the persuasion mode, ethos, with the following quote, “I stand before you not as an expert but as a concerned citizen…). However, he does proficiently appeal to his audience through logos and pathos. First, a logical fact is declared, “...the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates…). This appeals to an audience, because it is citing a fact that one can actually see through logos. Pathos is also apparent in the construction of his speech, which entices the emotions of an audience. For example, “This is not a partisan, debate it is a human one. Clean air and a livable climate are inalienable human rights”. DiCaprio connects to his audience emotionally by clarifying that this is not an issue of politics, but rather that humans deserve a clean and healthy