Summary Of Pamela Doughman's 'Making Climate Change Understandable'

Joseph F. C. DiMento and Pamela Doughman’s introduction to “Making Climate Change Understandable” presents an argument for climate change that denies frequent deliberate intervention with the climate by the human population but rather supports the accidental change in climate. The authors also claim that because climate change is so difficult to understand, people do not recognize it as a grave issue. Early in the text, DiMento and Doughman clearly state the purpose of the article as follows, to “explore changes in climate…address how the changes affect us…and explain what is being done to manage the changes” (DiMento 1). Although, they seem to struggle refuting arguments made by their opponents and use vague words throughout the text, the authors utilize evidence, argumentation and writing tactics to ultimately communicate their ideas.
The argument is begun by the statement “global climate change is a major societal issue that many citizens do not understand, …show more content…
Since the authors are better at presenting their view than at refusing others, this moment is where the article seems to truly begins seeing as the arguments become much deeper and they clearly explain and warrant all the “Obstacles to Understanding Climate Change” (DiMento 5). The authors tackle the topic in depth and present all its aspects fully, which is effective in proving to the reader that they have knowledge on the matter at hand. They are also successful at targeting their intended audience, which is those who find climate change difficult to understand. The article is written to agree with the audience that climate change is complicated but it provides comfort in saying it is also not impossible to understand. In the end, the authors reassure the readers by once again insisting that “this book responds to these challenges” brought forth by the debate on climate change (DiMento