Rhetorical Analysis Of Let There Be Dark

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Light is essential to our lives, life flourishes in the morning and grows, but in the dark we rest and relax, many of us have forgotten this and are now surrounding ourselves with light sources of all kinds.

In response to this behavior, author Paul Bogard asserts that light pollution endangers natural darkness and urges his audience consider living a less bright life and enjoy the sky as dark as it should be. In his article "Let There Be Dark,” he conveys this through citing facts, appealing to audience’s emotion, and utilizing vivid language.

The author begins by describing the beauty of a dark sky, painting a lovely image in the minds of his readers, urging them to imagine themselves observing such scene. This makes the audience feel involved and connected with the author, which intrigues them further. Bogard then raises the concern that one day a generation of children might not be privileged enough to witness the magic of a dark sky, which worries his audience and pulls their attention into his argument.
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Furthermore, Bogard gives examples of other animals who depend on darkness as well, making it clear that light pollution is harmful to every creature and not only humans, which provides credence to the author’s claims. The author then offers solutions to this problem, saying "Already, many cities and towns across North America and Europe are changing to LED streetlights, which offer dramatic possibilities for controlling wasted light" He also mentions that in cities like Paris, the government is controlling light wastage, which helps both economically and environmentally. This furthers his argumentation because it shows how steps can be and are being taken to ensure humanity preserves its dark

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