Common Topics and Commonplaces of Environmental Rhetoric

Abstract

Common topics are words or phrases used to develop argument, and commonplaces aid memory or catalyze frames of understanding. When used in argumentation, each may help interested parties more effectively communicate valuable scientific and environment-related information. This article describes 12 modern topics of environmental rhetoric, identified from 125 interviews, and discusses them in relation to their topical fluidity and managerial, generative, and encapsulated utility: “Al Gore,” “balance,” “common sense,” “environment as setting,” “experience,” “extremism,” “man’s achievements,” “pragmatism,” “proof,” “religion,” “recycling,” and “seeing is believing.” Findings suggest that “environment” is a complex topic with many potential implications—using topics common to environmental rhetoric to shape argumentation may facilitate more productive environment-related communication.

Motives and social actor positioning: the representation of the Chilean student movement in the national press

“…rhetorical strategies) in the construction of narratives (cf. Myers & Macnaughten, 1998;Ross, 2013). There are also references to leftist, political, legal discourses that support the undemocratic nature of the right-wing government as well as the legitimate actions undertaken by the students.…”

Public Sphere and Dialogue Communication about Conservation in Kepulauan Seribu National Park

“…Penelitian mengenai dialog kritis oleh Sutarto (1999),yang menganalisis dialog kritis antara golongan elit dan warga desa dalam pembangunan; Schwandt (2001) melihat implikasi dialog kritis dan nilai serta makna dialog kritis dan Karlsson (2001) dialog kritis nilai dan maknanya, yang antara lain digunakan untuk menggambarkan pendekatan dialogis dalam praktek evaluasi stakeholder. Penelitian mengenai komunikasi lingkungan antara lain diambil dari penelitian Ahmad et al(2011), Caron et al (2011), Hansen (2011), Ross (2013), Ongare et al (2013), Dairymple (2013), Wynveen et al (2014), Pleasant et al (2002) mengenai perspektif praktis literatur komunikasi lingkungan, York & Mancus (2009).Penelitian mengenai pengurangan risiko lingkungan melalui komunikasi, strategi komunikasi lingkungan di antara pemangku kepentingan yang berbeda, tentang retorika lingkungan, melihat EVWs (Environmental World Views) dan kesadaran akan dampak lingkungan serta studi komunikasi lingkungan di Kenya dan Bostwana, ada pula penelitian terkait konservasi, yaitu penelitian Mahmud et al 2015, Yulianto et al (2011), Abubakar (2010), Marliana (2011), Harpin dan Satria (2015).…”

Rhetoric and Cape Town’s Campaign to Defeat Day Zero

“…This study thus opted for a rhetorical criticism of the Defeat Day Zero campaign artifacts to understand the framing, the design, the rhetorical appeals, and perhaps ideological stance manifested in that campaign. Topics and commonplaces were also applicable to understanding the communication artifacts because commonplaces functioned to “bring an audience to a place of understanding through shared awareness of a situation/topic” (Myers & Macnaghten, 1998; Ross, 2013, p. 97). In addition, the circulation of these artifacts were a factor in spreading awareness and drumming up support to dispense with wasteful ways of water use and take up new more sustainable habits.…”

“…It is in this vein therefore that I examine the rhetorics of the digital campaign waged by the city of Cape Town to defeat Day Zero. The case of Day Zero exemplifies apocalyptic rhetoric and functions as “both common topics of environmental rhetoric and commonplaces” (Ross, 2013, p. 92). Consistent with the way they are held in rhetorical studies, commonplaces integrate forms of appeal (logos, pathos ethos) as communicative acts aimed at motivating action.…”