Causal Analysis

Causal Analysis

From presidents to pundits, public figures writing about current events find themselves relying on “expert opinion” that is itself open to interpretation. So do individual citizens. This short piece by Jonah Goldberg, a political commentator and global warming skeptic, typifies the dilemma. Not a scientist himself, Goldberg is in no position to make authoritative claims about the causes of climate change. But he can — and does — raise questions about how the studies are being reported to the public.

Reading the Genre

Goldberg is expressing a decidedly minority opinion in this cause-and-effect argument: The scientific consensus favoring human influence on climate change is overwhelming. If you find Goldberg credible, point to strategies in the piece he uses to establish his ethos. If you are unimpressed by his analysis, explain why he is unable to win you over.

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