Promoting the Appreciation of Nature: Rhetoric in 'Last Child in the Woods' Anonymous 11th Grade

In today’s society, people are increasingly distanced from the natural world due to the rise of modern technology. Although communing with nature is a cherished tradition of Enlightenment and Transcendental philosophy and has been shown to yield many health benefits, only a few individuals find the time to explore and enjoy nature. In his book Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv harshly critiques the modern era; through the skillful usage of technological jargon, didactic tone, and anaphora, Louv encourages his audience to appreciate and re-associate themselves with nature.

Louv strategically uses technological jargon, in hopes of conveying the message that various man-made innovations have completely distracted people from appreciating nature. Opening with his grave concerns about advertising's intrusion into nature, Louv then introduces technology as the primary factor of individuals' immersion in the non-natural world. He denigrates the excessive use of technology, incorporating a plethora of technological jargon, such as “Mercedes SUV,” “GPS,” “dashboard screen,” “rear-seat and in-dash ‘multimedia entertainment products,’” and “wireless, infrared-connected headsets” to create a dizzying effect. Louv overwhelms his...