Journal Entry #1

Picture from the 2008 Pulitzer Prize editorial cartoon winners-Michael Ramirez

1. What claim is being made?
This editorial cartoon is claiming that we should not have gas guzzling cars. We as Americans need to conserve our resources.

2. What type of claim is this?
This editorial cartoon is a claim of policy. We should not use insufficient ways to get around.

3. What types of appeals or evidence is used to support the claim?
I found that this editorial cartoon depicts the Garden of Eden. This is where God placed Adam and Eve; to live in beauty, peace and harmony, with one request. No one can take fruits from the forbidden tree for it is the root of all evil. But as the story goes, the snake (temptation/evil) tricked Eve into picking the forbidden apple from the tree and feeding it to Adam damming both their souls, and ours to temptation and sin. This cartoon has some differences from the original story to prove the claim it is trying to make, we should not have gas guzzling cars. For example, the temptation/evil is not a serpent but instead a gas pump and hose. This states that gas is the fruits of evil with its root of evil being high gas prices. Because high gas prices increasing the cost of living and stress in the environment. What is comical about the cartoon is that Eve did not have to be persuaded to use gas, she choose to buy another SUV “As a matter of fact, we just bought another SUV….” (Ramirez) This states that Americans today still choose to sin and cause frustration on their lives through unnecessary means. There is no need to fill up your 35 gallon tank to take Susie to soccer practice at the neighborhood park, why not walk? This editorial cartoon uses evidence of ethos, personal ethics and religion to convey its claim