Furthermore, Kennedy chooses an argumentative mode of discourse. He takes a position on the issue and stands by it. Kennedy opposes the idea of the Cape Wind project on Nantucket Sound. His essay is set up like a persuasive essay. Kennedy begins with exposing his main argument, while acknowledging the other side. He writes “As an environmentalist, I support wind power, including wind power on the high seas…But I do believe that some places should be off limits to any sort of industrial development. I wouldn’t build a wind farm in Yosemite National Park. Nor would I build one on Nantucket Sound…” Then, Kennedy provides examples and descriptions, one after another. The examples are the body paragraphs of the persuasive essay. They are the reasons and the descriptions are the details that support the examples. The descriptions only strengthen the reasons by adding a sense of reality to the reader because now he or she can visualize it. Kennedy rationalizes that Nantucket Sound is among the most densely traveled boating corridors in the Atlantic. The detail that he supports the reasoning is that the towers will be close to the main navigation channels for cargo ships, ferries, and fishing boats. And because the area is infamous for their fogs and storms, collisions are inevitable. In this way, it is very difficult to not agree with Kennedy, especially because there are consecutive paragraphs that supply the audience with so many examples. Each one is more intense than the last; it starts out with Kennedy pointing out the monetary irresponsibility of Cape Wind and ends with arguments that the turbines impact the local economy and the environment of the Cape region. Kennedy then has concession paragraphs that give points about what his uncle did to help preserve Nantucket Sound and why it needs to be preserved. He agrees that there should be something done to reap the same benefits as the Cape Wind project and suggests alternatives, such as the Scottish deep-water wind project that is also mentioned in Broadhurst’s essay. The argumentative mode of discourse is makes the essay a powerful case because Kennedy provides reasons for rejecting the wind turbines. The line between an opinion and a legitimate argument is how one defends himself. Kennedy proves to his readers that he can justify his case.
Kennedy’s writing style was big in developing his argument. His use of descriptive language is consistent throughout the entire essay. A very large part in the essay was Kennedy’s practice of descriptive language and imagery to make his emotional case. The reader can not but be moved when he says, “The humane society estimates the whirling turbines could every year kill thousands of migrating songbirds and sea ducks,” or when he makes an ardent petition about the charm and appeal of Cape Cod. His central argument is that wind turbines would desecrate the natural beauty of Nantucket Sound and in turn, have adverse effects on the region. Kennedy writes, “There are those who argue that... Cape Cod is far from pristine... and that Cape Wind’s turbines won’t be a significant blot. I invite these critics to see the pods of humpback, minke, pilot, finback, and right whales off Nantucket, to marvel at the thousands of harbor and gray seals lolling, to chase the dark clouds of terns and shorebirds descending over the thick menhaden schools exploding over acre-sized feeding frenzies of striped bass, bluefish, and bonita.” He rebuts his opponents’ allegations using lucid descriptions of Cape Cod’s magnificence. Kennedy uses description as an extremely effective and central part of his argument against the Cape Wind turbines. The illustration of windmills as instruments of demolition allows him to persuade the readers that the massive wind turbines can destroy the utopian Nantucket Sound. As a result, Kennedy is able to guilt the reader into supporting his anti-Cape Wind position. Kennedy is so successful because he reaches his audience emotionally and tricks them to feel that if they are supporting Cape Wind, they are also supporting a felony against nature in Nantucket Sound itself.
Lastly, Kennedy’s second apparent writing style was the application of a specific tone in his essay. Kennedy’s enthusiasm and passion for the topic clearly shows throughout the essay, and only adds to his strategy of appealing to the audience’s emotions. The passages in which Kennedy discusses the turbines’ possible impact on fishermen and describes the aesthetic of Cape Cod show that this is an issue that is very close to him. This topic is something that he obviously really cares about, and that helps Kennedy establish his credibility with the reader. He passionately describes the area, “I urge them to come diving on some of the hundreds of historic wrecks in this “graveyard of the Atlantic,” and to visit the endless dune-covered beaches of Cape Cod, our fishing villages immersed in history and beauty, or to spend an afternoon netting blue crabs or mucking clams, quahogs and scallops by the bushel on tidal mud flats…” He uses words and phrases like “beauty” and “endless dune-covered beaches” to draw in the reader and lets them know that he, himself, is very fond of Nantucket Sound. However, there is always a hint of antagonism in his tone; it especially shows when he addresses his critics. He uses words like “I invite” and “I urge” to refer to them. The use of the hortative expresses that Kennedy truly wants to prove to the critics that they are wrong. Kennedy’s tone throughout his piece further permit him to emotionally inspire the audience and consequently, he pulls the reader to his side of the dispute.
Kennedy’s strategy in this essay is clear. He targets the audience’s emotions and sympathy in order to win over their vote in opposing wind turbines and he is able to do this through his cause and effect organization, his argumentative mode of discourse, and in his tone and use of imagery. Kennedy’s essay is well written and successfully defends the argument against wind turbines.