Running head: THE OCEANS WORST ENEMY 1

The Oceans Worst Enemy

Lesly Contreras

Arizona State University

Abstract

In the following essay, a visual text is analyzed to discover how the author uses strategies

effectively to advocate the problem of plastic pollution to the audience. By analyzing the visual

text, it can help identify the different details put together in order to inform and persuade the

audience why plastic pollution is bad.

Keywords: Plastic, pollution, analyze

The Oceans Worst Enemy

Paper or plastic? A common question asked almost on a daily basis, whether it is for

research purposes, surveys conducted by students, or maybe even in grocery stores due to its

controversy. Not everyone will agree on one or the other, or maybe even care at the current rate

of global warming. Though both paper and plastic have their share of pros and cons, plastic

pollution has been a recurring issue. There has been a countless number of articles and visual

texts that concern the problem of plastic pollution notifying people to make a change.

More so, plastic pollution rates have risen dramatically over the years. Many studies have

been conducting and concluding how much more plastic will be affecting the oceans at the

current rate in the future to come if people do not act upon recycling. When it comes to the topic

of pollution in the ocean, most of us will readily agree that it has negatively impacted not only

humans but the animals in the ocean as well as birds. Where this agreement usually ends,

however, is on the question of, “Is recycling effective to the oceans?”. While some are convinced

that pollution is a big issue due to people not recycling, others believe that recycling is only

making the problem worse. The stance of this visual text is favoring that plastic pollution is

rising and hurting the environment as a whole more than it is realized.

Some effects of plastic pollution, result in many sea mammals and birds harmed painfully

or even dying. The visual text allows the audience to recognize the worldwide issue and possibly

enhance their future decisions concerning the problem. In the visual text analyzed, the author

effectively indicates the reality of pollution in the ocean harming people, animals, and the

environment by advocating the problem through various techniques.

In the visual text by the Surfrider Foundation, the author emphasizes the text that is eye

catching to the audience: “What goes in the ocean goes in you”. The author does this by making
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the blue lettering capitalized and bolded in a

bigger font than other texts in the visual. They

also include a period to conclude the statement

they are giving to emphasize their seriousness

about the problem towards the audience as it

deeply pertains to them. The statement coincides

with the picture itself which is two sushi rolls

wrapped in plastic bags instead of seaweed. This

causes the audience to fill up with emotion, such

as agony and guilt but with hope from the author

that it results in a positive outcome.

Most of us can say that some of our favorite memories is enjoying the day or vacations

with our family and friends. In some cases, these memories can take place on a public beach

especially during the hot summer days. Public beaches in the United States are very popular and

it is statistically shown by the US Census, that over 58 million people visit a public beach during

the year. Each day a beach is visited, multiple pieces of trash is leftover on the shoreline and is

washed out into the ocean by the waves. These public beaches that were once our favorite places

to spend time with family and friends, are becoming our least favorite due to all the pollution

making it difficult to enjoy.

Not only does this visual text rile up the emotions of the audience but also provides

important logical information that will allow them to feel more up to date and comfortable with

the problem. The author includes a study that was conducted which says, “Recent studies

estimate that fish off the west coast ingest over 12,000 tons of plastic a year…” more so it
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logically communicates that not only is the plastic pollution harming humans but as well as

animals. For example, sea turtles have been a huge victim. They get plastic straws up their nose

and also get stuck in rings of plastic with no help of getting out. Seagulls are also affected

drastically as they too might get stuck through rings of plastic, and they consume much of the

plastic and trash left behind on the beach. Given that the study is only referring to the west coast,

animals such as sea turtles are harmed by the plastic washed out into the ocean. It is also added

on at the end of the case study the website in which people can explore to find out more about

the background and what they are able to do to help.

In other perspectives, others can disagree that plastic pollution in the oceans is not a

worldwide problem. One can say that it is easily fixable by throwing all plastic waste into the

ocean so there isn’t any worry about it decomposing on earth. Others will also claim that it is

more effective and cheaper to throw plastic waste in the oceans instead of burning or throwing it

in the dump so it does not contribute to air pollution. Many people also have a mentality to

recycle and make a change but also believe not recycling one water bottle won’t hurt. Usually

there isn’t worry on this mentality by these same people since they’re just 1 out of 7.5 billion

people in the world and because they aren’t noticing a change. Though these claims can be

respected, plastic varies in rate of decomposition. Plastic bags alone can take up as little as 10

years to decompose or even longer. In the ocean, plastic breaks off into little pieces as it is

decomposing so it is harmful either way. Also, some people tend to have the same mentality

which actually does make a difference. Instead we should normalize recycling habits in a better

approach to reduce pollution.

The visual text gives a sense of credibility and urgency towards its audience. By

including the logo of the Surfriders Foundation alone, the audience is given a more credible and
THE OCEANS WORST ENEMY 6

honest source. The author wants to make it clear that

the problem is very meaningful to them and wants to

include their audience the same way by including the

word “you”. After looking at the Surfrider

Foundation logo, it instantly made me more

comfortable due to the organization's mission: “The

Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean, waves

and beaches through a powerful activist network”. They also utilize the word “year” to identify

that the problem is getting worse as time goes by. They ensure to make the visual text credible in

order for the audience to share it around with friends and family and hope to get more people to

help make a change.

The Surfrider Foundation started with only a few surfers that were passionate about their

hometown beach and expanded greatly to protect many other beaches aside from their own. I

personally enjoy going to public beaches every chance I get, especially in the summertime.

Seeing these public beaches filled with trash left behind is devastating, and definitely changes

my outlook on the problem as it should to others.

Many people can agree that the idea of plastic pollution in oceans is harmful and life

threatening, as where others may disagree that it is easily fixable and will not last longer than

anticipated. As pollution continues over the years, more animals will be in no condition to safely

live in their environment. Public beaches will be less accessible due to the amount of trash that

will be near the shoreline. According to several studies, there will be more plastic waste in the

ocean than there will be fish in about 30 years. Due to these studies, they are trying to encourage

people to not use plastic at all and instead use more environment friendly water bottles that are
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reusable. With the result of this visual ad and many other similar ads that pertain to this issue,

can possibly change many individuals lifestyles.

No one wants to plan to spend their day off, under the sun at a dirty beach with waste

everywhere. Family fun days at the beach are turning into a disappointment from the amount of

pollution washing up to the shore lines. The same way it is hurting and unsatisfying people, it is

having the same effect on the animals and birds. The visual text concerning plastic pollution, is

striving for a new change in order for a better lifestyle among people, animals, and a daily

lifestyle.
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Works Cited

{pg_title}. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.surfrider.org/psa/entry/rap-sushi

About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.surfrider.org/about

Graft, A. (n.d.). Travel and Tourism Statistics: The Ultimate Collection. Retrieved from

https://blog.accessdevelopment.com/tourism-and-travel-statistics-the-ultimate-collection