Another Look Back, and a Look Ahead

Imagine the impact technological innovations have had on society? How much did technology influence society a decade ago, and how much does it influence society now? Technology was created from humans to become a more efficient specie. Although technology has advanced society with respect to technology and efficiency, it has also created problems not previously seen because of the use of technology. Edward Tenner, a writer and technology consultant, wrote an article titled “Another Look Back, and a Look Ahead” published in 1996. In his article Tenner argues, through the use of the rhetorical appeal ethos, compare and contrast, and cause and effect, that society is advancing at an alarming rate and suggests a “retreating from intensity” (Tenner 78) in order to allow society to slow its progression and accustom itself to new technology. Tenner uses his credibility as an exceptional writer to appeal to audiences and inform them about the subject in his article. Throughout the article, Tenner uses an extensive vocabulary and shows fluency in his writing. In the sentence, “The prognosis for revenge effects is hopeful…by replacing brute force with finesse” (Tenner 60), Tenner shows his expertise by using collegial writing skills and even introduces a term he created, “revenge effects”. He is well informed about what he is talking about and never leaves the reader guessing what he is trying to say. The fact that he was formerly employed as the science editor at the Princeton University Press makes him an even more credible source. When Tenner talks about “the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588” (Tenner 63), it demonstrates to the reader he is educated and increases ethos. By the end of the article, Tenner has effectively made his case for society to slow its technological progression.
Aside from using ethos in his article, Tenner uses compare and contrast to show his audience how technology has changed over time. Tenner provides many examples to show how they