Analyzing Message in "A Fracking Good Story"

In the following blog post I will analyze the message in my chosen text, "A Fracking Good Story," through responses to specific questions.

Arvanitakis, Giannis. "Power transfer" 5/23/2014 via Flickr. Attribution-NonCommercial License

Out of all the bullet points listed for "Message and Purpose" on page 181, which two or three seem most relevant to the goals of your text's author/s? Why?

• persuade an audience of something
• express an idea or opinion
• move the readers to feel a certain way

The whole purpose of the article is to show how fracking is the most efficient energy source to combat climate change and convince the reader that they should support its use.

Which bullet points do not seem relevant to the goals of your text's author/s? Why not?

• respond to a particular occasion or text
• reflect on a topic
• advocate for change
• analyze, synthesize, or interpret

The fracking controversy can't be traced to a specific event or text, so that bullet point is irrelevant. The author doesn't reflect or analyze the fracking industry, he presents an argument instead. As far as advocating for change, the fracking industry is already established so he is doing the opposite, he is speaking out against the possibility of change.

Are there nuances and layers to the message the author(s)/speaker(s) is/are trying to get across? If so, what are they? If not, why not?

The message is pretty straightforward: fracking is benefiting the United States and should therefore continue to be used, however references to the failed policies of renewable energy and taxes enacted in Europe suggest that the author is also aiming to convince Americans, and perhaps anyone who reads the article, that those policies should not be attempted elsewhere.