Running head: SPEECH ANALYSIS

Speech Analysis of Paul Root Wolpes Ted Talk:

Its time to question bio-engineering
Charles Beasley
University of Kentucky

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Paul Root Wolpe discusses an overlooked scientific area of our societys evolution and
how scientists of today control the way we evolve, through bio-engineering. His tone during his
speech is one that is eager but cautious. He highlights points that show how bio-engineering has
helped our society and shaped the way we evolved in a beneficial way, however, he also sheds
light on how some of the experiments scientists have performed have raised questions that have
ethical concerns. Through his ethos, pathos, and logos, Wolpe develops his argument in a way
that almost brings about a call to action of ordinary citizens to question and be cautious when
dealing with the products and bi-products of bio-engineering.
Wolpe establishes his ethos through his use of pictures, known facts, and his personal
background. He uses pictures throughout the presentation to provide evidence, which allows him
to discuss what is right and potentially wrong with the science behind the photographs. This also
helps create logos for the presentation by logically ordering the sequence of photographs to what
he is currently talking about. The pictures go from basic bio-engineering ideas to more
complicate topics throughout the presentation which adds to the logical sense of the presentation.
This is done by his starting with a diagram of evolution, then pictures of genetically modified
animals, and finally a DNA synthesizer. He also speaks of the Darwinian Evolution theory, then
discusses how over time man has changed the course of his own evolution through civilization,
and now man has harnessed the ability to design evolutionary changes. His ethos is mainly
created through his bio underneath the video. Wolpe is the director of the Center for Ethics at
Emory University and is the chief bioethicist for Nasa; these high-level positions in his career
provide an extensive amount of support for his credibility. On the contrary, he never stated these
positions or mentioned any reason for his viewers to believe he works in the field of ethics. He
should have given some background for himself either at the beginning or during his speech,

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rather than have it in a bio section on the video website. This would add his logos by starting off
with who he is rather than just what his topic is, which logically makes sense. That way viewers
could immediately know who he is and why he is a credible source. As his ethos gives credibility
to his ability to speak on the subject matter, his pathos clearly helps the audience connect to it.
His use of pictures evokes a sense of fear, humor, and awe. These emotions directly play
into the pathos he creates throughout his speech and allows for the audience to connect to the
subject. By showing photographs of different kinds of genetically modified animals, Wolpe gives
the audience the ability to visually understand what he saying, by enhancing the viewers
experience and providing an avenue to critically think about the questions he is asking. This
creates logos for his argument by providing a structure for the flow of information he provides
on the subject. For example: in the beginning of the presentation Wolpe discussed several
genetically modified animals such as dogs, the beefalo, the geep, the cama, etc. He used the
pictures of these animals not only for visual reference but to supply the audience with evidence
and help bring about emotions, such as humor and awe, to create a sense that not all bioengineering is bad, but that it can lead to potentially dangerous avenues of science. He then uses
pictures of glowing cells and animals, while he explains how scientists have used a
bioluminescent gene found in fish and coral to make these animals glow. He points out that they
have also done it in monkey which means they can probably do it in apes and then in humans.
This progression of which animals have been given this gene provides further logos for the
argument because they are put in an order that shows their progression towards having more
DNA that is in common with humans, apes being the most common. At this point in his speech
his tone transforms from eager to cautious. He uses this to create a sense of fear in the audience
to evoke how dangerous this could be. This is all done to create that connection for the audience

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to show that this research can and will one day affect their lives. Wolpe then goes on to talk
about the genetically modified salmon which raises concerns because of what it can potentially
do to consumers. The picture of the salmon looks healthy but his cautious tone causes the
audience to question if this genetic manipulation of genes to make the fish grow faster is
ethically sound, however he points out how as a society have allowed for genetically modified
foods to be allowed in our supermarkets. He moves on to cloning and provides picture of animals
that have been cloned. This causes the audience to question if this is ethically acceptable in some
cases such as the gelding race horse, or whether some of this cloning could possible cause a
problem such as cloning humans. Logically his argument is progressing into the more
questionable bio-engineering topics which can be noted by his cautious tone which evokes the
sense of fear in the audience. Showing the pictures of the bugs and animals that are robotically
controlled, he questions the ability of scientists being able to take away the autonomy of these
animals. The pathos created throughout this argument seemingly causes the audience to critically
think about what is acceptable for bio-engineering scientists.
Wolpe uses his ethos, pathos, and logos to show the audience what exactly is happening
in these labs and ask the question of whether this is ethically acceptable. His speech is structured
through logos to make logical sense as he progresses from simple to complicated topics, and
allows for him to logically progress his use of pictures as he transitions through his topics. His
ethos is established through his bio under the video and through his use of pictures and facts. His
pathos is mainly created through pictures and his tone as he moves from an eager state to a more
cautious tone, which evoke feelings of awe and fear. Paul Root Wolpe truly raises important
ethical questions that critically look at what is allowed for bio-engineering scientists to do.

SPEECH ANALYSIS
References
Root Wolpe, P. (2010). Its time to question bio-engineering [Ted Talk]. Retrieved from
https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_root_wolpe_it_s_time_to_question_bio_engineering#t728272
PathoEthosLogos.com. (2015). Retrieved from http://pathosethoslogos.com