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Chapter 8: Communicating Science in the Public Realm

Activities and Assignments

Activities and Assignments

Write a short-answer essay (1-3 paragraphs) on one or more of the following questions, then submit your answers to your instructor.

This activity contains 5 questions.

	In Chapter 8 we have seen how medicine is described as warfare, etc. Develop a metaphorical way of talking about a subject in your field, and write a short essay using that metaphor and extending it into an analogy. What audience(s) would be interested in the way you have described the subject? That is, for what audience(s) would the metaphor be adapted and/or offer the most appeal? Why?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Find a scientific subject in your field at one of the journal URLs contained in this Web site, or in a journal or Web site in your field. Choose a specific newspaper or magazine targeted at a general audience (The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, etc.), write a short article for that newspaper or magazine using the techniques of narration, definition, analysis, example, metaphor, and graphics as discussed in Chapter 8.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Take one of the posters by Burkholder, Life Cycles of Toxic Pfiesteria Species or Dinoflagellate Bloom in the Neuse Estuary, and create a 10-minute oral presentation for a specific public audience. First, ask what audience would be appropriate AND interested in AND/OR need this topic? Then write the presentation based on audience interests and needs, including a new introduction, background, argument, and conclusion. Adapt and appeal to your audience by using the techniques of narration, definition, analysis, example, metaphor, and graphics discussed in Chapter 8. (Be sure to pay attention to the adaptation or creation of new graphics for an oral presentation to this audience.)   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Compare and contrast Huyghe's use of the audience adaptation techniques of narration, definition, analysis, example, metaphor, and graphics in his article, "Killer Algae," contained in Chapter 11 (pages 293-298) with Daemon's use of them in "Solving the Mystery of Pfiesteria". What is similar in their approach to the subject? Do they treat it in the same way using similar audience adaptation strategies? What, if anything, makes these articles different? In addition to more closely examining each author's use of narration, definition, analysis, example, metaphor, and graphics, you also may want to reflect on your class discussion of Figure 8.1. Which article do you prefer, and why?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Go the EPA fact sheet in Chapter 11 (pages 350-255). Use parts of the information contained in the fact sheet to write a press release or short news article for a specific newspaper in your hometown. In writing for your hometown newspaper, you will need to consider not only your audience—who your readers actually would be—but also your purpose for writing a piece about Pfiesteria: Why would readers in your hometown actually need or want to know about Pfiesteria? (For example, if you live on a coast, are your readers directly or potentially affected by the dinoflagellate? If you don't live on a coast, are they indirectly affected through a recreational sport such as fishing, or generally interested because of the dinoflagellate's effect on the economy or food supply?) Let the answer to this question guide your approach to the story, as well as the information from the fact sheet that you select for inclusion.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

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