In Chapter 19 of his Chicago Guide to Communicating Science, author Scott L. Montgomery broaches the subject of how the public has an interest in learning more about science and how scientific writers can cater to that interest. The chapter, "Science Writing and Science Talks: Communicating with and for the Public," highlights several techniques for writers to consider in accomplishing this goal. Some ideas that Montgomery recommends be considered are is the text easy to read? Does the text include helpful transitions? Is the writing fact-based but approachable? Does the lead statement effectively deliver a key message and even even more importantly does this statement generate interest in the reader to continue reading? Has the writer included writing devices such as metaphors and alliterations? In analyzing an article written for the public about a scientific topic, I chose “Ocean Life Eats Tons of Plastic—Here’s Why That Matters,” written by Laura Parker and published in National Geographic in August 16, 2017. Like the article I reviewed last week, this one is focused on microplastics and their impact on the environment. This article particularly focuses on microplastics in the food chain and its importance to humans. Parker leverages many of the techniques that Montgomery highlights in writing her article. An example of this is in her creative and engaging lead line “Anchovies are known more as a pickled pizza topping than for their crucial place in the marine food chain.” The author’s use of imagery and metaphors immediately gets the attention of the reader as well as creating intrigue for them to learn more. Parker immediately transitions to the main focus of the article in her statements that follow. “Now scientists have confirmed a disturbing new behavior by these tiny forage fish that could have larger implications for human health: anchovies are eating tiny pieces of ocean plastic, and because they, in turn, are eaten by larger fish, the toxins in those microplastics could be transferred to fish consumed by humans.” Another important device that Parker uses to create believability and logos while making her writing consumable by the public and fact-based is to quote reputable sources such as Matthew Savoca, a post-doctoral researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Southwest Fisheries Science Center. “The scientific interest in this problem has absolutely exploded in the last five years,” Savoca says. “In the public eye, there is this idea that all the plastic out there is large pieces that we can identify. Toothbrushes, cigarette lighters, plastic bags. But the vast majority of ocean plastics are these small fragments. More than 90 percent are less than 10 millimeters long. It’s really small stuff.” It is this device of leveraging expert content and quotes that I intend to incorporate into my own writing for the final project. Doing so will help ensure that our communications plan for Save The Bay accomplishes its goals of educating the public about the criticality of the Microplastics problem while helping to make the concept more concrete for them so they know what their own behavioral change can do to help.
1 Comment
Ethan Jordan
4/2/2018 04:57:37 pm
I like that you summed up the point of Montgomery's Chapter 19 in the beginning so you can draw lines between it and your examples in your paper to proves that it fulfils the desired requirements.
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AuthorHi! I am Collin Barker and I am a Marine Biology Major at Roger Williams University, an avid reader and fish keeper. To learn more about me check out my About page. Archives
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