A precursive assignment intended to gauge my opinions towards writing and science.

What is your science major, and what are your career goals?

My major is chemistry, and I hope to enter medical school.

Do you like writing?

No, I find writing to be very challenging and something I’m not good at.

Do you consider science writing difficult? Explain.

I find writing in general difficult, so having to write something that is specific/specialized can also be hard for me. In fact, I don’t think I can verbalize or articulate my ideas well, and having to use an arsenal of vocabulary that is used for science would probably just confuse me more.

Do you think deciphering science texts is complex or requires a higher level of education to understand? Explain.

I don’t think deciphering science texts requires a higher level of education to understand, but I do think that there is a learning curve involved. I have been reading research papers since I was a sophomore in high school. From time to time, it still requires a great deal of effort, but I think that all that is needed is patience and perseverance. I think that research papers should be accessible to everyone, but the jargon involved can make it difficult to understand.

Have you ever had to assist a family member or friend with deciphering or communicating (verbal or written) a science-related issue (medical/health/environmental/technology/)? What were some of the challenges, how did you resolve the problem, and what would you do differently moving forward?

No, but I have had help from my older sibling in deciphering research and scientific terms since she is a biochemistry graduate.

Describe how you would communicate a crucial science-related issue to the community you live. Consider the language or ethnic dialect, education, and medium (essay, news brief, poster, radio, TV ad) best for disseminating the information to the people representing your neighborhood.

When communicating a science-related issue to the community I live in, I think the most important thing is the accessibility of “scientific language” and the jargon used. It wouldn’t be fair to assume someone knows what I’m talking about since we come from all different kinds of backgrounds, so I think the way to remedy this would be to break down complex terms into simpler ones, and speak as if we are having a casual conversation.

7. What are two characteristics of an “articulate” speaker? Do you consider a person having these qualities intelligent? Explain.

An articulate speaker is someone who takes their audience into consideration, and is engaging. I don’t think articulation and intelligence go hand in hand, but I do think articulation is reflective of a person’s awareness and maturity.

8. Describe what you consider a flaw in your writing or speech and what you wish to improve or expect from taking writing about sciences class.

I don’t think I’m articulate nor concise. In fact, I think I tend to stutter a lot and struggle to find the right words to use. I hope I learn how to format sentences in a better way.

9. Explain why Standard American English makes science writing more accessible to the general public. There is no right or wrong answer. You do not have to agree, but please explain your response.

I believe that science is perpetually changing, and new discoveries are always being made. So, in a sense, science is “news,” which the public has a right to pursue. For the same reasons that libraries exist, the people have a right to stay informed about the world we live in.