Reference no: EM133895292
Assignment: Science Topics in the Real World
In everyday life we frequently encounter news stories that discuss the latest scientific developments or trends. As you go throughout your day, how do you know if these stories are an accurate representation of the research?
When scientists discover something new and interesting, those findings are first presented to their peers in scientific journal articles. After that, journalists take the complex, scientific writing and translate it into a number of more accessible types of writing. Journalists may write the article based on a summary of the primary material or based on an interview the with researcher(s). The science writing found in newspapers, brief articles, blogs, and websites are all examples meant inform the general public and explore the implications of the research.
For the assignment you will sharpen your awareness of how science is communicated to the public.
- Locate a popular-media article on a science story of interest, potential topics are listed below.
- Trace it back to the original primary research article.
- Write a comparative analysis between the popular article and the scientific publication.
In the analysis, provide a clear description of the press article you located. Keep in mind, the instructor has not read the information. Be specific in the details as you summarize the article. You may need to include details from the primary source.
After the summary, use the following prompts to assist with the comparative analysis.
1. Describe the scope of each article
- What information is covered?
- How much detail and complexity are included?
2. Explain the focus of information in each article. Are different details emphasized between the two?
3. Assess how the language may have been changed to suit each audience's level of interest and understanding.
4. Consider the primary purpose of each article.
- The primary science article usually aims to present information to other scientists.
- The popular press article may be using the information to promote or sell.
5. Does the press article link the scientific article to a bigger concern?
6. When would someone use this knowledge in the real world? So what? Why?
Possible Topic Areas
- Climate Change
- Deforestation
- Coral Reefs
- Ocean Health
- Invasive Species
- Endangered Species
- Forever Chemicals
- Microplastics
- Vaccinations
- Genetically Modified Foods
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Space Travel/Space Colonization
- Artificial Intelligence/Robotics
- Self-Driving Cars
- Healthcare