Welcome+to+Writing+on+Science+&+Society

Welcome to “How Science Persuades”—a rhetorically based WRTG 3030 Writing Seminar that examines the relationship between science & society in shaping our contemporary world. The discipline of Rhetoric and Composition is particularly well suited for this inquiry in that it gives students the sophisticated rhetorical perspectives that will allow them to utilize a toolkit of strategies for the purpose of creating persuasive scientific writing for a range of important contemporary audiences. Selected texts—both alphabetic and image-based—from scientific journals, from the philosophy of science, from the politics of science, from mass media & popular culture, and from rhetorical theory, will ground our investigation into the scientific method and its foundational tenants of observation, evidence, and experiment. This approach emphasizes the importance of powerful persuasive writing for practicing scientists, engineers, and corporate researchers, as well as for social scientists and those in humanities, because of the complex ways that scientific thought makes its appeals to scientific audiences, to civic and policy-related audiences, to the business community, and to the broader target of popular culture. Upon fulfilling the course requirements, students will have developed an enhanced rhetorical awareness that will allow them to be skilful writers and interpreters both inside and outside the specific scientific disciplines that are so crucial to contemporary global society. Our achievement will include, but is not limited to:   · Applying rhetorical principles and practices to scientific writing for a variety of contemporary audiences.  · Directing disciplinary expertise within and beyond your discipline.  · Developing your understanding of various professional genres and forms.  · Work collaboratively on team projects, collaborative writing, and peer review.  · Understand that substantive revision is the cornerstone of fine writing.  · Develop the critical thinking skills and a toolkit of strategies that will allow you to write persuasively from project to project, and from discipline to discipline.