21W.035

Berezin

Engaging Explanation: Making Complexity Accessible and Appealing

“When I write or edit, particularly as a piece opens, I literally feel myself to be reaching out to someone. It is as if I tap a hundred shoulders. Look, I say. Look at this, see what I found. Isn’t that something? If you are bored, the reader will be bored.” —Elise Hancock, Ideas Into Words

Due Dates:

1. Wednesday 10/6: Upload .pdf before class and have your draft accessible during class
2. Wednesday 10/13: Peer-review workshop
3. Monday 10/18: Upload your revised article by 2PM

Purpose: Explain a scientific concept or development to the public with an accurate and engaging story. This assignment is designed to introduce you to several important stages of writing about science for public: 1) identify a complex concept or issue that you do not yet understand, 2) educate yourself about the topic, 3) create a meaningful story for your audience, and 4) receive feedback and revise your story.

Remember, you’re a storyteller! Rather than simply list facts, you should craft a story that includes:

• Engaging opening lines that create an intended first impression of you and your topic, perhaps by sharing a surprising fact, asking an intriguing question, or describing a memorable example. Regardless of your opening strategy, your audience should learn early on the subject of your story and why the topic matters.
• Situate your topic in the “real” world outside of the laboratory.
• Use comparative explanations, such as metaphor, to enhance your audience’s understanding.
• Connect with your audience through ethos, pathos, and logos.

Working with Outside Sources: In order to understand a complex topic, you will need to conduct background research. Review your notes from the library session so that you can locate sources. To be transparent and trustworthy with your audience, your article must include APA style in-text citations and a Works Cited list. These citations will allow your classmates and teacher to see the intellectual paths you took in your quest to explain the topic. Note: Wikipedia can be a useful starting place, but you’ll need to dig into the actual sources that are referenced within the Wikipedia article to evaluate their trustworthiness.

Audience: Your public readers are unfamiliar with the topic being described. Accordingly, your story should be inclusive, engaging, and communicate the meaning of the information you are describing. Why should your audience be interested in your topic?

Format:

• .pdf to preserve formatting
• 1”x1” margins
• Size 12 Times New Roman font
• 600-850 words maximum (1-1.5pgs, single-spaced)
• APA style in-text citations and a Works Cited list (does not contribute to the word limit)
• Image(s) are optional, though any image you include should have a brief, informative caption

Tip: Before you submit your first draft, re-read your writing aloud to detect ideas and sentences that need to be tightened or reorganized for clarity.