Analysis of Rhetoric: Science Writing

One of the most fundamental attributes of compositional endeavors regards the depth of

the capabilities that all authors intrinsically possess. The rhetoric that authors strategize, artfully

devising a means of conveying of their ideas, may span limitless forms of media; the intentions

of which are to influence the material communicated as well as the manner in which each word

is perceived by an audience of readers. Instances of scientific writing, in which the composition

itself contains rhetoric that is often meticulously structured, technically poised, and charged with

a formal manner of delivery, differs markedly from that of science writing. The latter

compositional format achieves the conveying of ideas to a tailored audience, revealing material

that is accurate, well-formulated, and if appropriate rhetorical choices are engendered by the

author, succinctly received by their particular readers. In the individual, personalized creation of

an evident form of science writing, the decisions enacted throughout the composition best

embody the document’s intended significance and fruitful aspirations.

The choice of science writing, assuming the form of an adolescent age-appropriate

newspaper relating to the realm of scientific inquiry, effectively communicates material

concerning a current environmental phenomenon, the onslaught of oceanic plastic pollution.

Written with the intention of delivery to an audience of scientifically-inclined youth, such as

junior high students with developing ambitions of expressing a future involvement in the

scientific field, specific evidences of diction incorporated throughout the work were elected

based on ease of juvenile comprehension so as to ensure both continued understanding and

attentiveness to the information presented.

An example of such concerns the description of the qualitative evaluation of chemical

substances present in oceanic domains; rather than present increasingly scrupulous depths of
chemically developed additives, unreacted monomers and oligomers, emollients, dyes, flame

retardants, and antimicrobials permeating seawaters that were provided within the initial

scientific journal article and subsequent scientific composition utilized as a source of

information, the material in the youth-centered newspaper amounts this chemical quantity to

terms that are easily-identifiable. This strategy manages to convey the severity of the issue with a

degree of simplicity in a manner that fails to sacrifice the depth of the information delivered.

Additionally, the inclusion of conversation-oriented questions throughout the document serve to

alleviate the intimidation of juvenile student engagement with a writing of considerable length.

These rhetorical devices emphasize the construction of a relationship between the author and the

young audience while encouraging the readers’ critical thought processes concerning the

information conveyed. Finally, large, clearly labeled photographs and an informative diagram

(each with explanatory captions) function as a means to guide the attention of the audience

throughout the remainder of the newspaper articles, facilitating a realistic, practical observance

of the information delivered that children with little professional and environmental experience

are unlikely to have acquired as of yet. Each instance of rhetorical choice exemplifies the nature

of the plethora of opportunities an audience possesses in order to further their engagement with

the scientifically prevalent material provided.

The document’s intended purpose, in every instance of material structured in a manner

that expresses the gravity of this current environmental plight, is not merely to inform students of

scientific subjects and consequent professional efforts, but to inspire a youthful generation of

developing scientists, leaders, and activists, who possess both the knowledge and the means to

enact the change the earth is in such dire necessity of. By communicating the depth and severity

of such vital scientific information in a manner that promotes youth inclusivity in noble pursuits
of science, this composition serves to bridge the gap between students and professionals in the

field, allowing a sense youthful creativity in genuine scientific involvement that will harbor a

growing passion for other future scholarly endeavors. Such aspirations for the role of the

composition are furthered by the form that the document assumes.

A newspaper advocates a sense of accessibility, encouraging the distribution of

knowledge in productive manners. Though traditional newspapers are diminishing in popularity

with the rise of modern technology enabling other forms of the dispersal of information, the style

of the science writing piece is crafted with an air of this former, long-established structure of

newspapers. This choice is a deliberate means of acquiring the attention of a juvenile audience

who are accustomed to seeing a newer, modern version of news sites that seemingly lack any

aspect noticeable enough to capture the attention of current youth. By incorporating this

composition as an ode to the traditional, “vintage” style of newspapers, the intended scope of

readers is more likely to express an interest and consequently utilize the writing when seeking

relevant information. This stylistic decision also provides a connection to the past, offering this

young generational audience a glimpse into a world that typically predates themselves,

essentially piquing their curiosities and contributing to their exposure to the realm of realistic

scientific material. The multiple article format of traditional newspapers is incorporated within

the work, as well. By introducing three smaller, shorter sections of information in the form of

varying news articles rather than presenting a singular cohesive deluge of information (as in

scientific writing), young readers are more likely to finish obtaining the information in its

entirety, ultimately facilitating the advantageous experience they gain from the composition.

The very first issue of “The Scientific Inquirer: Student Edition” caters to the necessities

of aspiring scientists in their youth, serving to efficiently communicate the extent of an urgent,
real-world scientific subject in a manner that is conducive to both the continued development of

the intended audience, and a future involving systematic, practical change brought about by these

children. Rhetorical and stylistic choices contributed a significant component to the state of the

document in its entirety, including the designation of its ideas, themes, and purpose. The

aspiration is that youthful readers may benefit from this composition of science writing,

ultimately acquiring a sense of inclusion within the field of science as it pertains to the primary

environmental studies discussed, and subsequently use the information to foster their intrinsic,

curious natures for the implementation of a better, more hopeful future.