21W.035 Science Writing for the Public
Spring 2017/Boiko
Essay 1: The Science of Everyday Life (1,000-1250 words)
Here’s an opportunity to satisfy your curiosity about the science of something close at hand, something we encounter every day but to which most of us are blissfully oblivious. Write a short essay on an aspect of “everyday” science or technology that you would enjoy sharing with readers. Though you will have to do some research, this is not meant to be written as a research essay. You will keep quotes to a minimum and mostly summarize or paraphrase your sources, just as if you were writing for a general interest magazine.
Some possible topics:
- How my guitar, cello, flute makes music
- How my bicycle, DVR, microwave, eyeglasses work(s)
- Chemistry of making bread, wine, cola, or grilling steak, or . . .
- Why my dog likes to play catch; why my canary sings
- Materials engineering and/or physics of my tennis racquet, razor scooter, skateboard
- Why hurricanes or tornadoes occur when & where they do
This essay must be accurate and clear, but that’s just the beginning. You aren’t writing a technical manual but, rather, an informal essay. So you must fascinate your reader, keep her or him reading. Your tone may be earnest or amusing, but you must convince readers that your topic matters. Some suggestions:
- Begin by choosing a topic that genuinely interests you. If you aren’t interested, your reader won’t be, either.
- Form a question or a series of questions about your topic to make your research efficient and to give your essay a shape. For example, Why does barbecued meat taste so good? What makes it taste different than meat cooked on a stove? or What allows my watch to tell time accurately? What makes it waterproof? Why are there so many puffy white clouds on summer days?
- Note that you aren’t writing a history of the science or technology involved—you are explaining how something works.
- As you write your essay, aim to present your information in a way that makes it easy for the reader to follow.
- To make your subject easier to grasp and to interest readers, you’ll probably want to begin your essay with an anecdote or a problem from personal experience. You may continue to use personal experience in your essay if it helps you relate your ideas to readers. You may also find metaphors or analogies useful in explaining your topic.