EN 2120 - Popular Science Writing

Misinformation spread in the media can have significant, and sometimes even catastrophic, consequences. As scientists, discovering and understanding truths about complex concepts is rendered useless if you cannot accurately and effectively communicate this information to the public. This course is designed to teach students effective communication skills in the format of popular science writing. Students will explore the rhetorical techniques specific to science writing. This course will be key to understanding the gaps between communication, reading literacy, and scientific literacy. Students taking this course will learn the cues and miscues of writing scientific arguments for a broad audience. Students will be tasked in writing their own popular science articles, based on information they gather from primary research journals. This course will also explore the ethical, social, and political issues that arise when the press covers crucial issues such as climate change, disease outbreaks, genetic engineering, and pollutants such as microplastics

3.00