Questions to answer before watching this video
- In what ways do you see yourself as a writer? Are you a poet? A journalist? A blogger? What style of writing is most familiar and comfortable for you?
I don’t really write that often, besides notes for my classes, so I don’t really see myself as any specific kind of writer other than the papers or notes I write for my classes. I am definitely most comfortable with writing academic papers for English.
- What is your impression of scientific writing?
I think scientific writing is similar to an academic journal or scholarly article. It is probably pretty dry, boring, and straight to the point, with its main purpose being to inform other scientists or people who are interested in the subject.
Answer this question after you watch the video
- How do Wilson’s ideas fit with your experience or ideas about scientific writing?
Wilson’s ideas are very different from what my ideas were of scientific writing. He said that scientific writing can be creative and poetic which is most definitely not what I would expect of it.
- What, if anything, surprised you about Wilson’s description of scientists, and their emotions and values as they fit into the process of science?
I was surprised when he said that scientists and passionate and excited to perform experiments in the lab. It does seem to be accurate though because if you are in that profession, I wouldn’t expect you to be bored and uninterested. I thought it was funny that he said scientists can’t be psychopaths because they are so level-headed and focused on the outcome of their observations and experiments.
