Rubio 1

Rubio, Sebastian
Professor Matthew Wilson
Writing 2
31 May 2016
WP2 Portfolio Revised Version
The consumption of non-renewable sources like oil, gas, and coal is increasing at an
alarming rate. Solar panels have been extensively studied and it has been determined that the
daily demand for energy can be satisfied by these photo voltaic cells, however there are
implication to their construction. Take the idea of a solar panel and analyze it for a minute.
Hypothetically if youre an electrical engineer you would understand the concept of their
construction, and if you are a biologist; the benefit of them on living organisms. Similarly,
although both environmental scientists and astrogeophysics are both seen as science based fields
they both approach the concept of solar panels and analyze it in different ways. Those within the
discipline of ecology focus on the benefits the panels have on the environment whereas those in
the geophysics field focus on the overall function and concept of how the panels work.
Environmentalists will skew the whole discussion into a cost benefit analysis in order to see
show that the protection of the environment is the number one priority. An astrogeophysicist will
focus on the whole process of how the solar corona beams solar winds and how through those
traveling flares we are able to harness the radiation of the sun. Both disciplines focus on the
scientific genre of solar panels due to the differences in rhetorical purpose.
A major role and purpose of an ecologist is to bring awareness to climate change, and to
increase the level of our societys sustainability. As a result environmentalists shape the topic of
solar panels with a bias because of their beliefs. These green allies wont question their purpose,

Rubio 2

however theyll inform the public of how their benefit outweighs the cost of constructing them.
In Environmental Impacts from the Solar Energy Systems the authors mainly inform the audience
about the benefits of incorporating solar panels into society, and provide hypothetical solutions to
problems with solar panel construction. There are miscellaneous precautions that could be taken
to minimize the environmental impacts of the solar energy systems. Because of the toxic
substances used in the solar cell modules, it will be wise toresearch the possibilities of
recycling. (Gunerhan). In all ways, the environmentalists want to be weary of every step they
take in order to prevent environmental degradation, or help prolong it. The authors embed basic
diction to make sure anyone can pick up the article and understand the material provided. In
William Zinssers Simplicity, he mentions how the purpose of its simplicity is to help appeal to a
larger audience, in this case that would be the different forms of alternative energy resources.
The evidence presented in the articles text comes in the form of simple pictures and
diagrams accompanied by explanations. The evidence is presented in a way that uses a sense of
urgency in order to elicit immediate worry and a response from the audience. The author claims
Extensive fossil fuel consumption in almost all human activities has led to some undesirable
phenomena such as atmospheric and environmental pollutions, which have not been experienced
before in known human history. (Gunerhan). Environmentalists investigate claims and theories
about climate change and how the incorporation of alternative resource technologies can aide
this human driven disaster. The evidence provided by the authors is not very difficult to interpret
and the text seems to encompass a pro and con list. Most of the discussion about the solar panels
includes a basic cost and benefit analysis along with instructions of how and where solar panels
should be built. The conventions found within the journal article serve the rhetorical purpose of
including different communities as they dont have to be limited to only academic communities.

Rubio 3

It matters to the discipline because ecologists try to inform as many people as they can about the
environmental injustices that occur (Swales).
Astrogeophysicists focus on the concept and theory of how it works within the topic of
solar panels. Within the given genre they set up more formal and academic levels of diction,
excluding many from their discourse community. In A Guide to the Solar Corona, Donald E.
Billings formats his text with select jargon that would not easily be known by the public. This
inside knowledge limits who can identify within the community. Sentence fragments like The
function can be represented as a Fourier integral and the superposition of an infinite number of
harmonic oscillations perpetuates a sense of exclusivity within the readers. (Billings). The text
included in the thermal emissions chapter of the book is simply a more formal way of saying
that as flares radiate from the sun, there is an equation that tracks flare movement in order to use
their power to its best potential. In Kerry Dirks Navigating Genres, he mentions how writers set
up conventions or requirements to serve their purpose. The idea behind their rhetoric is to
exclusively inform other scholars of their academic level on how the solar corona affects the
Earth.
Much like there is differences in their line of work, astrogeophysicists also use their
evidence for their claims in many different ways. In Billings book what he writes is for a small
discourse community because of high education level. Similarly, Billings also provides
mathematical proofs as evidence for all his claims and its difficult to understand a function when
you dont know what the variables in the equation mean. If one assumes isometric scattering, he
finds that J is related to Ne, according to equation (6) (Billings). Assuming we know the
concept of isometric scattering we would then be posed with the new problem of figuring out
its application to thermal emissions based on a couple of mathematical symbols. The key note

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here is that Billings provides the necessary evidence for all his claims and he does it so
eloquently; the downside of it is, that youll have to do research to understand his level of
academia. Since most of the book is based on research that he has conducted, the questions he
brings up are questions he once had and has now answered. In the prologue he asserts that he
sought out too debunk all his confusions with evidence he has collected and he does not bring up
any more questions until the end. The reason behind this, is that he does not know all there is to
know yet, and that he has more to learn. Ironic seeing as we know nothing about what he claims,
despite the concrete evidence.
Both astrogeophysicists and environmentalists shape the topic of solar panels in similar
ways based on their disciplines. Dana Driscoll claims that research is defined.widely from
field to field. So if we further analyze what agenda of scientific study they wish to assess wed
see their viewpoints on the topic differ. The conventions of each piece are tailored to the rhetoric
of what the author(s) want to portray. Whether it be to inform the public or to evoke academic
conversation with those who understand your line of discipline. The discourse communities cross
over based on just the topic of solar panels, however the environmentalists focus their work and
evidence on discussing the implications/benefits of solar panels whereas those in the astrogeophysical discipline focus on explaining how solar panels work in absorbing solar flares and
wind radiation.

Bibliography

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1. Billings, Donald E. A Guide to the Solar Corona. London: Academic Press, 1966.
2. Dirk, Kerry. "Navigating Genres." Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 1. West
Lafayette, IN: Parlor, 2010. 249-62. Print.
3. Driscoll, Dana Lynn. "Introduction to Primary Research: Observations, Surveys, and
Interviews." Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 2. West Lafayette, IN: Parlor,
2010. 153-73. Print.
4. Gunerhan, H., A. Hepbasil, and U. Giresunlu. "Environmental Impacts from the Solar Energy
Systems." Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 31,
no. 2 (November 26, 2008): 131-38. April 30, 2016.
5. Swales, John. The Concept of Discourse Community. Genre Analysis: English in Academic
and Research Settings. Boston: Cambridge UP, 1990. 21-32. Print.
6. Zinsser, William. "Simplicity." Simplicity. New York: Harper & Row, 1980. Web. 02 June
2016.