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The Analytical Approach to the Literary Practices of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
Lovedeep Singh
Writing 2
6/12/17
Literary Practices of Biology 2
The Analytical Approach to the Literary Practices of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
The sciences have always been labeled as the opposite of the Humanities. Those who
study science are consistently seen as subpar writers, and those who study writing are seen as
inadequate in the sciences. However, both subjects are not so distinct after all. Ecology,
Evolution and Marine Biology has literary conventions, just like writing does. These conventions
or guidelines are known as literary practices, which are general cultural ways of utilizing
written language which people draw upon in their lives (Barton, 2016, 60). As a biology student
and having been exposed to countless scientific literary pieces, the literary practices that
biologists most commonly utilize are objectivity, accuracy and clarity in the explanation of
theories, and the understanding of visual representations. With these practices, biology can be
theories without including any sort of bias or personal beliefs because that allows for a clear
explanation and the information stays pure and credible (Tiffney). Even in academics, my
professors ecology lecture slides are unbiased, with strictly factual points (Nafez, Personal
Interview). This strategy is used to highlight the theory, not the scientist. As biologists, it is
imperative to focus on the details being explained and not the unnecessary fluff. Being direct and
straight to the point is a common technique found in all scientific works. In Grimes (1989)
that Competition for light imposes a severe drain on the carbon and energy reserves of the
plant. (180) Statements like these embody the essence of scientific writing. This statement
explains an issue at hand and does not waste time in telling us what is going on. Not only does
Literary Practices of Biology 3
this statement educate us, but it also emphasizes the convention of being objective and trying to
remove any bias. Another property of being objective is having an authoritative tone. In the
genetic studies of phytoplankton, the author states, These last two approaches may therefore
work well for the amplification of the rRNA gene and mitochondrial DNA, which are generally
present in multiple copies in the genome (Frommlet, 2008). The author creates a stable,
concrete tone through the utilization of transition words and a definitive conclusion from his
observations. Furthermore, words like impacts and determines help create a more analytical,
data-driven approach rather than just opinions. Biologists use objectivity by expressing
authoritative tone.
Biologists also appreciate structure and clarity when communicating in biological terms.
Doing so begins with a predictable format for writing and using proper, scientific vocabulary
(Nafez, Personal Interview). Researchers often format scholarly articles into distinct blocks: an
abstract, some background, data, results, and a conclusion. This common format serves as a map
for readers and allows them to find information more smoothly, and each section gives context
into what they will be reading about. Professor Carlson expects us as students to be able to
identify the research and discuss the results and conclusions drawn from them. Having seen these
sections in scholarly articles gives us an idea of what we are expected to do, and understanding
Proper terminology creates a more educated and trusted atmosphere. Knowing the
definitions of common scientific terms such as phytoplankton, mRNA, genome, etc. aid in
communication with professors and researchers. It also helps create a more accurate statement if
you know the definitions of the terms you are using. There will not be any miscommunication or
Literary Practices of Biology 4
errors in discussing theories if you are educated on the terminology. Students in Ecology,
Evolution, and Marine Biology become fluent in biological terminology because of their
exposure to all the content from lectures, the textbook and accessory readings. Major terms such
as genotype (the genetic makeup of an organism) and PCR (Polymerase chain reaction is a
study living organisms, and if you are doing anything imprecisely, you will not be able to make
any discoveries and are just wasting your time. Being able to present correct and essential
swift and direct manner. Accurate information all starts with a solid foundation of knowledge, so
that academic articles in the biological field make sense. Accuracy helps to maintain effective
communication amongst peers and superiors and induces a more academic environment.
representations vary from graphs and charts all the way to detailed drawings of archegonia of
liverworts. It is essential to be able to decipher these visual representations, and having that
knowledge should be one of the first skills you acquire to be successful in biology. For example,
in Grimes (1989) scholarly article, there is a Punnett Square diagram. If we did not know what a
Punnett Square was then we could miss out on vital information that would tell us the
distribution of alleles from the parent phytoplankton and the possible phenotypes of their
offspring. Professor Hodges lectures primarily consist of pictures of plant anatomy. These
diagrams help us put into perspective what these parts look like and how they compare to the
graphs and charts. We need charts to be able to effectively and concisely reveal data in an easier
fashion. However, if you did not know how to read, or even make a chart, you would not be able
to utilize that data in your formation of a conclusion, which would thus put you at a disadvantage
in terms of being able to understand the material. So, having that knowledge to read the charts
Writing and Science are very similar, after all. The literary practices essential to be
successful in Science are also vital in writing. Staying unbiased and excluding personal beliefs
creates stronger statements. Accuracy aids in discussions about the scientific material and
provides credibility. If you are able to understand the visual representations, then you have
another tool to build your conclusions off of and since they are so prominent in scholarly articles,
having that knowledge is beneficial. For biology, being able to be objective with your data,
staying accurate and clear in your explanations and being able to decipher visual representation
References
Barton, D., & Hamilton, M. (2012). Local literacies: Reading and Writing in one Community.
doi:https://gauchospace.ucsb.edu/courses/pluginfile.php/1068491/mod_resource/content/
1/Barton%20and%20Hamiltons%20Literacy%20Practices.pdf
Grime, J., Hodgson, J., & Hunt, R. (1989). Comparative plant ecology: A functional approach
doi:10.1016/0169-5347(89)90130-4
Tiffney, Bruce. What is Science? CCS Biology Colloquium (CS 10). University of California,