You are on page 1of 6

Literary Practices of Biology 1

The Analytical Approach to the Literary Practices of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology

Lovedeep Singh

Writing 2

Professor Jennifer Johnson

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

universally communicated, and understanding the material becomes less difficult.

Objectivity is highly valued in biology. As a scientist, it is vital to be able to explain

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)

Comparative Plant Ecology: A Functional Approach to Common British Species, he mentions

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

statements in a direct manner, without extra descriptive language, and in an unwavering,

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

these sections, due to a concise format, aids in forming conclusions.

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

technique used to amplify a single copy of DNA) give us a foundation to be involved in

discussion and maintain a certain level of expertise.

It is vital to be accurate and coherent in biology. The entire premise of biology is to

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

information is a keystone in scholarly scientific writing. Information should be presented in a

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.

Another common aspect in biological writing is visual representations. These visual

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

ever-so-different human organelles. Another common component in biological text is using


Literary Practices of Biology 5

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

and graphs is a necessary literary practice.

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

are necessary conventions to build your academic foundation on.

References

Barton, D., & Hamilton, M. (2012). Local literacies: Reading and Writing in one Community.

Routledge Linguistics Classic.

doi:https://gauchospace.ucsb.edu/courses/pluginfile.php/1068491/mod_resource/content/

1/Barton%20and%20Hamiltons%20Literacy%20Practices.pdf

Frommlet, J. C., & Iglesias-Rodrguez, M. D. (2008). Microsatellite genotyping of single cells

of the Dinoflagellate Specieslingulodinium Polyedrum: A novel

approach for marine microbial population genetic studies1. Journal of Phycology,


Literary Practices of Biology 6

44(5), 1116-1125. doi:10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00566.x

Grime, J., Hodgson, J., & Hunt, R. (1989). Comparative plant ecology: A functional approach

to common British species. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 4(6), 189-190.

doi:10.1016/0169-5347(89)90130-4

Nafez, Amer. Personal Interview. 1 May 2017.

Tiffney, Bruce. What is Science? CCS Biology Colloquium (CS 10). University of California,

Santa Barbara. Building 494, Room 136. 1 May 2017. Lecture.

You might also like