Presentation for U. Idaho's ENGL 318, SP18

1. Science as a
Rhetorical Enterprise

2. FACTS
Often, it seems like we
talk about the work of
scientists as the
objective pursuit of
“facts.” In this view,
the job of scientific
writing would be to
get out of the way so
that these facts can
shine through as
clearly as possible.

3. In this way of thinking
(illustrated by this
stock photo), scientific
work in a given field is
seen as progressing
and building with each
new discovery and
study.
This is an arhetorical
view of scientific work.

4. In The Structure of
Scientific Revolutions,
Thomas Kuhn provides
another model for
thinking about
science.

5. Basic premises of rhetorical study of science:
• that scientists are attempting to gain assent within their
discourse community about the validity of their claims.
• that we (including scientists) are inevitably and mostly
invisibly shaped by cultural narratives, concepts, and
metaphors, and these affect how we see and therefore
behave.
hey, how’s
the water
today?
what the hell is
water??

6. What are some specific
rhetorical aspects of scientific
work? (see Google Doc)

7. Somewhat easy test case: Charles Darwin

8. Joseph Dalton
Hooker (British
botanist, 1817-
1911P
Perceived as rhetorically deficient, but managed with a
little help from his friends…
Sir Charles Lyell
(Scottish
geologist, 1797-
1875)
Asa Gray
(American
botanist, 1810-
1888)
Thomas Henry
Huxley (English
biologist, 1825-
1895)

9. WHEN on board H.M.S. 'Beagle,' as naturalist, I
was much struck with certain facts in the
distribution of the inhabitants of South America,
and in the geological relations of the present to
the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts
seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of
species—that mystery of mysteries, as it has been
called by one of our greatest philosophers. On my
return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that
something might perhaps be made out on this
question by patiently accumulating and reflecting
on all sorts of facts which could possibly have any
bearing on it. After five years' work I allowed
myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up
some short notes; these I enlarged in 1844 into
a sketch of the conclusions, which then seemed to
me probable: from that period to the present day I
have steadily pursued the same object. I hope that
I may be excused for entering on these personal
details, as I give them to show that I have not
been hasty in coming to a decision.
What rhetorical
moves does
Darwin make
here?

10. More contemporary research (BV)
Read the abstract and introduction of the article posted on
the “What’s Rhetorical about Science?” Google Doc, and
identify the things that make it rhetorical.