Scientifically Speaking

The key to writing a good essay is the scientific method. Think of writers as aspiring scientists and thesis statements as hypotheses. Writing cannot be successful without curiosity and the enthusiasm of a scientist on the quest for discovery.

When teaching, I encourage students to ask questions, not just of me, but of themselves, their peers, and the texts. It is not enough to like or dislike an essay, story, or poem, but we must determine why it appeals or turns us off. By figuring out that several paragraphs of description is boring, we know to be sure that descriptions in our own writing are short and contribute not just to aesthetics, but also to meaning. When we realize that a few bits of sarcasm can lighten an essay, we can steal this technique and strive to use sarcasm effectively in our own essays.

But intellectual curiosity and asking questions is not enough. It is also not enough to simply answer questions, because in literature, as in life, there is not always one correct answer, but a complicated and intricate explanation. When trying to determine the extent to which Frankenstein’s creation is human or monster, I challenge students to question the monstrous aspects of humanity and the human aspects of monsters. They must test their answers: how can they apply their definitions to current events and villains, such as Osama bin Laden? They must revise and rethink. Similarly, in a research paper, information is discovered that does not agree with the thesis. Should the thesis be changed? Thrown out completely? Or are the opinions and facts to be denied? In any case, research cannot be ignored, but must be addressed.

Like scientific discovery, writing is an ongoing process. The only way to become a better reader and writer is to read and write regularly, preferably a little bit every day, and without confining them to academic outlets. By encouraging students not to throw away their leisure reading, but to find a way to incorporate it into the discussion, they are more likely to understand that knowledge and learning are a continuum, and that each genre has a purpose and its own value. Similarly, by including social media as well as formal essays, students can improve their communication skills and learn to express themselves in a variety of situations. In the work force that students will enter, it is essential that they are able to express themselves in such situations as texts and emails, where their tone of voice cannot be heard and they do not have the advantage of writing a lengthy explanation. Such circumstances can lead to many painful misunderstandings that can be avoided with practice and increased sensitivity to language.

My goal for all of my students, regardless of who they are and what class I am teaching, is to help them improve their ability to analyze, think critically, and communicate. Like the scientists of life that we all are, they will be judged on their ideas and their beliefs. It is my job to help them explain these ideas and beliefs, understand why they think and believe the way that they do, and encourage them to question why they grasp their opinions so tightly. Just like professional scientists, if they cannot share their results and interact with others in the larger world, all of their ideas will be lost.