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English 101

“Entering the Century of the Environment: A New Social Contract” by Jane Lubchenco

 “Entering the Century of the Environment: A New Social Contract for Science” was published in 1998 in the scholarly journal Science. The article is a modified text based on an address given by June Lubchenco, who was President of the American Association of the Advancement of Sciences in 1997.  This selection aims at influencing the future direction of scientists and their research; so, from a rhetorical perspective it is clearly deliberative, as deliberative rhetoric is that which involves being for or against given future action.  This kind of deliberative appeal often includes appealing to the honor and advantage that will grow if the audience chooses to initiate a particular future course of action. 

READING THE GENRE

Reading the Abstract

An abstract gives readers a concise overview of the contents in an article. (Lubchenco’s abstract is the first section of the text immediately under the title.) Read through the abstract one time, and annotate it by marking the words or concepts that seem difficult. Then re-read the abstract, and answer the following:

1.       What course of action is the author recommending? What are her most important arguments?

2.       Based on the abstract, what questions do you have? (Write down at least two.)

Reading the Introduction

Readers usually expect a forecast of what’s to come and a central thesis in an introduction (especially in a speech). 

3.       What do you think the author’s thesis or main point is? 

4.       Does the thesis connect the entire article?

The author also uses a number of questions to organize her message.  After identifying them decide:

5.    Is this an effective strategy?  Why or why not?  Does she answer the questions she poses?    

Reading the Sections

The author uses headings divide the sections of the article:  “Global Changes and Their Causes; Changes for Ecosystem Services and Humanity; Redefining the Environment; The Roles of Science; A New Social Contract for Science?” 

6.       What do you think the main argument is in each of these sections?

7.       What evidence does she provide do back up her claims?

Identifying Rhetorical Strategies

This article was once a speech given to a group of scientists. 

8.       How does the author shape her message for this audience?

9.       What do you think is gained or lost in translating a speech into an article? 

The author also refers to credible sources (ethos), uses logical arguments (logos), appeals to the audience’s emotions (pathos), and underscores the urgency of the situation (kairos). 

10.   What specific examples can you find of these different kinds of persuasive appeals?

11.   Which are the most effective? Why?

Examining Sources

The article includes many references as well as an extensive References and Notes section.  Think about the effect these references have on you as a reader. 

12.   Which of the references, if any, stood out to you? Why?

13.   Why do you think the author concludes a persuasive scientific article with a reference to the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes?

Understanding Key Terms

You will also need to understand the following terms to make sense of the article which is written for scientists. You can find some definitions in the article itself, and also at http://www.fs.fed.us/institute/monitoring/Sustainability_monitoring.htm  and
http://www.sustainablebellingham.org/index.php?page=Glossary 

·         Sustainability

·         Social justice

·         Social contract

·         Ecosystem services

·         Climate change

·         Ecological footprint

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License

English 101