STS 125: Jongsoo Kang

Reading 3/11

My first impression of this article was that that it used particularly dense writing style. But even with his dense writing, he was on the point with his organized argument of how scientific writing gains credibility from its readers. To do so, authors of the scientific writing uses tools like positive modalities, passive voice, supporting references, schematics, and references to counterargument studies. One of the Latour’s arguments is that readers of the scientific writing may choose to go along with the materials, or disagree with it. He also claimed that scientific writing, with all the tools and the particular style of linked claims and references, has an ability to alienate the reader. I strongly agreed to this statement connecting with my experience of reading a scientific report during the class on Tuesday.