Author John M. Barry, in The Great Influenza, claims that scientists must embrace uncertainty and doubt their ideas in order to be successful in their research. To support his claim, he first states that “uncertainty creates weakness”, then lists the traits required by scientists (including curiosity and creativity), and finally explains that experiments must be made to work by the investigator. The purpose of this is to further support his claim in order to encourage readers to embrace uncertainty because certainty creates something to lean on, while uncertainty forces one to manipulate experiments to produce answers. Barry adopts a formal tone to appeal to a worldwide audience, specifically those interested in scientific research, by using
The use of the paradox in The Great Influenza by John M. Barry reveals seemingly contradictory statements true. In the second paragraph Barry believes that one must "embrace – uncertainty" (Barry). He uses this literacy device to highlight uncertainty as a welcomed sensation to be accepted, rather than denied. Along with presenting truthful statements, Barry makes every word, phrase, and sentence that he writes ultimately more powerful and read at different understanding levels by raising the bar and introducing contradicting information. Barry characterizes scientific research as contradicting. At any time, a scientist's research can be torn apart by a new finding or experiment. In line 21 Barry says that "uncertainty requires a confidence
“Certainty creates strength. Certainty creates something upon which to lean. Uncertainty creates weakness…” This two sentence antithesis is directly parallel to his later statement, “It is not the courage to venture into the unknown. It is the courage to accept- indeed, embrace- uncertainty.” These corresponding explain the societal views of certainty and uncertainty, maintaining that uncertainty is negative and a sign of weakness. However, the second quotes contradicts that viewpoint by emphasizing that a more notable trait, courage, is present in the less favorable condition. Barry parallels the two in order to express how researchers work in uncertain conditions and that the courage it takes to do this is immense. In the fifth paragraph Barry questions how a researcher chooses their means of excavation and analyzation. This paragraph is focused on the use of questions in order to show the number of possible decisions that can be made and that must be made in order to gain results. Barry uses this to show how researchers must make decisions on how to do something while not having a very structured knowledge foundation for that specific topic of interest. Together, the uses of these similar structures allows for a more cohesive train of thought about the characteristics of scientific
Hope is a helpful tool to push people through the hardest times in life. In the book Night by Elie Wiesel, there are numerous examples of hope helping people and revitalizing their confidence. People used hope to help them through rough times. People hope that friends and family are still alive. Also hope that the Front liberates the camps and frees everyone. Hope can help people get through the hardest obstacles in life.
Barry creates a tone of bitting humor."Maybe one time, years ago, these motorists happened to be driving in the left lane when their favorite song cam eon the radio, so they've driven over there ever since, in hopes that the radio will play the song again." He suggest
Courage is a word that used often or not, has it’s own meaning. Having courage to do the impossible is experienced in our everyday lives without even thinking, such as, taking out the trash, going to school, taking a step onto a unknown street, it happens to us all and can even have a dramatic impact on yourself, your future, and your life. In the book Night courage is experienced every single day of torture. Prisoners, such as Elie, face and fight for their own survival not knowing that their best weapon possessed in their hands was courage. Courage was a weapon, a very powerful weapon that could change your fate in an instant. Elie Wiesel showed the importance of courage not just during his life occurring memory but during our everyday lives, he shows and gives examples of how courage could be the savior to your most difficult times.
We see and express hate and rage in our everyday life. In “Road Warrior”, Dave Barry uses many rhetorical strategies such as humorous and sarcastic tones to describe the rage of Americans. The main objective of this essay is to show how useless road rage is and that we all need to “keep our cool”(93). Barry begins to build his credibility with personal experiences and expressing appeals to emotion. He does this brilliantly using pathos, ethos, and logos throughout the article .
Barry says, "a shovel can dig up dirt, but cannot penetrate a rock. Would a pick be best, or would dynamite be better- or would dynamite be too indiscriminately destructive?" Barry talks about science as if it was the wilderness. In the wilderness, there are many surprises that can occur at any moment. There are holes that you could step right over, not knowing it may have been the answer or may have been needed. During science you have to expect some theories to go south, or to go wrong. When a theory does not work you have to question your work and began to think of another theory to make sure you do not miss the holes you missed the first time. Barry uses this metaphor to show readers that scientists often question themselves continuously.
Men are essentially rendered useless when it comes to helping women in the kitchen. The average male in American society is viewed as the bread winner of the family. He comes home and does nothing but relax, while the wife handles all the business in the house such as cooking dinner, cleaning the house, and taking care of the kid. In Dave Barry’s, “Lost in the Kitchen”, Barry analyzes his recent Thanksgiving experience and realizes that the stereotypes about men and women in the kitchen are indeed true. He tries to show that men who try to be helpful in the kitchen usually fail. Barry effectively uses humor to connect with his audience by using a light hearted tone to try to make it more relatable to the audience, while repeating differnt styles
In a passage from The Great Influenza, author John M. Barry writes about what it is like to be a scientist. He describes scientists as pioneers and uses that to get across his idea. The author states that being a scientist is brave and uses metaphor, the motif of an explorer, and logos to prove his point.
Describe a problem you 've solved or a problem you 'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
How has the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793 change history? An appalling contagious outbreak impacted the colossal city of America and its country’s capital. In the summer of 1793 the weather was brutally humid and mild. Therefore, this infectious disease has initiated in August and is known to be terminated approximately few months later in November. This disease has commenced by mosquitoes and caused a massive amount of deaths. Not only has this epidemic dispatched numerous people it made them suffer to the point where it was unbearable to handle.
Another illness that is mentioned in the book is diabetes. As Dr. Moalem describes it, “In diabetics, the process through which insulin helps the body use glucose is broken, and the sugar in the blood builds up to dangerously high levels.” The body either fails to produce enough insulin, or the body tissues become resistant to insulin, leading to high levels of glucose in the blood. The elevated levels of glucose build up in certain organs and the high glucose concentration in these organs can lead to serious complications, such as blindness, heart disease, stroke, vascular disease, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, thirst, hunger, blurry vision, and the frequent need to urinate. Sugary urine has historically been known as a symptom of diabetes. The author writes, “In the past Chinese physicians actually diagnosed and monitored diabetes by looking to see whether ants were attracted to someone’s urine.” Therefore, sugary urine was a key factor for detecting and treating of the disease in the past. Today’s treatment typically consists of medication, exercise, and a balanced diet. Unfortunately, diabetes has had a huge impact on humanity, as it currently affects about 171 million people
Introduction: Are all neat people lazy, wasteful, insensitive, and less moral than sloppy people? Are all men more interested in sports than women, while all women focus their time on housework and cleaning? The answer to both of these questions is no. These questions bring up generalizations that are dealt with in both of the short essays which are as follows: “Neat People vs. Sloppy People” by Suzanne Britt and “Batting Clean-up and Striking Out” by Dave Barry. Suzanne Britt describes the generalized behavior and mindset of neat and sloppy people, which is not a popular stereotype heard in everyday life. On the contrary, Dave Barry describes a stereotype that is absolutely heard in everyday life, the stereotype involving women and sports, men and cleaning, and how they apparently can not be the
The meaning of courage is when one has the mindset that enables them to face fear, difficulty, pain, or danger. Courage or bravery can come out in a person for a number of reasons. When people think of someone as “courageous” they usually think that they have done a huge deed for someone or really made a difference when, in actuality, it sometimes takes a courageous person to profess their love or even admit that they were wrong about something. Most of the efforts made by someone usually require a certain amount of courage. Fear, following one’s heart, standing up for what is right, and facing suffering with dignity and faith all require courage.