Summary Of The Great Influenza By John Barry

Stephen Hawking declared, “Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge.” Since the beginning of time, humans have been searching constantly for answers and knowledge about the world around them. Scientists have brought it upon themselves to be the discoverers of the human race. John Barry wrote his account during The Great Influenza of 1918 when millions of people were dying and solutions to the sickness were being sought out after by the scientific community. In his account of The Great Influenza of 1918, John Barry implements scientific diction, frequent repetition, and unique symbolism to demonstrate the difficult journey of scientific research.

Scientific research seems very factual and straight-forward. In reality, science deals with uncertainty, something that, when not used in the right way, creates weaknesses. The uncertainty of scientific research allows scientists to explore intellectually as well as creatively, and “venture into the unknown” to create the known. In his account from The Great Influenza, John M. Barry uses formal diction, strategically placed rhetorical questions, and an appeal to logos to characterize scientific research.

Nicholas Craft AP Language and Composition Mrs. Fertenbaugh August 24 2015 Certainty is Key In this except from John M. Barry’s book The Great Influenza, the author discusses the challenges of science and the significance of certainty. In the field of science, certainty is important and it is necessary in order to advance. Being uncertain about something when it comes to science can cause a scientist to potentially miss out on an important discovery or fail to accomplish something. John M. Barry illustrates the importance of certainty with syntax, diction, and allegories.

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

In the passage from The Great Influenza, John M. Barry uses rhetorical strategies like: antithetical ideas, extended metaphors, and diction to characterize scientific research. In the first paragraph, Barry uses a parallel sentence structure of an antithetical idea when discussing Certainty versus Uncertainty, he uses Certainty versus Uncertainty to intensify the words in the next paragraph. " Certainty creates strength. Certainty gives one something upon which to lean.

From the passage taken from, The Great Influenza, by John M. Barry, Barry frequently uses the appeal to logic and the appeal to credibility to characterize the scientific research as courageous and “moving deep into the wilderness”.

These three devices work in tandem, aiding the reader while they learn about the scientific process. The first rhetorical device used in the excerpt is anaphora, the repetition of the word certainty and uncertainty is used to initiate each of the first four sentences. Barry uses this repetition to implant the idea that science is full of self-doubt and overcoming this allows one to become successful. In the first four sentences he says “Certainty creates strength. Certainty gives one something….Uncertainty

A scientist may find the next big leap in any particular field of study, but he may also find that all of his previous work might be useless and, ultimately, thrown out. John M. Barry uses the Metaphor of either finding a whole other world, that would be analogous to making a massive innovation, or falling off a cliff, finding out that your work was fruitless. In just one step, or one discovery, either a scientist will succeed or fail. There is no room for error. That reinforces the idea that scientists are brave.

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

Last but not least, science is characterized by its incessant evolution in a way that a single new anomaly can easily falsify a strong scientific theory. In simple English, even experts know that there is no ultimate certainty to

The statement is about how scientist have “grunt work” and “tedious work” work, boring and long. The series of rhetorical questions succeeding are purposely directed toward the audience, in order to have something to think on. Barry questions, “ would a pick be best, or would dynamite be better…?” These types of questions are asked upon the audience but is not expected of them to answer. Barry then uses a simile to compare the perfect tool to mice, “the perfect tool will be available...

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.

M1, Introduction There is always a question which can’t be answered by scientist all of which relate to the perceptions of science as there is difference in how science is currently addressed. Also, people have different believes, opinions and interpretation of science in general. Questions science is currently addressing- cure for cancer?

Through the use of anaphora, metaphor, and informative figurative language, Barry portrays the work of a scientist as challenging and complex. Barry begins by using patterns of repetition and anaphora in the first paragraph. He does this to strengthen the traditional recognition that certainty is good and uncertainty is bad. Providing these antithetical concepts of uncertainty v. certainty, or good v. bad, also strengthen his claim that the work of a scientist is challenging and complex. Next, Barry complicates our understanding of the nature of scientific research through the use of metaphor throughout the essay.

Discovery has numerous meanings and is unique for each person. For instance, for the Hungarian scientist, Albert Gyorgyi discovery consisted of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought. Discoveries either encouraging or pessimistic are often challenging, however, it is these provocative discoveries that allow one to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, others and the world around them. This is explored in both the Tempest written by William Shakespeare and Who do you think you are? Magda Szubanski directed by Kay Pavlov, SBS 2010.