There is nothing like reading a good book or watching a great movie for a little escapism and entertainment. With all of the television channels available and easy access to the internet, you can watch just about anything you want at any time. Earlier in the course you discussed the science involved with technology, but in this Assignment, you will turn the tables and delve into how the media portrays science.
How does a pop culture portrayal of science and scientists impact the average person’s view of what science is and how research is conducted? Can what is presented by the media affect how the general public views a particular research field? What might the long-term impacts of such a depiction be? These are just a few questions that you will reflect upon in this Assignment.
For the Unit 9 Assignment, you will complete an APA style reflective essay to address the following questions:
When you hear the word “scientist” what do you envision?
Discuss at least three characteristics of your vision of a scientist.
Which famous people or characters from the media come into your mind?
What characteristics do they have in common?
Has your image of what a scientist does and how they look changed over time? If so, how has this changed and what influenced you? If your vision of a scientist has not changed, why do you think that is the case?
Are fictional scientists usually portrayed as heroes, villains, or a combination of the two? Provide at least two detailed examples from fictional media to support your position.
How is science portrayed in fictional media [i.e., television shows, movies, music, books, etc.]? Is it seen as a positive, negative, or neutral force in the world? Give specific examples from fictional media supporting your position.
Do you think the portrayal of scientists in the various forms of media influences how society views people in this profession? Why, or why not? Discuss and include references to support your position.
Can the portrayal of science in media influence how certain research and technology is viewed and accepted by the general public [e.g., cloning]?
You are expected to use outside resources for this essay. The PG Library has created a library resource with references for you to use to start this assignment. You are also welcome to utilize the textbook and other credible sources that you find. For help with the writing process, read this resource from the Writing Center on how to write a reflective essay.
Cite outside sources in proper APA format. For help with citations, refer to the APA Quick Reference Guide.
Your essay should include a highly-developed purpose and viewpoint; it should also be written in Standard American English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, grammar, and mechanics. There should be no evidence of plagiarism. If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, please review the plagiarism policy.
Basic Writing Expectations:
This assignment should be a Microsoft Word document that is a minimum 1000 words, in addition to the title and reference pages.
Respond to the questions in a thorough manner, providing specific examples of concepts, topics, definitions, and other elements asked for in the questions. Your submission should be highly organized, logical, and focused.
Your submission should have no evidence of plagiarism. Paraphrase information taken from references.
Your submission must be written in Standard English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics.
A separate page at the end of your submission should contain a list of references in APA format. Use your textbook, the Library, and the internet for research.
Be sure to include references for all sources and to cite them using in-text citations where appropriate. Your sources and content should follow current APA citation style. Review the writing resources for APA formatting and citation found in Academic Tools. Additional writing resources can be found within the Academic Success Center.
Your submission should:
include a title page;
include paragraphs of introduction and conclusion;
be double-spaced;
be typed in Times New Roman, 12 -point font; and
be free of spelling or punctuation errors.
Review the Assignment Rubric prior to submitting your Assignment.
