I recently delved into the scientific narrative created with Kathryn Schulz’s captivating article, “The Really Big One.” While I’m not seasoned in scientific writing, this piece left a lasting impression. While reading I found three points I wanted to share as I’ve found that they may be useful in my own writing.
Schultz’s article, while fantastic, talks almost exclusively about earthquakes and tsunamis, two topics that are closely related with large-scale destruction and death. A heavy topic that people don’t often want to read much about, but I found myself not overwhelmed. Schulz has the incredible skill to lighten the tone of her writing, making tragic topics more lighthearted and enjoyable to read, all while still teaching me about the dangerous threat of earthquakes. I realized this while she was describing the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Kashiwa, narrating that “[the earthquake] was pretty cool: a real-time revolution in earthquake science. Almost immediately, though, it became extremely uncool” (p. 2). By using slang here like “cool” and “uncool,” she deemphasizes the situation, making her topic more entertaining to readers.
Another skill Schulz has is the ability to excellently teach key scientific principles in layman’s terms. Starting on page 2, Schulz was able to explain tectonic movements and earthquakes in very simple terms. Prior to reading this, I had a decent understanding of plate tectonics, and when I reached this part, I was surprised how well she was able to describe it. Reading this section also reminded me that everyday people, who aren’t experts, read these articles and may need examples like this one. My favorite example from her explanations is as follows: “Now slide your left hand under your right one. That is what the Juan de Fuca plate is doing: slipping steadily beneath North America. When you try it, your right hand will slide up your left arm, as if you were pushing up your sleeve” (p. 2). By utilizing something on-hand, like our own hands, or a simple analogy, she was able to make a complicated topic easy to comprehend. I will definitely be looking out for ways to easily describe a scientific topic if I’ll need to.
My favorite part of the article was the ending. Schulz excellently closed out her article on a bittersweet note, instead of one of impending dread. Much like any good story, Schulz’s article ended on a note that would leave readers thinking. She starts the last paragraph describing a serene scene of the ocean, but moves to a more introspective thought saying, “Seismologists are looking at their watches, wondering how long we have, and what we will do, before geological time catches up to our own” (p. 10). One of the things I love about the ends of books, is that it leaves the reader feeling satisfied and wanting for more, which is exactly how I felt after reading this. I’ll work to incorporate this and Schulz’s other writing skills into my own article.
Science Writings 