Sarah Lambert                                                                                 about 250 words

sel15@geneseo.edu

Student, INTD 105-19: Scientific Writing

To Think Outside The Box

By Sarah Lambert

    It’s hard to see that nothing in this world is pure given that we can chemically create pure water, solely hydrogen and oxygen, and we can find images of solid colors, seemingly untouched and untainted. It is also understandable that when we look at something like a flower, it appears too overwhelmingly beautiful to be anything other than just that, a beautiful flower. Why would it be anything else?

    Just because we do not see something does not mean it is not there. Often, a simple object, like a beautiful flower,  connects to the world in many more ways than just one. To only see an object for what it is is to disregard what it does, affects, or illustrates. A beautiful flower not only catches our eyes but is pollinated by bees who make honey which we harvest to use in our tea to soothe our sore throats; that flower is more than just a flower.

    It is important to see things not only for what they are but how they affect their surroundings. This mindset is effective in our society to solve world problems. For compromise, we must see things from other people’s point of view and for advancements we must understand how the use of technology will affect our world. Because of this, it is crucial in today’s society to “think outside the box.” Understanding that not everything is set in stone or “black and white” is important for our advancements.

Erik Buckingham                                                                         about 170 words

10 MacVittie Circle

Geneseo, New York 14454

(315) 939-9091

ekb7@geneseo.edu

Why Does it Matte if We Trim the Suess Spruce?

By: Erik Buckingham

            Many grounds men and administrative officials have insisted that the Suess Spruce tree should be trimmed. Any student focused on their education would wonder why they are so worried about this topic when registration, course planning and class sizes are seemingly more important issues. These students forget that the Suess Spruce is most likely the first thing that we saw on a Geneseo pamphlet before we applied.

Students would also question why the Suess Spruce has to be on pamphlets, but we cannot create a unique identity by displaying our only other distinct feature: ivy covered buildings. Colleges across New York State like Syracuse University, Hamilton College and Utica College all have ivy growing on their buildings.

Students who applied to many hilltop colleges would also question   why we do not just display the sunset on the front of Geneseo pamphlets. This is because there are so many other schools like Virginia Tech, Colgate University and University at Buffalo with sunsets that are advertised on their pamphlets.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD-105-19

Many people would say that The Grand Canyon, The Red Woods, and Mount Mckinley are places where you can truly view wilderness, however this should not be the case. Wilderness could be found anywhere as long as the individual possesses the ability to see it. When one sees The Greek Tree, they may think that its wildness is diminished because of the countless layers of paint. But, underneath the countless layers of paint lies a tree just as organic as any other; even as organic as the mighty red wood. Of course, many will probably disagree that The Greek Tree is respected by those who are in sororities and fraternities that paint on it. But how could they disrespect The Greek if it is viewed as a campus landmark. It is protected from being cut down strictly based on it’s iconic value.

Will Gerber About 150 words

10 MacVittie Circle

Geneseo, New York 14454

(315) 250-9687

wrg1@geneseo.edu

Bruno Latour on the Greek Tree; So What?

By Will Gerber
Readers of the critically acclaimed essay “The Greek Tree Was Never Modern” may come out with a number of questions about its argument and significance. Primarily, skeptics may question my claim that individuals do not need a diverse understanding of the sciences in order for all of us to function well collectively. From youth, we are taught that more knowledge means more success, and more fulfillment. I however, would make the claim that an incomplete understanding of any given field can potentially be more damaging than none, as biased information is much more effective on uninformed people. We can’t count on everyone to stay up to date on every new piece of information, but we can count on people to critique new developments in their individual interests.

Emma Cooke                                                                 Approximately 150 words

erc8@geneseo.edu

INTD 105 Science Writing

Skepticism and Importance

            Throughout the course of my essay I discuss Bruno Latour’s ideas on the ways in which people comprehend information. He separates the world into two types of people: those who see things in distinct zones, and those who see the ways in which things are connected across disciplines. The goal of my essay was to introduce a third party, who do not see boundaries at all but rather a cohesive world. Skeptics may point out that Sturges Hall isn’t necessarily the best example for this idea, however, by drawing additional evidence from the objects which surround Sturges I believe I have given enough primary evidence. It is important to recognize all ways of thinking and by presenting this additional group of people who see the world boundary-less, our understanding of the world and others’ viewpoints can be expanded.

Logan Steffens

lts6@geneseo.edu

In my essay many people may bring up the argument that we create the wilderness around us and we make it to fit our own design. They could think that because in “The Trouble with Wilderness” by William Cronon he expresses many ways in which he believes nature to be formed by humans. However I believe that we cannot shape the wilderness, but merely believe that we do. We think we have control of what is happening around us but really neither nature nor humans have control of the environment around us. At first glance, some people may say that “wilderness can’t be an idea it has to be a place.” However, this is not true because when you think of something as wild it doesn’t always have to be a place, it could just be some crazy new thing you have come across that you think is “wild.”

Alexis Baer                                                                                       about 200 words
anb8@geneseo.edu

Student, INTD: Writing Science

“Skeptics May Object” and “So What? Who Cares?”
by Alexis Baer

Writers begin to start their own literature solely based on ideas, connections, counterarguments, and personal views to support an argument. Essays and other forms of work are always being heavily reviewed by multiple audiences and critics as well. These critics may have a different perspective on the discussed topic, will analyze our work in full depth, and contribute their harsh yet helpful input. This method will often times help make our writing stronger and keep writers from straying off topic. Based on my essay about the gazebo and supporting it back to William Cronon’s arguments; critics might begin to notice grammatical errors, unclear sentences or thoughts, few examples, or inaccurate connections made between the text and the authors main point. Answering the “so what” question is mainly focusing on a group of individuals and getting them involved in the topic being discussed. By mentioning the significance of the gazebo and how it connects to the world around us, it hooks the readers on immediately and makes them genuinely concerned or interested in what is being said. The point of good writing is to accept and change the flaws throughout your work, being concise, and provide a good argument that individuals can gain knowledge from.

Simon Lee                                                                     Approximately  150 Words

Shl5@geneseo.edu

Scientific Writing 105-19

Skeptics and My Essay

By Simon Lee

My essay is about how Haraway would think that my object, The Greek Tree, is the perfect example of something that is breaking the boundaries. In her essay, A Cyborg Manifesto Haraway, talks about the importance of fractured identities and how we should not be classified into one category instead we should accept all the small parts that make us who we are.

I think that skeptics might say that the writing on the tree isn’t part of its identity because it was actually the identity of the people who actually wrote it. So what? In the end I think of The Greek Tree as the Suny Geneseo Community and that means every single student contribute some part to this school and that what I think this is all about.

Robert Romano

9/26/16

Introduction to Science Writing

Who Cares What They Say

My essay is on how The Greek Tree on the SUNY Geneseo campus is related to William Cronon’s ideas in “The Trouble with Wilderness.” I wrote about how The Greek Tree in many ways agrees with William Cronon about how nature should be appreciated and admired by all. The Greek Tree is in the perfect location for everyone on the SUNY Geneseo campus to see and appreciate nature.

For every piece of writing or for everything in general there will always be people to give criticism and to put one’s work down. I think that skeptics would say that my writing does not have enough of my own ideas and does not give enough examples to back-up my most critical points in my essay. I can respond to the skeptics by seeing if I did have enough of my own ideas and that I did provide enough examples. Finally, I would say “so what” and “who cares” what the skeptics say.

Rachael Natoli                                                                                                  09/25/16

INTD 105-19: Scientific Writing                                         About 160 Words

My essays argument claims that having information about how a topic is related to both the natural world and the cultural world is more beneficial in learning about the topic as a whole and incorporating that information into daily life. Although it could be said that the controversy of farming only affects those who care about living a healthy lifestyle, it should in fact concern many as it is directly related to what you put in your body.

Putting unhealthy, genetically modified, or pesticide covered food into your body could lead to a very undesirable result such as severe or chronic illness. Having the knowledge of the scientific research related to these food products that have been grown in unhealthy conditions and also knowing how to avoid these foods in their cultural world can help one in their daily lives to make the right decision about what they are putting in their body and how it will affect them in the future.