Vocabulary
Fill in the blank: Since I wear glasses, this means I have a low visual ___________.
acuity
What is parapsychology?
The idea of having a sixth sense or an extra sensory perception
Who is the author of Coming to Our Senses?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
What does the author think the most important sense is?
What is main idea?
The idea or concept the author is trying to convey about the topic of the work
What is the definition of the word stimuli?
things that cause a response or an action
What is a science essay?
is a structured piece of writing that discusses, explains, or analyzes scientific concepts, discoveries, theories, or phenomena.
What is the main idea of the passage?
Our senses are incredible and important, but not all scientific discoveries can be made purely on our senses. Technology and other assistive resources are required.
Why does the author mention information about fortune tellers?
To show how absurd fortune teller's claims are
What is author's purpose?
The author's reason or intent for writing
What is the definition of the word acuity?
critical perceptiveness or awareness
What three elements of a science essay are incorporated in Coming to Our Senses?
1. Focus on science
2. objective, evidence based research
3. Critical Thinking
What is the author's main purpose for writing the passage?
The author wants to inform us about our senses in a humorous way. He wants us to understand the importance of technology in the perception of our senses.
What is the author's tone in the passage?
Informative but humorous
What is author's tone?
the attitude or feeling that the author has about the subject in which they are writing
What is the definition of the word propensity?
tendency to behave in a certain way
What is objective, evidence based research?
The essay relies on factual information including data, research findings, experiments, or observations to support claims.
In paragraph 10, the author writes, “Without hardware to help our analysis, and without a particular urge to lick the stuff, all we can report back to the starship is, “Captain, it’s a blob.’” Why does the author include this humor?
To show that humans rely on equipment to make many scientific discoveries.
What informal word does the author use in the essay? Why does he use it?
Glob. To show that humans rely on equipment to enhance their senses in order to make many scientific discoveries
What acronym should you use for a constructed response? What do the letters mean?
R- restate
A- answer
C- cite evidence
E- explain evidence
S- summarize argument
to go beyond or rise above
What is critical thinking in a science essay?
Critical analysis of the theory or research. It evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the scientific study or compares different scientific approaches.
What is the purpose for the author to incorporate two quotes into the essay?
Both of the quotes support the idea that the senses are limited and we need to pursue our perception further with technology.
What does the title Coming to Our Senses mean to the essay?
the title emphasizes the importance of our sensory experiences in scientific discovery, while also urging society to adopt a more science-conscious mindset
*an idiom!
a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words in the phrase