In praise of carbon: Genre and the 1996 Nobel lectures in chemistry by Christian Fredrick Casper

<p>Using genre theory along with the hierarchy of scientific statement types of Latour and Woolgar (1979) and the scientific <em>stases</em> and scientific <em>topoi</em> of Prelli (1989), this thesis analyzes the three Nobel lectures in chemistry from 1996 to discern the characteristics of ceremonial discourse in science and its relation to scientific ethos. Throughout, the Nobel lectures are analyzed in reference to the original research reports published in the scientific literature. The unique social context of the Nobel lectures results in a distinct genre with textual characteristics that include statements with little moderation or hedging, arguments for the long-term significance of the work, recognition of colleagues and coworkers, and, significantly, discussion of the nature of science itself and of proper conceptual approaches and procedures.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English Language and Literature

Year

2005

Author dc:creator

• Casper, Christian Fredrick

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ann M. Blakeslee, Ph.D., Chair
• Nancy Allen, Ph.D.

• Rhetoric
• Communication in science
• Rhetoric and Composition

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/125

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1124