Transcript Science and the Sense of Wonder

Isaac Asimov
Reading: Use support for fact and opinion
• Column 1
1. Asimov proceeds to describe and explain the “hard
stuff” - the scientific characteristics of stars,
planets, suns, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies.
• 2. Asimov gives scientific details about what
planets are made of – acid, hot liquid, craters,
volcanoes, and deserts.
• 3. Asimov describes scientific details about the
greatly varying sixes and shapes of suns in the
universe.
Use support for Fact and Opinion
• Second Column
• Students’ answers may vary. Asimov has supported
his opinions with facts that can be proved and
reasonable scientific assumptions. However, all
may not be in agreement as to whether this
information increases one’s personal enjoyment of
looking at the stars.
Literary Analysis: Use Word Choice
• 1. Informal. The author's words describe a casual, and
partially unpleasant , experience of watching the stars.
He implies that this way of watching the sky only
touches the surface.
• 2. Informal. The author’s words give vivid human
characteristics of breathing, consuming, and
swallowing to the stars rather than describe them in a
more formally scientific manner.
• 3. Informal. The author's words emphasize the
violence of exploding stars. He is being scientifically
accurate, but his word choice is not usually found in a
formal scientific description.
Vocabulary
• 1. synonym: joyfully
• The children ran joyfully across the sand and into
the waves.
• 2. Synonym: Barren
• There was little life in the barren winter landscape.
• 3. Synonym: infinite.
• The damage from the hurricane seemed infinite.
• B. 1. C
2. D
3. A
Asimov’s Persuasion
• Topic: Science and Beauty
• Argument: The beauty of the stars is appreciated
through observation, poetry and scientific
knowledge.
• Position: He is pro scientific knowledge.
• Arguments: Knowledge of science helps you
visualize the worlds. Other planets, stars, suns, and
galaxies are strange and beautiful.
• Persuasive techniques: opinions supported by facts
and examples.
Things to know for the quiz
• After listening to the astronomer, the speaker of
the poem goes outside to look at the stars.
• “Talking through his hat” is an idiom and an
opinion.
• When Asimov describes the planets as “worlds of
red-hot liquid” and “volcanoes puffing plumes”
he is trying to give a feeling of fascination.
• Asimov believes the hard stuff in science is what
makes it beautiful.
• He supports his sense of wonder about stars and
planets with facts.
Things to know
• Asimov uses an informal tone. “all that junk”
“a quick beauty fix”
Asimov appreciated the beauty of the night sky by
watching stars and studying science.
When talking about the insect bites he got from
stargazing, Asimov creates a feeling of humor.
Asimov’s main idea is that the universe is more than
beauty.
FACTs
• Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.
• In billions of years, the sun will burn the earth
into a gas
• It takes light a hundred thousand years to
travel from one end of the Milky Way to the
other.