The Influence of "Junk Science" and the Role of Science Education

“The Influence of ‘Junk Science’ and the Role of Science Education” was a very interesting article which effectively combined information and opinion.  Personally, I found the article, written by Lee Ann Fisher Baron, to be quite intriguing.  I believe the article was of interest to me primarily because of the topic and the manner in which it was presented.  The topic is definitely an important subject worthy of the reader’s time.  In addition to the overall intrigue brought up by the topic itself, the author also presents her opinion in multiple places throughout the article.  The use of her opinion creates a more personable or authentic feel to the piece.  Without the personal insight, it would be difficult to grasp who the author actually is, as a real human being. 

               Even though Baron does a great job including her own opinion, she fails to include a decent amount of substantial evidence to back up her claims.  Much of the article includes short segments of information to support her points.  While this is effective, it may be better if she including a larger section or example as a main focus.  Nonetheless, the small bits of evidence combined with the personal opinions and insights certainly helped contribute to an effective researched article. 

               Another example of Baron excelling in her writing is the way in which she expands as she writes.  She begins with a personal example of how error is a regular part of science, and then continues by explaining situations where something is “accepted” without being tested.  After listing several of these types of examples, Baron transitions into the cause and solution portion of the article.  Here, she (as obvious by the titled) lists and explains the causes of this problem.  Once again, she brings in a few specific examples, such as the SAT scores and chemistry textbook.  In the end, it is apparent that Baron has taken a central idea and greatly expanded upon it to further her argument and create a solid and well-written piece.  The last paragraph of the article is a perfect conclusion which wraps up all of the information presented throughout the article by giving a simple and easy to understand solution.