Paper Two Roughdraft

     Where in the universe will we locate extraterrestrial life?  Who will be the one to locate it?  By examining two different articles from Popular Science magazine the reader can tell the variance in opinion of these two questions through the use of genre. The audiences of said two articles are very different in fact.  In "The Search Is On" Jennifer Abbasi addresses normal laymen to conclude that we all should be involved in the search for extraterrestrial life, including how citizens can monetarily support said projects.  However, in "The Search For Extraterrestrial Life" author Matt Ransford seems to say that only scientists should be involved in the search and therefore writes accordingly.  The use of genre and language and even the way basic facts are represented show a very clear picture of how genre is used to express the opinions of these authors.
     "The Search Is On" by Jennifer Abbsi examines the current methods used to locate extraterrestrial life.  The article examines projects by astrobiologists on earth to locate life in places before thought to be uninhabitable.  The author also examines several space missions within our solar system to locate life on other planets and moons.  Abbasi further discusses both the Kepler Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.  "The Search Is On" discusses projects by SETI which are currently being funded by public support and even tells the reader how to contribute money.  The article is written in laymens terms and is directed at the public to gain public support for the search for extraterrestrial life.
     "The Search For Extraterrestrial Life: A Brief History" by author Matt Ransford gives the reader a scientific perspective of the history and current search by scientists for extraterrestrial Life.  This article is definitely written for scientists as it uses a great number of big scientific words which most laymen would not understand.  The article also cites the names of each project and the scientists responsible for each discovery.  Ransford even discusses the Drake equation, which probably would be unknown to anyone other than scientists.  Ransford discusses many SETI projects and NASA missions throughout the article with regard to what they contribute to the search for extraterrestrial life.
     The intended audience difference from each article is clearly expressed within each articles thesis statement.  Ransford writes, "If (or, as some would say, when) humans make contact with alien intelligence, the scientists who devote their careers to the search will be our first point on contact."  This clearly shows bias towards scientists leading the search. Abbasi, on the other hand, states, "New missions and discoveries on Earth, within our solar system and beyond are bringing us closer than ever to finding alien life on other planets.  The term "us" would clearly mean to imply everyone.
 

                                           Works Cited


Abbasi, Jennifer.  "The Search Is On."  Popular Science Oct. 2011: 37-44.  Print.

Ransford, Matt.  "The Search For Extraterrestrial Life:  A Brief History."  Popular Science June 2008:  Print.