The Problem of Nuclear Waste: Ethos and Scientific Evidence in a High-Stakes Public Controversy

Denise Tillery

doi:10.1109/tpc.2006.885868

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2006

The Problem of Nuclear Waste: Ethos and Scientific Evidence in a High-Stakes Public Controversy

Denise Tillery University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Abstract

This article uses Aristotle's concept of ethos, the audience's perception of a speaker's character, to analyze a set of documents relating to a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. This analysis shows how the features of a successful persuasive ethos remain consistent through several genres, including scientific articles, reports, and press releases. Three major elements of a persuasive ethos include discussions of the practical implications of technical information, consistent efforts to make information accessible to the public, and a forthright representation of scientific uncertainties associated with complex technical information. By incorporating these elements into their texts, technical communicators can craft more persuasive documents dealing with controversial, high-stakes issues

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published: 2006-12-01
DOI: 10.1109/tpc.2006.885868
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Topics: classical rhetoric genre theory argument technical communication
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Technical Communication Quarterly
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Accommodating Science

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The Problem of Nuclear Waste: Ethos and Scientific Evidence in a High-Stakes Public Controversy

Abstract

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