Abstract

This study reveals the discursive origins of the Autism MMR vaccine controversy through a rhetorical examination of the 1998 Wakefield et al. article. I argue the very practices of scientific publishing, specifically the tradition of hedging, help to create a scientifically acceptable text but also leave discursive gaps. These gaps allow for alternate interpretations as scientific texts pass from technical to public contexts, enabling insufficiently supported claims the standing of scientific knowledge among citizens.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2014-07-01
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2013.816487
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Cited by in this index (10)

  1. Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  2. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  5. Rhetoric Review
Show all 10 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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