Analyzing My Audience

For this blog post I will analyze the text I have chosen for my next project and answer six questions from the Student's Guide on page 49.  The main focus of this post is to identify the audience of my text.

Splintercellguy. "Audience Frontier Fiesta, 1950s, Audience at a Frontier Fiesta show". 1 August 2013 via Wikipedia Public Domain 

What are their beliefs and assumptions?
Since the audience for my second major project that I will do are new and incoming students for science majors.  Perhaps the reason they chose a major in the sciences was because they already have an interest with issues regarding the scientific community.  If not, they might be intrigued by the possibility of learning about the controversial issues in the sciences.  For the individuals that already have a sense of what is occurring in the scientific community, their beliefs and assumptions regarding the controversy I have chosen may vary but have one outlook in common.  I assume, rather than formulate their own opinion if de-extinction is ethical or not, they would want to view the different sides in the issue and see the facts for both sides.  Scientists in my opinion should not provide bias on many situations but instead should provide analysis for all aspects of an argument and keep their personal beliefs to themselves.

What kind of language is appropriate for them?
Due to students majoring in the science field, scientific language should be the best way these students read the text.  They should take into consideration the diction the author uses, but more importantly have an easier time understanding the science that goes into the text and why it is important to be able understand the text in a different view.

What are their sociopolitical and economic backgrounds?
The answer to this question would be difficult to determine.  As a student, most people's goal is to learn valuable information to help them in their life whether it is growing an individual or helping them in their future careers.

What will they want to know?
Students in the sciences would want to learn more about the science involved in the issue.  Specifically, in my text, the environment and the ecology of the planet is often talked about.  I believe students would want to know/read about the scientific keywords that help give them the opportunity to make their own decision in whether or not they think de-extinction is ethical.  Gathering more information on how, if the de-extinction actually occurred, would change the science/the way the planet functions.  Overall, they would want to facts rather opinions on the controversy.

In general, how can they be be persuaded?
From what I have read, the author does a good job of not showing his bias toward one viewpoint over another.  Based on that, he does provide a  direct method of persuasion.  If the readers, in their own minds, after reading the text favor one position over another, then I believe the author wrote a helpful text.  Essentially, without physically persuading the readers, the author provides in-depth information that includes a strong use of diction and the ability to appeal to readers.  This can be helpful in having the readers eventually hold more value for one viewpoint over another.