When faced with the challenge of creating an original Scientific American article, I responded with the essay “Serotonin Keeps You Sad and Sleepy.” The prompt—which served as the cumulative assignment for my WR 150 course “Science Writing for the Public”—initially provoked me to write a research paper on stem cell cancer treatments, a topic on which I am fairly versed. But after a few hours of skimming through the abundance of peer-reviewed journal articles of that nature, I realized that the writing process for this assignment would only hold my interest with a narrower scope and a fresh topic. With that in mind and final exams looming, I started anew by researching the proposed causes of depression, eventually stumbling upon serotonin and its concurrent relationship with sleep disorders.
Like an actor getting into character, I found that using the format of a genuine Scientific American article motivated me to research well and write efficiently. Though not a typical assignment for a writing course, this exercise exposed me to the type of writing I’m more likely to complete in my career. Once I had finished the tedious process of filtering through the statistical analysis and scientific jargon of various journal articles, I went to the magazine’s website and used its layout to draft my first attempt at the essay, copying fonts and photo placement from the very beginning. With the paper due date as a print deadline and some wiggle room for creativity, I was able to fight my usual procrastination with genuine excitement to complete my work. With various stylistic adjustments, the product came to look, sound, and smell like scientific writing for public consumption.
JANE MCCLENATHAN is a rising sophomore majoring in biology with a specialization in cell biology, molecular biology and genetics. Born in Rochester, NY, she is now an active member of the Boston community through her participation in the Global App Initiative and BU’s chapter of Global Water Brigades. She would like to thank Marc Zicari and Joann Ellis Hamm for their patient support of her writing endeavors, and Professors Hill and Hill for their guidance throughout the semester.