Tim Weiskel

"History never repeats itself.
But sometimes, it rhymes."
  Mark Twain


What Is the Purpose of Environmental Writing?

     There are, of course, numerous reasons for writing about the environment. "Nature writing" has long been recognized as a major American writing tradition. We have all been drawn to look at the world differently by effectively written passages in literature that touch us deeply as we reflect on them and their meaning for our own lives.

     Mark Twain once observed that "History never repeats itself. But sometimes, it rhymes." Indeed, this is why we are drawn to the past. The "rhyme" and the echo provides the primary means that we have of understanding anything in the past -- or for that matter in any other culture. In some respects we only "hear" the words of others and learn to see their actions -- at least initially -- as an echo of our own experience. It is in being attentive to the "rhymes" that people hear the echos of their own lives, and when a resonant chord is struck they are ready to act.

     Effective environmental writing is born by the author's capacity to tap into the deeply felt rhymes and echos that already exist in people's understandings of nature. The task then, is to evoke and orchestrate a response that people can bring to the problem you wish to write about in such a way that they become convinced by you and converted to act as you suggest.

     I am sure that in this course you have become aware that writing for professional journals is also a major requirement for those doing research in the field of the environment. Professional publications often become to major or unique focus of academic writing. Beyond these forms of writing, you will have also been made aware as well of the need for "grant writing" -- an especially contorted form linguistic expression marked by the frequent use of "buz words," professional jargon, and just plain gibberish designed to suggest that the most significant environmental problems can and will be solved if this particular proposal is adequately funded.

     But beyond all these kinds of writing there are others that I wish to emphasize today. I am referring to writing for "the general public" -- that is, the non-specialist audience that needs to know or become engaged on environmental matters.

     As environmental managers you want to raise public awareness of enviornmental issues, so writing to inform is an important motivation. Indeed, one of your tasks will be to communicate problems of public urgency if not emergency. To do this you will want to develop effective written communication that reaches people, conveys essential information and convinces them to act in certain ways,  Moreover, in addition to any particular issue-oriented message, you will want to develop a broader "voice" on environmental matters that establishes you as a trusted and respected leader on environmental matters. The purpose of this kind of environmental writing is to convince people of your sound judgment on the basis of the evidence you evoke, the arguments you present and the skill of your presentation. So, let's look at each of these elements in turn.


Evidence:

  • Good writing begins with good research.
  • Good research depends upon marshalling appripriate, timely and convincing evidence -- lots of it.
  • Need to develop "electronic" note taking system
    • acquire data
    • arrange & organize data
    • draw upon data in an ordered manner at time of writing/presentation
    • You should consider developing an electronic bibliographic database like Endnote or RefManager - advantages of this equipment for
      • note taking
      • organizing thoughts
      • citing reference


Argumentation:

First and last rule of argumentation:

    Remember your audience. Furthermore, your arguments should keep clearly in mind the different levels of what you are addressing.

  • A Problem - the topic you are investigating should present some kind of problem, dispute or dilemma.
  • The Parties - there are different parties to  the disputes or contested issues.
  • The Principles - each of these parties bases its position on explicit or implicit ethical priorities and principles which, in turn, manifest the 6 fundamental theories emphasized in class (a theory of community, system, authority, change, agency, and time).
  • A Policy Recommendation you would offer for the problem at hand along with a discussion of the ethical principles that you feel make this option the most compelling you can think of.

Remember:

  • Different types of argumentation are effective in different audience environments.
  • You will not generally convince people by "browbeating" them -- do not "lead" with your "expertise." This can provoke a reaction.
  • Arguement by causation - linear causation is perhaps the mose simple, but ecological phenomena also require an understanding of reciprocal, nested and cumulative causation driven by "feedback loops."
  • Argument by correlation -- needs massive amounts of parallel evidence.
  • Argument by analogy & the narrative story.


Presentation:

  • "Written" work should be in several forms.
    • "Printed"
      • "Paper" to be circulated.
      • Article in established print journal
      • Article presented in an online publication - a "zine" or web-log.
    • a publication in website series
    • a dedicated website - like the
    • a multimedia website - with links and supporting, related material
    • a stand-alone CD/DVD
    • Pamphlets
    • Issue Papers with keys to further linkages and resources.
  • Presentations should be made for public access
    • PowerPoint Presentations placed on line
    • Streaming Video capture and presentation online
  • The over all structure of a presentation is a "circular" one. You want to bring people back at the end of your presentation to understanding where they started when you began so that they can leave your peice of writing/presentation with the same sense that they need to engage others on the same thought process/journey.

Writing for each of these environments requires some specialized training in media presentation, but the basic HTML is now accessible as a feature of all major word-processors. In fact HTML is becoming the "Esparanto" language of communication these days.

     In short, you should learn now to create your own "archives" of your cumulative work and place the best of this work online in an institutional or personal setting where others can get access to your hard work, thought and personal sense of passion for the environmental problems you choose to focus upon in your career and in your personal life. Learn how to add your contribution to the growing web of knowledge and concern on environmental matters in such a way that you engage and inspire others to share your perspectives and join your effort to make a difference in the world we must struggle to presere.

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