Scientific narratives are essential tools that help the unprepared public understand how science is relevant to everyday life and behavior. This genre is a merge between belles-lettres and scholarly literature that includes captivating the audience through driving anticipation and a thorough explanation of a phenomenon. De Ceglia (2011) offers an exceptional example of a scientific narrative, as both essential qualities are present in The Archbishop’s Vampires.
The first example of the two dominant features is the paragraph where de Ceglia (2011) describes the things the Devil is not allowed to do. The passage offers a list that includes nine entries that are very specific and concise. Such listings are typical for scientific literature, as they are used to provide information without any emotions. At the same time, the narration helps to build up readers’ interest, while the author is about to describe the method to defeat the Devil. In short, the list provided by the author is an excellent example of scientific narratives’ nature.
De Ceglia (2011) uses both scientific and persuasive language that served a dualistic purpose of his writing. On the one hand, the following sentence uses scholarly language: “The recognition of the efficient cause – natural vs. preter- and supernatural – depended on the individuation of the final cause: aetiology was subordinate to teleology (and theology)” (p. 510). On the other hand, the author offers interesting facts about Davanzati’s biography written in simple language to captivate readers’ attention. In brief, the author uses sentence structure and vocabulary common both for belle-lettres and scholarly articles.
In conclusion, The Archbishop’s Vampires is a vivid example of scientific narratives because of its dualistic goals that include giving a thorough description of a phenomenon and intriguing the reader through telling an amusing story.
Reference
De Ceglia, F. (2011). The Archbishop’s Vampires. Giuseppe Davanzati’s dissertation and the reaction of “scientific” Italian Catholicism to the “Moravian events.” Archives Internationales D’histoire Des Sciences, 61(166-167), 487-510. Web.