Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
effectiveness of humor, science writing, humorous physics textbook
College
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Department
Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Introduction The purpose of this study was to expand upon a previous and successful unofficial study that I did in high school, testing the effectiveness of humor in instructional science writing. Despite the fact that various extenuating circumstances (including multiple cases of prolonged illness) hindered measurable data collection, the first main question asked by the study was answered: It is even possible to write a physics textbook in the style of humor essays? To this, my project responds with a resounding yes. I wrote and began editing the full first draft of my first humorous physics textbook, coming in at 125 single-spaced manuscript pages, designed to cover the physics and chemistry sections of the BYU PS100 curriculum. The preliminary data and responses were positive, demonstrating that it is possible to teach physics in this unconventional format. The question for the future is to determine whether or not it is effective.
Recommended Citation
Gold, Meredith and Hart, Gus
(2015)
"Science in a Nutshell: Studying the Use of Humor in Science Writing,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015:
Iss.
1, Article 216.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/216