Name Deidre Brown
Professor Pamela Sternberg
Date Oct 29th, 2022
English 202
Rhetorical Analysis of Lab reports
This rhetorical analysis seeks to compare the basic components of two scientific lab reports centered on Air pollution in and around New York City. (1). Spatial Variation in Environmental Noise and Air Pollution in New York City and (2). Spatial and seasonal distribution of aerosol chemical components in New York City: (2) Road dust and other tracers of traffic-generated air pollution, provided viable information on air pollution and the effects it had on the environment. The first lab report focused mostly on environmental noise specifically ambient sounds deriving from overpopulated urban areas and the exposure from these sources affects physical health. The additional objective of the report addressed air pollution deriving from urban traffic. The second report focused on the chemical components of aerosol and how they are distributed around New York City. Like the first report, this lab report provides additional information on these chemical particles along with dust and other environmental tracers affect an individual’s health. All information provided in these lab reports the following elements will be analyzed: title, abstract, introduction, materials &methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgments, reference, and appendix.
Title
The first lab report was titled Spatial Variation in Environmental Noise and air pollution in New York City, the second, Spatial and seasonal distribution of aerosol chemical components in New York city: road dust and other tracers of traffic-generated air pollution. Even though these are two different lab reports speaking to different aspects of air pollution, these lab reports both utilized Spatial within their title signifying the importance of information collected in a different location within a country, city, or town. Additionally, the titles provided specific keywords that will provide awareness to their readers. Reviewing each title, it is safe to say that these documents would appeal to researchers and scientists interested in air pollution and how it affects the environment. Though, I do not agree with the length of the second lab report’s title it is still suitable for the information presented. Therefore, the titles provided are appropriate for their readers and will allow their audience to understand what the report is about.
Abstract
Lab report 1. (Spatial variation in environmental noise) provides a section for this element. It provides more intricate details based on the title of the report. It provides background information as well, such as where and when the data was collected. As opposed to lab report 1, lab report 2. (Spatial and seasonal distribution ….) does not have an abstract titled sectioned. However, at the beginning of the report just below the title and writing credits, a partially enclosed section containing information that would belong in an abstract is assumed to be abstract information. It provides information on what the researchers explained what the report is about and where this data was collected. Though this report did not have a titled abstract it was still provided unconventionally. Considering the unconventional style of lab report number 2, it is safe to assume that both lab reports have an abstract that summarizes the passage adequately.
Introduction
The spatial variation in environmental noise (lab report 1) introduction focuses on New York City’s noise pollution. It states that many of the noises heard in this populated urban area are due to motor vehicle traffic and other urban sounds. Due to high levels of sound within the city, they have observed that persons residing in the area are prone to have more physical and mental health issues. Researchers have included mentions that their observance of this effect was also recorded in other literary devices. “In addition, non-auditory adverse health effects from exposures to ambient noise from common urban sources have been documented in a growing body of literature”, which means that their research can be found in other books and journals once researched. However, the researchers utilize epidemiologic studies to provide concrete information regarding the said topic. The introduction continues to correlate noise pollution within urban areas and severe health risks. In addition to the first objective, the introduction also provides detailed information on how motor vehicles causing noise pollution to the public, can also contribute to air pollution. “Road traffic is a source of noise and air pollution, raising the possibility that associations between traffic exposures and cardiovascular endpoints involve possible confounding and/or synergism between noise and air pollution and their effects on health”, this, therefore, means that researchers not only theorized that populated urban areas with congested traffic contribute to both noise pollution and air pollution but also contribute to an individual’s physical health.
Lab report 2 is entirely focused on chemical particulars from aerosol chemicals. Chemical particles such as Particulate matter, these micro subdivisions can be found near roadways and in the air. Researchers that conducted lab report number 2 connected the dots between aerosol particles and how it affects one’s health. They included studies from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) that helped to formulate concrete findings. They provided information From the USEPA studies conducted in 2005 that state that they were an important association between roadway proximity and adverse health effects due to the community’s air pollution. Lab report 2 emphasizes that these particles measure between 2.25 micrometers to 10 micrometers and can enter our airways and reside within the thoracic cavity, causing heart disease and other severe health issues. Researchers also emphasize in the introduction that due to the build-up of these chemical components in the air, leads to air pollution.
All information considered Lab reports 1 & 2 introduction provides key information on what the researchers have observed and collected while conducting their research. Both introductions state the purpose and provide a correlation between two factors whether it is noise pollution and how it contributes to both individual’s physical health and/or air pollution, or even chemical components of aerosol and how it contributes to air pollution and individuals’ health within the New York City area.
Materials and Methods.
Lab reports 1 & 2 both contain Methods within their reports. Spatial variation of environmental Noise utilizes Extech USB Sound Level Datalogger to log the audio levels. They used this equipment based on its low cost and the ability to record audio levels for long hours without any disruption. This equipment is essential to the noise pollution aspect of the research. The researchers also explained that they used dataloggers within weather-protective pelicans to prevent any damage to the data or the instrument itself. They also employ air quality monitors which were studies conducted by the New York City Community Air survey to monitor the chemical components within the air. They utilize the Teflon filters, which is a device used for aerosol sampling, air venting, and gas filtration. Researchers collected samples from 100 locations from Sept 5th, to November 20th, 2012 within New York City to determine what chemical components were abundant in the atmosphere.
Lab report 2 Also uses the Teflon Filter which is not ironic because these two studies are focused on air pollution within the New York City area. However, researchers who researched the aerosol chemical components collected data from 8 consecutive weeks in the winter and summer of 2008. However, the difference observed within this lab report is that researchers collected data from 11 locations instead of 100 locations within the New York City area. Researchers also made noteworthy mention of collected data within the New York City metropolitan area, the George Washington Bridge, and the university of medicine and dentistry of New Jersey. The researchers compared the samples found in these three areas to determine the different particles emitted in these congested areas.
Therefore, both lab reports methods section provided the instruments and studies they used to acquire the data essential to their experiment.
Results
Spatial Variation in Environmental Noise and Air pollution, display their findings by using tables. The table titled: Summary Statistics for Noise Measurements provided data regarding audio levels recorded on weekdays and weekends. Researchers also provided the results on the duration of the noise, this was placed in a histogram graph that showed the relation between the noise heard and how long they lasted throughout the day, this graph is titled the Diurnal Variation of Noise Citywide.
Spatial and seasonal distribution of aerosol chemical components in New York City displayed their results in different variations. Researchers displayed their findings with geographic maps, these maps show the chemical components observed in the 8 consecutive weeks in the summer and winter months hence the term seasonal being used in the title of the lab report. They also provided bar graphs, simple tables, and scatter plot graphs to show the different particles observed in the different locations. Each graph, table, and map were labeled adequately. They also provided a brief explanation of each graph etc.
Both Lab reports displayed their findings effectively. The researchers displayed their findings in this manner so their audience may have a better understanding of all things observed.
Discussion
Lab report 1, discusses the deployable low-cost level meters for measuring the sound pressure levels for 1-week intervals across the different NYC-selected areas. Researchers also provided additional tables that depicted the results they collected within these 1-week intervals. They explained the tables and discussed how the sound levels collected from the different areas of the city showed a pattern based on when the data was collected. Researchers discussed that they used maximum average hourly levels from midday through and the lowest levels taking place overnight. They also discussed the correlations of one-week noise with traffic and building density at varying buffer sizes. This, therefore, means that they observed the noise surrounding traffic noises from trucks, buses, etc., and the distance between roadways considering building sizes and the effects it has on blocking the noise. Lab report 1 also discusses the information presented in the introduction however they express this information in more detail.
Lab report 2 discusses the measurement of spatial and temporal variability for road dust tracers. Researchers who conducted this report discussed how Particulate matter from aerosol is found locally. This suggests that these particles derive from motor vehicles and other chemicals used or sprayed in the air, in neighborhoods or areas such as Brooklyn, Bronx County, and in around NYC residential areas. Researchers provide more details previously provided in the introduction. Researchers continued to emphasize that particulate matter from these aerosols continues to take precedence in the environment which further contributes to the air quality. Further providing concrete evidence that particulate matter from chemicals or motor vehicles contributes to air pollution.
Conclusion
Both Lab Reports 1 & 2 provided a suitable conclusion for their reports. They both did not provide any additional information but summarized their observations accurately. Lab report 2, clearly states that based on their findings they have concluded that particulate matter concentrations were measured higher in the New York City area than in other areas that were tested that were not as populated. This allows their readers to further persuade their audience that their report is indeed factual and that all findings were accurate.
Report #1 provides a simplified conclusion. Researchers who conducted this experiment concluded that low-cost, easily deployable long-term sound level meters, offer highly resolved data to assess noise exposures and how it correlates to air pollution. The collusion also merely mentions how noise pollution affects one’s physical and mental health. Even though the introduction was solely about noise pollution and how it contributed to both air pollution and how it affects individual’s health, the conclusion summarizes the important factors that contributed to the study which is that of the low-cost data level meters.
Acknowledgments
Both Spatial Variation in Environmental Noise and Air pollution and Spatial and Seasonal Distribution of aerosol chemical components in New York City has an acknowledgment section. Each lab report recognizes individuals and organizations that assisted with each study. Therefore, providing credit to those who contributed to the study.
Reference
Lab report 1 &2 have cited their references correctly. However, the differences noted between the two lab reports, are that references in report 1 are arranged numerically, while lab report #2 is listed alphabetically.
Appendixes
Neither lab reports 1 nor 2 have an appendix.
References
Iyad Kheirbek, K. I. (2014). Spatial Variation in Environmental Noise and Air Pollution. Journal of Urban Health, 413-491.
Richard E. Peliter, K. R. (2011). Spatial and seasonal distribution of aerosol chemical components in New York City : (2) Road dust and other tracers of traffic-generated air pollution. Journal Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 484-494.
Special Reflection
This project was both informative and educational, Although I do not envision myself doing this consistently, I can see myself doing this again within my field of study. I have learnt how to compare results and basic information to support my argument or just simply comparing results of a study. Doing this project not only helped with learning how to compare academic and professional documents but allowed me to utilize the technique within my own technical document. This skill learned would further allow me to compare and contrast results that are essential to the nursing role because nurses receive patients’ basic chemistry panel and have to compare them to the previous test conducted. This how health officials, monitor their patients to see if there are any significant change or if any new abnormalities have developed. This project was lengthy, however, because of the topic that was chosen composing the document was not hard as I thought it would be, which made it a lot more bearable with composing this analysis. The topic chosen allowed me to gain new information that is essential to my current understanding of the state of the world. I have learned how new technology affects our environment and whether that technology is beneficial or not.
This project allowed me to perfect my writing skills and also learn how to improve a technical document.
