Paper 1: For robots, artificial intelligence gets physical

Megan Rosen's article, “For robots, artificial intelligence gets physical” of Science
News, targets readers of the magazine or people interested in the development of
robotics and AI in the medical world. Through language and imagery, Rosen engages
with the reader in a way that provides information and a sense of evolution in the field
of robotics.
The advertisement uses a very vivid type of writing. Either by words written in
bold or visual phrases like “the bot weaves green thread in and out, slowly sewing
together two sections”. This type of formulation gives a clear mental image of the
situation. It is as if one were watching it in real life. The consumer has that mental
visualization because of keywords such as “slowly” which creates a specific mood, and it
builds up the suspense. Another expressive visual is the front image which suggests the
closeness between robots and humans. For instance, scientists are adding sensors to
robots, and the author also mentions them being able to care for the elderly. This shows
the increase in the capabilities of robots and their ability to perform tasks that were
once reserved for humans.
In addition, Megan Rosen use’s comparative imagery. It is employed to create a
mental comparison between two or more concepts. In this text, it is applied to engage
with the reader and point out the evolution of robots. The author compares the “shiny
white Surgery Robot” and “Machines of the Future”. It’s the contrast between the
present and the future of robotics. Likewise, the phrase “a far cry away” creates a gap
between the current level of technology in bots and the possible future one. Through
this, Rosen encourages the readers to contemplate the possibility of advances that may
occur in robotics and artificial intelligence in the years ahead.
Furthermore, the introduction depicts the purpose of robots in our contemporary
society. Megan Rosen uses an argument by analogy “like an experienced human
surgeon”. This is usually used when an author wants to persuade. It relies on the fact
that if two concepts are familiar, they are more likely to share other characteristics. In
this case, the ability to complete complex tasks just like executing a surgery. This implies
that Megan Rosen believes that robots are not just machines, but are also capable of
simulating human behavior.
 Moreover, the author has used various arguments using authorial language to
appeal to the audience to establish the speaker’s credibility, making the reader more
likely to trust them. For example, Rosen quotes Mark Cultkosky, a Stanford roboticist. By
mentioning this established school (known by the readers) and highlighting his expertise
on the matter, the reader is more inclined to have confidence in the information
presented. This is also a way for the author to explain something in which they may lack
expertise. It allows the audience to trust the information given since a specialist has
verified the data.
Overall, Megan Rosen uses visual contrast, informal language and external
sources to persuade the readers to read the article. The language is straightforward,
establishing comfort and trust and the mental images are clear, enabling the text to
reach a wider audience.