In the passage The Great Influenza the author John M. Barry talks about how the field of science is very competitive. In the passage it tells of the scientist have to be more than just intelligence. The scientists have to be able to deal will failure because even if they succeed their findings are just one experiment away from being ruined. In The Great Influenza author Barry uses a serious tone, defines the field of science and other rhetorical devices to get his main point across.

            Barry’s use of his definition of what science helps to show the reader how tough the job of a scientist job is.  He first starts by telling how “experiments do not simply work an investigator must make them work.” The quotes tells the reader how being a scientist is a very difficult job. There is no experiment or aspect of their job that is easy and simply going to work. He tells them they need to work around it to make it work. He also tells of how scientist work is not always certain because “a scientist must except that all his or her work, even beliefs, may break apart upon the sharp edge of a single laboratory finding.”  Barry expresses the reality that being a scientist. Barry’s definition of a scientist job shows the reality of how tough the world of science is.

            Barry does not just define the scientific job but also describes what is needed to become a scientist. He explains that “To be a scientist requires not only intelligence and curiosity, but passion, patience, creativity, self-sufficiency, and courage”. His idea of needs for being a scientist is completely true. If a scientist does not have a passion for his work he will never become motivated. If a scientist is not patient and creative they can become frustrated and have zero breakthroughs. The most important is the need for self-sufficient and have courage.  The reason being if a scientist isn’t self-sufficient then if they take help they cannot get as much credit. The courage is the need to take risks so that there can be breakthroughs. John Barry’s definition or needs for a scientist are completely true.

            John Barry’s passage The Great influenza not only tells of science but also defines not only science as a job but also the needs that scientist will have in order to be successful. In order for a scientist to succeed in the world be too persistent and never give up. Even if the job of science is very difficult it has been done before.