When reading non-fiction, the average reader expects the author to be a completely unbiased blank slate. However, there are many small windows into the author's mind that most readers overlook. One of these windows is who the author chooses to quote. Thomas Sumner chooses to quote the creator of the experiment the article is focused on, and someone whose studies were greatly affected by the experiment. The experiment’s results claim that the decrease in size of the ancient Tethys ocean caused the formation of the Atlantic ocean. Sumner’s choice of sources for his article clearly show his standpoint on the Tethys theory.
First of all, the author quotes Fraser Keppie. Keppie created the experiment. Obviously, Keppie is for the idea that the decrease in size of the Tethys ocean caused the formation of the Atlantic. Keppie’s quotes make up a large portion of the text, which leads the analytical reader to one conclusion. Sumner probably agrees with the Tethys theory as well.
Second of all, the author also quotes Stephen Johnston. Johnston is a geologist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. He works with the idea of Pangea a lot, so he was clearly affected by the results of Keppie’s experiment. He says “‘Everything we think we know about Pangea is up in the air now.’” Showing how others were affected by this scientific break-through strengthens the idea that Sumner agrees with the Tethys theory.
Overall, it is possible to find some bias when we analyze who the author quotes. Maybe if we analyze more in our lives, we can find what we are looking for!
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