Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Bill Nye Teaches Science and Problem-Solving

Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration

Crisis Day

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Neil deGrasse Tyson Teaches Scientific Thinking and Communication

Richard Branson Teaches Disruptive Entrepreneurship 

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

Enjoy 7 days free

The promo may be over, but your opportunity isn't. Dive into the full experience, worry-free, with our 7-day money-back guarantee.

The offer has ended

Amount charged now

Your 7-day free trial starts today

From TIME ©2022 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Times

Wirecutter

Reviewed - USA Today

Our Systems of Belief 

Preparing for Your Audience

The Future of Our World

Speculative Fiction

Speculative Fiction Case Study: The Handmaid’s Tale

Introduction

Spacewalking: Space and Perspective

Conclusion: The Future of Exploration

Setting and Worldbuilding

Meet Your Instructor: N. K. Jemisin

Macro-worldbuilding Exercise: Build Your World

Worldbuilding: Inventing Science and Magic

Worldbuilding: Research

Blend Science With Fiction Creatively

The Scientific Method

The ISS: Conception, Design, and Construction

The ISS: Experiments

Comms: Mission Control Evolution and Operations

Spacewalking: Spacesuits

Spacewalking: Spacewalks

Spacewalking: Training

Mars: Living on Another Planet

Experiencing Your Product Firsthand: Richard’s Spaceflight

Hail Mary Spacewalk

Learn How Astronauts Prepare

Rockets: How Rockets Work

Rockets: Atmospheric Drag

Rockets: Orbital Mechanics

Rockets: Fuels and Propulsion

Spaceships: Shuttles and Beyond

Spaceships: Navigation Systems and Human Variables

Spaceships: Navigating to the International Space Station

Learn How Spacecrafts are Controlled

What You Know Is Not as Important as How You Think

Cognitive Bias

Group Workshop: Aaron Pitches Mission to Mars

Rockets: What It Feels Like to Launch

Rockets: The Price of Exploration

Spaceships: Capsule Design

The ISS: Life Support Systems

Mars: How to Get to Mars

Mars: In-Situ Resource Utilization

Mars: Exploring Mars, Geology, and Astrobiology

Fight Tooth and Nail to Solve Problems

Think Cosmically, Act Globally

Pioneer in Space Sustainability

Science & Technology

Teaches Scientific Thinking and Communication

Neil deGrasse Tyson

With Leading Experts

Gut Health

Gut Health with Leading Experts

With Noted Experts

Crypto and the Blockchain

Guided by Leading Experts

Achieve More With GenAI

Teaches Filmmaking

James Cameron

James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Space Exploration

Chris Hadfield

Teaches Business Innovation

Rosalind Brewer

Rosalind Brewer Teaches Business Innovation

Teaches Conservation

Dr. Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Conservation

Teaches Values-Driven Leadership

Coach K

Coach K Teaches Values-Driven Leadership

Teaches Poker Strategy

Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey Teaches Poker Strategy

Teaches Economics and Society

Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman Teaches Economics and Society

Teaches Game Design and Theory

Will Wright

Will Wright Teaches Game Design and Theory

Teaches Poker

Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker

Teaches Disruptive Entrepreneurship 

Richard Branson

Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

John Douglas

John Douglas Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

Chris Hadfield and Noted Co-Experts

Chris Voss and Noted Co-Experts

Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life

James Clear

James Clear: Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life

Navigating Change

Jay Shetty

Teaches Mathematical Thinking

Terence Tao

Terence Tao Teaches Mathematical Thinking

Teaches Music and Connection

Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma Teaches Music and Connection

Teaches Science and Problem-Solving

Bill Nye

Brain Health

Brain Health with Leading Experts

Think Like a Boss, Live Like a Legend

Martha Stewart

Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Scientific literacy refers to the ability to parse through scientific information and understand it. Furthermore, it can entail the knowledge necessary to conduct experiments, hypothesize about new data, and think critically about the wider world. 

At a very early age, even elementary school students receive exposure to scientific concepts in the interest of building this sort of literacy. Schools follow national science education standards to bring the next generation up to speed on everything from physics and chemistry to the broader life and social sciences. 

Certain scientific authorities lament what they see as the low standards of scientific literacy throughout contemporary society. They insist we need education reform to ensure the general public can better learn to see the world through a science-oriented lens. 
Scientific literacy enables you to understand why things are the way they are. Becoming a science-literate person can lead to or contribute to:

- __A greater impetus to act on important issues__: Scientifically literate citizens are more likely to act when science indicates a crisis is on the horizon. Scientific issues often become political and ethical issues, drifting out of the lab or classroom into the real world. Science teachers help their students identify issues like these as well as propose ways they can act to solve them.
- __A greater understanding of the world__: From elementary to high school science and beyond, teachers do their best to explain the wonders of the natural world to their students. Scientific knowledge expands your ability to grasp mysteries you previously thought of as inscrutable and unsolvable. 
- __Improved <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-critical-thinking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-critical-thinking","linkCopy":"critical thinking","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>critical thinking</a> skills__: Science learning allows you to hone your critical thinking skills in a way that can apply to a vast array of other arenas in your life. As you comb through scientific evidence and assess data, you train yourself to think objectively. Core competencies like these have far-reaching benefits on your general decision-making capabilities.
The more science literate a society becomes, the better equipped it is to meet the challenges of the contemporary world. Consider these ways to improve the public understanding of science:

- __Combat misinformation__. Science education is essential to combating misinformation. Unless people know how to vet sources of information, they’re more prone to take untrue or science illiterate alternatives at face value. This has led to people outright denying the reality of climate change and global warming, as well as refusing to take life-saving vaccines.
- __Demonstrate the real-world value__. People are more likely to achieve scientific literacy when they see it has pragmatic value. Show students how an increased understanding of science can boost economic productivity, increase personal well-being, improve professional development, and have a positive general impact on their everyday lives. 
- __Specify needed skills__. There are many different important science literacy skills, so help people break them down into manageable chunks. Walk students through how to form a [hypothesis](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/theory-vs-hypothesis-basics-of-the-scientific-method), conduct an experiment using the scientific method, or <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide","linkCopy":"read through","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>read through</a> a science paper and evaluate its veracity.
- __Take a wide-angle view__. Encourage people to study all sorts of different scientific fields. For example, someone may have a hard time understanding the scientific processes underlying a life science (like chemistry) but also take to a more physical branch of the field (like earth science). You could then use their enthusiasm for the latter to inspire them to work harder to understand the former. Utilize different science teaching strategies to encourage a love of the field in general. 
There are various approaches you can take to test for scientific understanding. Here are a few key ways to evaluate literacy in the science classroom:

- __Follow an established science curriculum__. You can find plenty of curricula to guide your own personalized science education goals. For example, institutions like the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Science provide general wisdom about how to teach students to become science literate throughout their time in school.
- __Start a dialogue__. Constant conversation and experimentation are part of the very nature of science. As such, scientific inquiry requires a group approach to problem-solving. Ask your students to help each other deepen their understanding of scientific concepts and step in to assist them along the way. See if they’re grasping these concepts as you talk to them.
- __Test for knowledge__. Try to test for knowledge of science concepts in multiple different ways. Ask your students to conceive of and conduct an experiment from start to finish. Encourage them to write a scientific research paper with the appropriate citation format, utilizing peer-reviewed resources. Provide traditional multiple-choice tests to evaluate general scientific knowledge as well.
Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) for exclusive access to video lessons taught by science luminaries, including Bill Nye, Terence Tao, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chris Hadfield, Jane Goodall, and more.
The goal of science is to help the general public better understand natural phenomena, from the underlying physical laws of the universe to the neuroscience at the basis of human thought itself. As such, scientific literacy is essential for people to penetrate the mysteries of existence at every level. Learn more about the importance of scientific literacy and how to increase it throughout society.

The goal of science is to help the general public better understand natural phenomena, from the underlying physical laws of the universe to the neuroscience at the basis of human thought itself. As such, scientific literacy is essential for people to penetrate the mysteries of existence at every level. Learn more about the importance of scientific literacy and how to increase it throughout society.

Scientific Literacy: 3 Reasons to Become Scientifically Literate

Scientific literacy refers to the ability to parse through scientific information and understand it. Furthermore, it can entail the knowledge necessary to conduct experiments, hypothesize about new data, and think critically about the wider world. At a very early age, even elementary school students receive exposure to scientific concepts in the interest of building this sort of literacy. Schools follow national science education standards to bring the next generation up to speed on everything from physics and chemistry to the broader life and social sciences. Certain scientific authorities lament what they see as the low standards of scientific literacy throughout contemporary society. They insist we need education reform to ensure the general public can better learn to see the world through a science-oriented lens.

What Is Scientific Literacy?

Scientific literacy enables you to understand why things are the way they are. Becoming a science-literate person can lead to or contribute to:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">A greater impetus to act on important issues: Scientifically literate citizens are more likely to act when science indicates a crisis is on the horizon. Scientific issues often become political and ethical issues, drifting out of the lab or classroom into the real world. Science teachers help their students identify issues like these as well as propose ways they can act to solve them. </li><li class="">A greater understanding of the world: From elementary to high school science and beyond, teachers do their best to explain the wonders of the natural world to their students. Scientific knowledge expands your ability to grasp mysteries you previously thought of as inscrutable and unsolvable. </li><li class="">Improved <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-critical-thinking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-critical-thinking","linkCopy":"critical thinking","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>critical thinking</a> skills: Science learning allows you to hone your critical thinking skills in a way that can apply to a vast array of other arenas in your life. As you comb through scientific evidence and assess data, you train yourself to think objectively. Core competencies like these have far-reaching benefits on your general decision-making capabilities. </li></ul>

The Importance of Scientific Literacy

The more science literate a society becomes, the better equipped it is to meet the challenges of the contemporary world. Consider these ways to improve the public understanding of science:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Combat misinformation. Science education is essential to combating misinformation. Unless people know how to vet sources of information, they’re more prone to take untrue or science illiterate alternatives at face value. This has led to people outright denying the reality of climate change and global warming, as well as refusing to take life-saving vaccines. </li><li class="">Demonstrate the real-world value. People are more likely to achieve scientific literacy when they see it has pragmatic value. Show students how an increased understanding of science can boost economic productivity, increase personal well-being, improve professional development, and have a positive general impact on their everyday lives. </li><li class="">Specify needed skills. There are many different important science literacy skills, so help people break them down into manageable chunks. Walk students through how to form a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/theory-vs-hypothesis-basics-of-the-scientific-method' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/theory-vs-hypothesis-basics-of-the-scientific-method","linkCopy":"hypothesis","category":null}'>hypothesis</a>, conduct an experiment using the scientific method, or <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide","linkCopy":"read through","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>read through</a> a science paper and evaluate its veracity. </li><li class="">Take a wide-angle view. Encourage people to study all sorts of different scientific fields. For example, someone may have a hard time understanding the scientific processes underlying a life science (like chemistry) but also take to a more physical branch of the field (like earth science). You could then use their enthusiasm for the latter to inspire them to work harder to understand the former. Utilize different science teaching strategies to encourage a love of the field in general. </li></ul>

How to Improve Scientific Literacy

There are various approaches you can take to test for scientific understanding. Here are a few key ways to evaluate literacy in the science classroom:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Follow an established science curriculum. You can find plenty of curricula to guide your own personalized science education goals. For example, institutions like the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Science provide general wisdom about how to teach students to become science literate throughout their time in school. </li><li class="">Start a dialogue. Constant conversation and experimentation are part of the very nature of science. As such, scientific inquiry requires a group approach to problem-solving. Ask your students to help each other deepen their understanding of scientific concepts and step in to assist them along the way. See if they’re grasping these concepts as you talk to them. </li><li class="">Test for knowledge. Try to test for knowledge of science concepts in multiple different ways. Ask your students to conceive of and conduct an experiment from start to finish. Encourage them to write a scientific research paper with the appropriate citation format, utilizing peer-reviewed resources. Provide traditional multiple-choice tests to evaluate general scientific knowledge as well. </li></ul>

How to Evaluate Scientific Literacy

Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> for exclusive access to video lessons taught by science luminaries, including Bill Nye, Terence Tao, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chris Hadfield, Jane Goodall, and more.

Learn More

The goal of science is to help the general public better understand natural phenomena, from the underlying physical laws of the universe to the neuroscience at the basis of human thought itself. As such, scientific literacy is essential for people to penetrate the mysteries of existence at every level. Learn more about the importance of scientific literacy and how to increase it throughout society.

The goal of science is to help the general public better understand natural phenomena, from the underlying physical laws of the universe to the neuroscience at the basis of human thought itself. As such, scientific literacy is essential for people to penetrate the mysteries of existence at every level. Learn more about the importance of scientific literacy and how to increase it throughout society.


A scientist looking through a microscope in a laboratory. 

scientific-literacy

Exposition is a literary term that refers to the background information the audience needs to know for the world of your story to make sense. (Another definition of exposition is the technique of providing this kind of information in a story or film.) Exposition includes anything from character introductions to set details and dialogue, and is most common at the beginning of the story.

The main purpose of exposition is to illuminate the motivations of a film’s characters, as well as the crucial details and circumstances that define their dramatic situation. Effective exposition adds vital, interesting information to the world of the story so that the audience can comprehend the central dramatic narrative. Exposition can also be used to foreshadow an important event, or justify a character’s skills and decisions. 
There are several ways to use exposition to convey the background of the characters and events in a film. Here are some of the most popular types of exposition.

1. __Dialogue__. A conversation between two or more characters allows for simple and effective exposition in a single scene. 
2. __Narration__. Narration, or voiceover, is a way to <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communicate","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communicate</a> a character’s true thoughts and desires, or give omniscient insight into a situation. 
3. __Mise-en-scène__. [Mise-en-scène are props and other things that are seen](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mise-en-scene-in-film), but not heard, in a scene. These details, while seemingly subtle, can convey a significant amount of information in a short amount of time. 
4. __Text or title cards__. Perhaps the most straightforward method, text or title cards can contain all the relevant information your audience will need to know, before the film even begins. 
5. __Flashback__. There are multiple ways to convey past events in a present narrative, but flashbacks are the most visual as they place your character in context (versus having them simply recount the event, as they might in dialogue or narration). 

To illustrate how effective exposition can enhance a film and captivate an audience, here are five examples of exposition through the years.

1. __“Rear Window” (1954)__: Director Alfred Hitchcock is a master of exposition, and this film is a perfect example. Hitchcock uses a continuous, three-minute shot to introduce the viewer to Jeff’s neighbors via their daily habits, as well as the mise-en-scène of their apartments. This expository scene gives viewers a taste of the voyeurism that is to come, and drops hints about how each character will figure into the story.
2. __“GoodFellas” (1990)__: Martin Scorsese’s critically acclaimed mob movie makes extensive use of voiceover from main character Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta) to deliver exposition. However, perhaps the best example of exposition in the film is when Henry leads his girlfriend, Karen, through the back entrance of a nightclub. The respect Henry receives from every person he sees, along with exclusivity and security of their route, tell us everything we need to know about what it means to be a gangster.
3. __“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)__: TV news and radio are often used as vehicles to deliver exposition in film. But director Edgar Wright puts a unique spin on the technique in this exposition example: rather than witnessing a continuous news segment, the viewer experiences this information in bits and pieces as bored and distracted main character Shaun flips through TV channels and wanders to a convenience store. The comedy of Shaun’s obliviousness, along with the tension of the scene, make for effective exposition.
4. __“Up” (2009)__: In what is also an excellent example of a [film montage](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-montage-in-filmmaking-how-to-create-a-memorable-montage), “Up” opens with a series of images that guide us through main character Carl Fredriksen’s relationship with his wife, Ellie. In the span of just a couple of dialogue-free minutes, we experience the joy, love, and loss of the couple’s many years together. This scene is one of the best examples of exposition in recent film history. In fact, film critic Peter Bradshaw called the montage “a masterclass in narrative exposition.”
5. __“I, Tonya” (2017)__: In this example of exposition, main character Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie) “<a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-breaking-the-fourth-wall-works-in-film-and-tv' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-breaking-the-fourth-wall-works-in-film-and-tv","linkCopy":"breaks the fourth wall","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>breaks the fourth wall</a>” to deliver key information about her life. The technique works, in part, because these scenes also reveal Tonya’s character in interesting ways, highlighting her resentment and stubbornness as well as her grit and determination to succeed as an Olympic figure skater.

You know the world of your story inside out, but now it's time to put it on paper and share it with audiences. If you're struggling with finding a good starting point or balancing how much information to present, try the following tips for effective expository writing.

1. __Show, don’t tell__. Movies are a form of visual storytelling, which is why one of the basic tenets of <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-becoming-a-screenwriter' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-becoming-a-screenwriter","linkCopy":"screenwriting","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>screenwriting</a> is to “show, don’t tell.” This means that you should always “show” things to the audience through action or character behavior as opposed to simply “telling” the audience. If you “show, don’t tell” well, you might not even need an exposition. 
2. __Weave exposition into the rising action__. Good exposition is laid out without impeding the story and is seamlessly embedded within a scene. Move the central dramatic narrative forward at the same time that you lay out exposition. Describe how a bomb works at the same time as the hero is trying to detonate it. Explain how evil a bad guy is as the hero is actively running away from him.
3. __Supplement the visuals__. Use narration or voice-over to add to the action that is taking place on screen. While some visual clues are better left for the audience to decipher, others can benefit from the clarity or context that a narrator can provide with supplemental information.
4. <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-tips-for-developing-strong-characters' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-tips-for-developing-strong-characters","linkCopy":"Create characters","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Create characters</a> who act as a “stand in” for the audience. One way to get through exposition in your screenplay is to have at least one character early on who is a stand-in for the audience; Rashida Jones’s character in *The Social Network*, or Chrisann in *Steve Jobs* for example, because they ask questions of the main character that the audience might have. He or she will help introduce the characters and the world without causing viewers to be bogged down with excessive or conspicuous exposition.
5. __Use arguments to your advantage__. In real life, arguments naturally escalate and romantic partners often bring up past events during fights making it an ideal scene to slip in background information. A fight about household duties between lovers can escalate to the point where the wife brings up her husband’s infidelity from 15 years earlier. This exposition feels natural because we believe that the wife may not be over the past infidelity and would mention it in the heat of the moment.
6. __Be brief—less is more__. Only say as much as you need to for the audience to understand the story. Try writing a monologue for your character, exploring his or her entire background and back story. Then, start chipping away at it. How much of this information is important, and how much is ancillary detail? How much can you show in the mise en scène versus having to say out loud? For example, does the character need to tell us they went to university, or can they throw on a college sweatshirt or stand in front of a framed diploma? 
7. __Give your characters subject-matter expertise__. Let’s say you need to explain how a virus is slowly decimating the entire human race. Instead of having a lay person google the information in a scene, write a dynamic scientist character who has been researching this virus for years, is an expert on the topic, and whose job it is to provide information about the virus to others. For example, you could write a scene where the scientist explains how the virus works to the U.N. or has to go on CNN to explain it to the masses as this feels like an authentic thing that would happen in the world of the story.

Whether you’re an aspiring blockbuster director or have dreams of changing the world with your independent film, navigating the world of scripts and screenplays can be daunting. No one knows this better than [Jodie Foster](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jodie-foster-teaches-filmmaking). In Jodie Foster’s MasterClass on filmmaking, the two-time Oscar-winner talks about her experience on both sides of the camera and reveals insights into every step of the filmmaking process, from storyboarding to casting and camera coverage.

Want to become a better filmmaker? [The MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) provides exclusive video lessons from master filmmakers, including Jodie Foster, Judd Apatow, Martin Scorcese, David Lynch, Spike Lee, Aaron Sorkin, and more.

From the classic opener “Once upon a time…” to the famous *Star Wars* sequence “In a galaxy far, far away…”, some exposition is necessary in every film. Writing effective exposition, however, is an art form. Learn how to best introduce characters, backstory, and [plot points](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-the-first-plot-point-of-your-story) below.

From the classic opener “Once upon a time…” to the famous *Star Wars* sequence “In a galaxy far, far away…”, some exposition is necessary in every film. Writing effective exposition, however, is an art form. Learn how to best introduce characters, backstory, and [plot points](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-the-first-plot-point-of-your-story) below.


What Is Exposition in Film? How to Write Exposition in 7 Easy Steps

Exposition is a literary term that refers to the background information the audience needs to know for the world of your story to make sense. (Another definition of exposition is the technique of providing this kind of information in a story or film.) Exposition includes anything from character introductions to set details and dialogue, and is most common at the beginning of the story.

What Is Exposition?

The main purpose of exposition is to illuminate the motivations of a film’s characters, as well as the crucial details and circumstances that define their dramatic situation. Effective exposition adds vital, interesting information to the world of the story so that the audience can comprehend the central dramatic narrative. Exposition can also be used to foreshadow an important event, or justify a character’s skills and decisions.

What Is the Purpose of Exposition?

There are several ways to use exposition to convey the background of the characters and events in a film. Here are some of the most popular types of exposition.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Dialogue. A conversation between two or more characters allows for simple and effective exposition in a single scene. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Narration. Narration, or voiceover, is a way to <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communicate","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communicate</a> a character’s true thoughts and desires, or give omniscient insight into a situation. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Mise-en-scène. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mise-en-scene-in-film' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mise-en-scene-in-film","linkCopy":"Mise-en-scène are props and other things that are seen","category":null}'>Mise-en-scène are props and other things that are seen</a>, but not heard, in a scene. These details, while seemingly subtle, can convey a significant amount of information in a short amount of time. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Text or title cards. Perhaps the most straightforward method, text or title cards can contain all the relevant information your audience will need to know, before the film even begins. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Flashback. There are multiple ways to convey past events in a present narrative, but flashbacks are the most visual as they place your character in context (versus having them simply recount the event, as they might in dialogue or narration). </li></ol>

How to Write Exposition With 5 Different Exposition Techniques

To illustrate how effective exposition can enhance a film and captivate an audience, here are five examples of exposition through the years.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. “Rear Window” (1954): Director Alfred Hitchcock is a master of exposition, and this film is a perfect example. Hitchcock uses a continuous, three-minute shot to introduce the viewer to Jeff’s neighbors via their daily habits, as well as the mise-en-scène of their apartments. This expository scene gives viewers a taste of the voyeurism that is to come, and drops hints about how each character will figure into the story. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. “GoodFellas” (1990): Martin Scorsese’s critically acclaimed mob movie makes extensive use of voiceover from main character Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta) to deliver exposition. However, perhaps the best example of exposition in the film is when Henry leads his girlfriend, Karen, through the back entrance of a nightclub. The respect Henry receives from every person he sees, along with exclusivity and security of their route, tell us everything we need to know about what it means to be a gangster. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. “Shaun of the Dead” (2004): TV news and radio are often used as vehicles to deliver exposition in film. But director Edgar Wright puts a unique spin on the technique in this exposition example: rather than witnessing a continuous news segment, the viewer experiences this information in bits and pieces as bored and distracted main character Shaun flips through TV channels and wanders to a convenience store. The comedy of Shaun’s obliviousness, along with the tension of the scene, make for effective exposition. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. “Up” (2009): In what is also an excellent example of a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-montage-in-filmmaking-how-to-create-a-memorable-montage' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-montage-in-filmmaking-how-to-create-a-memorable-montage","linkCopy":"film montage","category":null}'>film montage</a>, “Up” opens with a series of images that guide us through main character Carl Fredriksen’s relationship with his wife, Ellie. In the span of just a couple of dialogue-free minutes, we experience the joy, love, and loss of the couple’s many years together. This scene is one of the best examples of exposition in recent film history. In fact, film critic Peter Bradshaw called the montage “a masterclass in narrative exposition.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. “I, Tonya” (2017): In this example of exposition, main character Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie) “<a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-breaking-the-fourth-wall-works-in-film-and-tv' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-breaking-the-fourth-wall-works-in-film-and-tv","linkCopy":"breaks the fourth wall","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>breaks the fourth wall</a>” to deliver key information about her life. The technique works, in part, because these scenes also reveal Tonya’s character in interesting ways, highlighting her resentment and stubbornness as well as her grit and determination to succeed as an Olympic figure skater. </li></ol>

5 Examples of Exposition in Film

You know the world of your story inside out, but now it&#39;s time to put it on paper and share it with audiences. If you&#39;re struggling with finding a good starting point or balancing how much information to present, try the following tips for effective expository writing.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Show, don’t tell. Movies are a form of visual storytelling, which is why one of the basic tenets of <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-becoming-a-screenwriter' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-becoming-a-screenwriter","linkCopy":"screenwriting","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>screenwriting</a> is to “show, don’t tell.” This means that you should always “show” things to the audience through action or character behavior as opposed to simply “telling” the audience. If you “show, don’t tell” well, you might not even need an exposition. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Weave exposition into the rising action. Good exposition is laid out without impeding the story and is seamlessly embedded within a scene. Move the central dramatic narrative forward at the same time that you lay out exposition. Describe how a bomb works at the same time as the hero is trying to detonate it. Explain how evil a bad guy is as the hero is actively running away from him. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Supplement the visuals. Use narration or voice-over to add to the action that is taking place on screen. While some visual clues are better left for the audience to decipher, others can benefit from the clarity or context that a narrator can provide with supplemental information. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-tips-for-developing-strong-characters' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-tips-for-developing-strong-characters","linkCopy":"Create characters","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Create characters</a> who act as a “stand in” for the audience. One way to get through exposition in your screenplay is to have at least one character early on who is a stand-in for the audience; Rashida Jones’s character in The Social Network, or Chrisann in Steve Jobs for example, because they ask questions of the main character that the audience might have. He or she will help introduce the characters and the world without causing viewers to be bogged down with excessive or conspicuous exposition. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Use arguments to your advantage. In real life, arguments naturally escalate and romantic partners often bring up past events during fights making it an ideal scene to slip in background information. A fight about household duties between lovers can escalate to the point where the wife brings up her husband’s infidelity from 15 years earlier. This exposition feels natural because we believe that the wife may not be over the past infidelity and would mention it in the heat of the moment. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Be brief—less is more. Only say as much as you need to for the audience to understand the story. Try writing a monologue for your character, exploring his or her entire background and back story. Then, start chipping away at it. How much of this information is important, and how much is ancillary detail? How much can you show in the mise en scène versus having to say out loud? For example, does the character need to tell us they went to university, or can they throw on a college sweatshirt or stand in front of a framed diploma? </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Give your characters subject-matter expertise. Let’s say you need to explain how a virus is slowly decimating the entire human race. Instead of having a lay person google the information in a scene, write a dynamic scientist character who has been researching this virus for years, is an expert on the topic, and whose job it is to provide information about the virus to others. For example, you could write a scene where the scientist explains how the virus works to the U.N. or has to go on CNN to explain it to the masses as this feels like an authentic thing that would happen in the world of the story. </li></ol>

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Write Exposition With 7 Tips

Whether you’re an aspiring blockbuster director or have dreams of changing the world with your independent film, navigating the world of scripts and screenplays can be daunting. No one knows this better than <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jodie-foster-teaches-filmmaking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jodie-foster-teaches-filmmaking","linkCopy":"Jodie Foster","category":null}'>Jodie Foster</a>. In Jodie Foster’s MasterClass on filmmaking, the two-time Oscar-winner talks about her experience on both sides of the camera and reveals insights into every step of the filmmaking process, from storyboarding to casting and camera coverage.Want to become a better filmmaker? <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"The MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>The MasterClass Annual Membership</a> provides exclusive video lessons from master filmmakers, including Jodie Foster, Judd Apatow, Martin Scorcese, David Lynch, Spike Lee, Aaron Sorkin, and more.

Want to Become a Better Filmmaker?

From the classic opener “Once upon a time…” to the famous Star Wars sequence “In a galaxy far, far away…”, some exposition is necessary in every film. Writing effective exposition, however, is an art form. Learn how to best introduce characters, backstory, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-the-first-plot-point-of-your-story' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-the-first-plot-point-of-your-story","linkCopy":"plot points","category":null}'>plot points</a> below.

From the classic opener “Once upon a time…” to the famous Star Wars sequence “In a galaxy far, far away…”, some exposition is necessary in every film. Writing effective exposition, however, is an art form. Learn how to best introduce characters, backstory, and plot points (https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-the-first-plot-point-of-your-story) below.


The introductory sentence to an exposition on a typewriter.

what-is-exposition-film

Even the [most accomplished mathematicians](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/terence-tao-teaches-mathematical-thinking) spend great swaths of their careers pushed to the limits of their abilities. But being stumped isn’t cause for despair. Quite the opposite: It’s usually a sign that you’re on the right track. And continuing to fight with problems you don’t think you can solve is an essential aspect of learning. The following tips can help you surmount your steepest logical challenges, whatever they may be.

__Jump Right In__
Stop worrying and take a stab at it. Sure, there’s a chance that you won’t land on an answer at first. But putting in the effort could give you ideas that lead to success down the line—or prime your brain for solving future problems.

__Simplify, Simplify, Simplify__
In mathematics, this might entail using smaller numbers, removing or adding restrictions, and combining like terms by addition or subtraction. In life, it could involve breaking large problems into small chunks, listing what you don’t understand, and trying to take a bird’s-eye view of your tasks.

__Build Yourself Up__
Recall the problems you do know how to solve and see if you can apply the knowledge you gained to the dilemma in front of you. You’ve done a lot thus far in your life, no doubt. You’ve probably even solved problems similar to the one you’re currently facing.
__Don’t Lament Time Spent__
The Danish physicist Niels Bohr supposedly said that an expert is someone “who has found out by his own painful experience all the mistakes that one can make in a very narrow field.” This concept helps Terence remind himself that there’s no such thing as wasted time, so long as you’re learning: The goal isn’t just to solve a problem quickly or efficiently, but to enjoy yourself and draw lessons from the process.

__Cheat (Ethically)__
In this context, cheating means approaching a novel problem with tools you already possess. Like a video game’s “cheat code,” which allows you to skip over some tasks or stages, math cheats can get you further into a problem faster. Terence, for example, will sometimes take a curve and make it a straight line to simplify a problem—a mathematical tool called linearization.

> “There is a certain way in which mathematicians approach problems. We abstract them. We break them up into pieces. We make analogies. We try to find connections with other problems.“ —Terence

__Try a New Approach__
When Terence finds himself in a rut, sometimes it’s because he’s been looking at a problem and thinking, _I must solve it this specific way_. To get past this mental dead end, he tries to let go of his preconceived beliefs. He says that ideas formed in desperation can be your friend in these moments: “Sometimes they can jar you out of one thought process and into a better one.”

__Collaborate!__
The more people working on a single problem, the better. Maybe one member of the team is an expert in an obscure mathematical field and another has read a piece of arcane-yet-relevant literature. Good! Terence also loves solving problems with collaborators because it heightens the joy of finding a solution. “When you and your collaborator are both standing at the blackboard...and everything checks out...that’s a great experience and more fun than if you’re working on your own.”
Australian-American mathematician Terence Tao has taken on some of the most baffling problems known to humankind—and he’s won. In the process, he’s been part of major advances in his field and sparked lifesaving innovation. His work in number theory and quantum mechanics has solidified his reputation as one of the most powerful minds on the planet, all while opening countless eyes to the beauty, artistry, and universal relevance of mathematical thinking. Here, you’ll learn several of the ways he breaks through mental blocks.

Australian-American mathematician Terence Tao has taken on some of the most baffling problems known to humankind—and he’s won. In the process, he’s been part of major advances in his field and sparked lifesaving innovation. His work in number theory and quantum mechanics has solidified his reputation as one of the most powerful minds on the planet, all while opening countless eyes to the beauty, artistry, and universal relevance of mathematical thinking. Here, you’ll learn several of the ways he breaks through mental blocks.

How a World-Famous Mathematician Overcomes Mental Blocks

Even the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/terence-tao-teaches-mathematical-thinking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/terence-tao-teaches-mathematical-thinking","linkCopy":"most accomplished mathematicians","category":null}'>most accomplished mathematicians</a> spend great swaths of their careers pushed to the limits of their abilities. But being stumped isn’t cause for despair. Quite the opposite: It’s usually a sign that you’re on the right track. And continuing to fight with problems you don’t think you can solve is an essential aspect of learning. The following tips can help you surmount your steepest logical challenges, whatever they may be.Jump Right In Stop worrying and take a stab at it. Sure, there’s a chance that you won’t land on an answer at first. But putting in the effort could give you ideas that lead to success down the line—or prime your brain for solving future problems.Simplify, Simplify, Simplify In mathematics, this might entail using smaller numbers, removing or adding restrictions, and combining like terms by addition or subtraction. In life, it could involve breaking large problems into small chunks, listing what you don’t understand, and trying to take a bird’s-eye view of your tasks.Build Yourself Up Recall the problems you do know how to solve and see if you can apply the knowledge you gained to the dilemma in front of you. You’ve done a lot thus far in your life, no doubt. You’ve probably even solved problems similar to the one you’re currently facing.

Don’t Lament Time Spent The Danish physicist Niels Bohr supposedly said that an expert is someone “who has found out by his own painful experience all the mistakes that one can make in a very narrow field.” This concept helps Terence remind himself that there’s no such thing as wasted time, so long as you’re learning: The goal isn’t just to solve a problem quickly or efficiently, but to enjoy yourself and draw lessons from the process.Cheat (Ethically) In this context, cheating means approaching a novel problem with tools you already possess. Like a video game’s “cheat code,” which allows you to skip over some tasks or stages, math cheats can get you further into a problem faster. Terence, for example, will sometimes take a curve and make it a straight line to simplify a problem—a mathematical tool called linearization.<blockquote class="mc-text--italic mc-opacity--hinted mc-my-8 mc-mr-0 mc-ml-6 mc-pl-6">“There is a certain way in which mathematicians approach problems. We abstract them. We break them up into pieces. We make analogies. We try to find connections with other problems.“ —Terence</blockquote>Try a New Approach When Terence finds himself in a rut, sometimes it’s because he’s been looking at a problem and thinking, I must solve it this specific way. To get past this mental dead end, he tries to let go of his preconceived beliefs. He says that ideas formed in desperation can be your friend in these moments: “Sometimes they can jar you out of one thought process and into a better one.”Collaborate! The more people working on a single problem, the better. Maybe one member of the team is an expert in an obscure mathematical field and another has read a piece of arcane-yet-relevant literature. Good! Terence also loves solving problems with collaborators because it heightens the joy of finding a solution. “When you and your collaborator are both standing at the blackboard...and everything checks out...that’s a great experience and more fun than if you’re working on your own.”

Australian-American mathematician Terence Tao has taken on some of the most baffling problems known to humankind—and he’s won. In the process, he’s been part of major advances in his field and sparked lifesaving innovation. His work in number theory and quantum mechanics has solidified his reputation as one of the most powerful minds on the planet, all while opening countless eyes to the beauty, artistry, and universal relevance of mathematical thinking. Here, you’ll learn several of the ways he breaks through mental blocks.

Australian-American mathematician Terence Tao has taken on some of the most baffling problems known to humankind—and he’s won. In the process, he’s been part of major advances in his field and sparked lifesaving innovation. His work in number theory and quantum mechanics has solidified his reputation as one of the most powerful minds on the planet, all while opening countless eyes to the beauty, artistry, and universal relevance of mathematical thinking. Here, you’ll learn several of the ways he breaks through mental blocks.


Vector image of two walnuts: one being hit with a hammer, the other sitting in a glass of water.

TT Stumped

Canadian [astronaut](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-how-to-qualify-to-be-a-nasa-astronaut) Chris Hadfield is a renowned astronaut. In 1992, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) assigned Colonel Chris Hadfield to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He became NASA’s Chief CapCom for twenty-five [space shuttle](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-launch-a-space-shuttle) missions. NASA selected Colonel Hadfield as a NASA Mission Specialist, and three years later, he was aboard the Shuttle Atlantis, where he helped build the Mir space station. In 2001, on the Shuttle Endeavour, Colonel Hadfield performed two [spacewalks](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-spacewalk-learn-why-astronauts-perform-spacewalks-and-how-astronauts-train-for-spacewalks), and in 2013, he became Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) for six months off the planet. Colonel Hadfield continues to bring the marvels of science and [space exploration](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-the-skylab-space-station) to everyone he encounters.
Readiness is the state of preparedness. Career readiness, for example, refers to the foundation of higher education or a mix of experience that prepares a person for a particular [career path](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/career-path-guide). Readiness also describes the ability and willingness to perform a task at the highest level with clarity and precision in an emergency situation. To achieve this state of mind, you need to have the training and confidence to make and execute sound decisions. 

> “There are certain professions, astronaut being one of them, where the stakes are life or death. You have to keep yourself and your crew at a peak level of readiness to deal with things going wrong; I took that as one of my big responsibilities as the commander. . . . Something I learned a long time ago was your life is a process of getting ready for when things go wrong. Getting ready for when something happens out of the blue and you suddenly have to take action now—when you don’t have time to ask somebody else.” — Chris Hadfield
In 2013, Expedition 35 to the International Space Station experienced an emergency. The crew discovered a leaking ammonia coolant, and Commander Chris Hadfield acted fast to avert disaster. “One of the worst emergencies on a spaceship is the ammonia breakthrough because if you get one big lung full of ammonia, that could be the last breath you’ll ever take,” Chris says. Consider his tips for preparedness:

1. __Be confident__. Trust your training when a crisis arises to help you manage your emotions. “It’s [about] years of preparation, years of training. . .so that you don’t get all keyed up with peaks and valleys of [emotions](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence) of things that might potentially happen,” Chris says. “But you have a deep reserve of competence and confidence so that you can do something that seems. . .hairy or wild and do it with assuredness—that is actually what you would prefer. No one wants a nervous surgeon.”
2. __Move quickly__. A key aspect of preparedness is your ability and willingness to act promptly. “If you’ve done the work [and] if you have built up a certain set of [skills](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills), then at some point, you need to be able to act on it,” he says. “And don’t dither. Don’t prevaricate. Just [trust yourself](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gut-feeling). Decide, and move forward with the comfort of your own [decision-making](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles).”
3. __Study the situation__. Make sure you perform a readiness assessment after the fact. “When you finish something, look back and debrief it, at least to yourself, if not with everybody else involved,” Chris says. For his part, his ability to handle the ammonia crisis on the spaceship came as a result of ongoing learning, a part of his readiness toolkit. “I’ve not only survived that one,” he says, “but I’ve learned some things from it so that when the next crisis comes along, I’ll be even better able to hopefully prevail and win and fix the new spaceship—however it chooses to break.”
When an emergency arises, quick thinking can make all the difference. Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) for exclusive access to hundreds of classes, including Crisis Story, where Chris Voss, Chris Hadfield, and others share how they took decisive action when it mattered most.
Readiness contributes to success, especially in space. Learn about astronaut Chris Hadfield's experience averting a crisis on Expedition 35, and how you can apply his tips on preparedness to your life and work.

Readiness contributes to success, especially in space. Learn about astronaut Chris Hadfield's experience averting a crisis on Expedition 35, and how you can apply his tips on preparedness to your life and work.

Astronaut Chris Hadfield on Readiness in a Crisis

Canadian <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-how-to-qualify-to-be-a-nasa-astronaut' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-how-to-qualify-to-be-a-nasa-astronaut","linkCopy":"astronaut","category":null}'>astronaut</a> Chris Hadfield is a renowned astronaut. In 1992, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) assigned Colonel Chris Hadfield to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He became NASA’s Chief CapCom for twenty-five <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-launch-a-space-shuttle' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-launch-a-space-shuttle","linkCopy":"space shuttle","category":null}'>space shuttle</a> missions. NASA selected Colonel Hadfield as a NASA Mission Specialist, and three years later, he was aboard the Shuttle Atlantis, where he helped build the Mir space station. In 2001, on the Shuttle Endeavour, Colonel Hadfield performed two <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-spacewalk-learn-why-astronauts-perform-spacewalks-and-how-astronauts-train-for-spacewalks' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-spacewalk-learn-why-astronauts-perform-spacewalks-and-how-astronauts-train-for-spacewalks","linkCopy":"spacewalks","category":null}'>spacewalks</a>, and in 2013, he became Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) for six months off the planet. Colonel Hadfield continues to bring the marvels of science and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-the-skylab-space-station' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-the-skylab-space-station","linkCopy":"space exploration","category":null}'>space exploration</a> to everyone he encounters.

A Brief Introduction to Chris Hadfield

Readiness is the state of preparedness. Career readiness, for example, refers to the foundation of higher education or a mix of experience that prepares a person for a particular <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/career-path-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/career-path-guide","linkCopy":"career path","category":null}'>career path</a>. Readiness also describes the ability and willingness to perform a task at the highest level with clarity and precision in an emergency situation. To achieve this state of mind, you need to have the training and confidence to make and execute sound decisions. <blockquote class="mc-text--italic mc-opacity--hinted mc-my-8 mc-mr-0 mc-ml-6 mc-pl-6">“There are certain professions, astronaut being one of them, where the stakes are life or death. You have to keep yourself and your crew at a peak level of readiness to deal with things going wrong; I took that as one of my big responsibilities as the commander. . . . Something I learned a long time ago was your life is a process of getting ready for when things go wrong. Getting ready for when something happens out of the blue and you suddenly have to take action now—when you don’t have time to ask somebody else.” — Chris Hadfield</blockquote>

Definition of Readiness

In 2013, Expedition 35 to the International Space Station experienced an emergency. The crew discovered a leaking ammonia coolant, and Commander Chris Hadfield acted fast to avert disaster. “One of the worst emergencies on a spaceship is the ammonia breakthrough because if you get one big lung full of ammonia, that could be the last breath you’ll ever take,” Chris says. Consider his tips for preparedness:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Be confident. Trust your training when a crisis arises to help you manage your emotions. “It’s [about] years of preparation, years of training. . .so that you don’t get all keyed up with peaks and valleys of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence","linkCopy":"emotions","category":null}'>emotions</a> of things that might potentially happen,” Chris says. “But you have a deep reserve of competence and confidence so that you can do something that seems. . .hairy or wild and do it with assuredness—that is actually what you would prefer. No one wants a nervous surgeon.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Move quickly. A key aspect of preparedness is your ability and willingness to act promptly. “If you’ve done the work [and] if you have built up a certain set of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills","linkCopy":"skills","category":null}'>skills</a>, then at some point, you need to be able to act on it,” he says. “And don’t dither. Don’t prevaricate. Just <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gut-feeling' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gut-feeling","linkCopy":"trust yourself","category":null}'>trust yourself</a>. Decide, and move forward with the comfort of your own <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles","linkCopy":"decision-making","category":null}'>decision-making</a>.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Study the situation. Make sure you perform a readiness assessment after the fact. “When you finish something, look back and debrief it, at least to yourself, if not with everybody else involved,” Chris says. For his part, his ability to handle the ammonia crisis on the spaceship came as a result of ongoing learning, a part of his readiness toolkit. “I’ve not only survived that one,” he says, “but I’ve learned some things from it so that when the next crisis comes along, I’ll be even better able to hopefully prevail and win and fix the new spaceship—however it chooses to break.” </li></ol>

Commander Chris Hadfield on Readiness: 3 Tips for Preparedness

When an emergency arises, quick thinking can make all the difference. Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> for exclusive access to hundreds of classes, including Crisis Story, where Chris Voss, Chris Hadfield, and others share how they took decisive action when it mattered most.

Keep Cool in an Emergency

Readiness contributes to success, especially in space. Learn about astronaut Chris Hadfield&#39;s experience averting a crisis on Expedition 35, and how you can apply his tips on preparedness to your life and work.

Readiness contributes to success, especially in space. Learn about astronaut Chris Hadfield's experience averting a crisis on Expedition 35, and how you can apply his tips on preparedness to your life and work.


Chris Hadfield talking to the camera while moving his hands, sitting in front of a starry backdrop.

readiness

Dreams are an amalgamation of images, memories, emotional sensations, and other subconscious stimuli that human beings and certain other animals experience while asleep. While it’s possible to dream in other phases of sleep, the rapid eye movement or REM sleep stage is when you’re most likely to experience dreaming. 

The subconscious mind borrows from real-life experiences to construct these surreal and sleep-induced phenomena. Dreams sometimes form somewhat coherent narratives, but they also might feel more like completely random impressions in quick succession on occasion, too. 

The study of dreams still produces just as many questions as answers, but sleep scientists are certain these strange nighttime occurrences are essential to mental health and well-being. Dreaming helps people wake up feeling fully rested and refreshed each morning, as they sort through the memories and experiences of the past day.
If you transition from a waking state into sleep for long enough, you’ll almost inevitably dream. You spend one-third of your life asleep, meaning the average person will dream for almost six years’ worth of time before they die. Once your sleep cycle progresses beyond non-REM (or NREM sleep) into the REM stage of sleep, you’re even more likely to have [vivid dreams](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vivid-dreams-explained), intense dreams that linger in your mind and feel similar to real-life memories. 

Dreams are a formative aspect of any good night’s sleep. While it’s possible you might not remember your dreams when you wake up, brain scan imagery and studies have confirmed time and again that people enter dream states routinely each night even when they wake up without any memory of the experience.
Deciphering the meaning of dreams on an individual basis can be very difficult, but there’s still plenty of concrete information about these phenomena in a general sense. Consider these ten intriguing facts about dreams: 

1. __Dream interpretation is not a science__. Sigmund Freud made interpretation one of the main linchpins of his psychology of dreams. In the decades since Freud’s death, however, it’s become increasingly apparent that the content of dreams is harder to decipher than he thought. Some dream research seems to indicate dreams might, in fact, be completely random and nearly impossible to interpret. Still, you can keep a [dream journal](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal) and come up with your own interpretations.
2. __Dreaming is most common in the morning__. You might find you remember your dreams better just after awakening in the morning. This is because you spend more time in the REM stage of sleep right before waking, leading to vivid and longer dreams. It’s possible to have dreams during the deep sleep common throughout the night, but they’ll likely be a little harder to remember once you wake up hours later. 
3. __Less stress leads to better dreams__. Stress and other negative emotions lead to problems like depression, high blood pressure, and bad dreams, too. If you notice yourself only having negative dreams or even nightmares, consider seeking mental health care to see if there might be an underlying issue you need to resolve. Once you achieve a greater sense of inner tranquility, you’ll likely have better [types of dreams](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-dreams-explained), too. 
4. __Memories inform your dreams__. Waking life experiences seep into your subconscious, laying the foundation for your future dreams. Some neuroscience professionals believe short-term to long-term memory consolidation happens during the dreaming process. Others insist dreams are a way the brain prepares human beings to handle future events as well. 
5. __Men and women dream differently__. While everyone can dream about all sorts of different things, there are some core differences in common dream themes between men and women. For instance, men dream more often about having to act aggressively, while women tend to have dreams about hard conversations or experiencing rejection. 
6. __Negative dreams are more common__. Bad dreams are unfortunately far more common than good ones for most people. This is partially due to the amount of stress many experience in their daily lives. This might be because of the neurons and neurotransmitters flooding in and out of the amygdala (the fear center of the brain) often during sleep. Some sleep doctors use antidepressants or forms of sleep medicine to help treat nightmare disorders of this variety. 
7. __Part of your brain shuts down while you dream__. The prefrontal cortex—or the part of the brain that makes sense of the wide array of stimuli you encounter while awake—shuts down while you dream. This leads to dreams taking on their bizarre and sometimes nonsensical quality, as you lose out on the ability to sift through your brain activity rationally. 
8. __While dreaming, you’re motionless__. Your brain makes it impossible for you to move while you’re dreaming, at least in most cases. This prevents you from being able to act out your dream experiences physically, which would potentially lead to injury. Still, sleep disorders can develop on this front. For example, sleep paralysis causes you to remain temporarily paralyzed (and often hallucinating) as you enter a waking state, while sleepwalking occurs when your brain fails to prevent you from acting out your dreams.
9. __You can take control of your dreams__. Some dreamers tap into the ability to remain semiconscious in especially ornate and visual dreams. This process, known as lucid dreaming, allows you to take on an active role in the storyline your subconscious weaves. Through learning how to lucid dream, you can hone your problem-solving abilities and overall imaginative capacity even as you sleep.
10. __You are likely to forget most of your dreams__. Your brain remains at a lower level of cognition throughout the entirety of the dreaming process, and this makes it hard for most people to remember what they even dreamed about the night before. Dream recall is freshest right after you wake up and gradually fades throughout the day. Recurring dreams are slightly easier to remember since they happen repetitively.
Saw some of the best darn logs of your life with a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and exclusive instructional videos from Dr. Matthew Walker, the author of *Why We Sleep* and the founder-director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Between Matthew’s tips for optimal snoozing and info on discovering your body’s ideal rhythms, you’ll be sleeping more deeply in no time.  
In your dreams, all sorts of strange things can happen. This might make the process of dreaming seem completely mysterious, but neuroscientists and psychologists still know a lot about why people dream. Learn more about why and how these subconscious nighttime narratives serve as the cornerstone of a solid sleep foundation.

In your dreams, all sorts of strange things can happen. This might make the process of dreaming seem completely mysterious, but neuroscientists and psychologists still know a lot about why people dream. Learn more about why and how these subconscious nighttime narratives serve as the cornerstone of a solid sleep foundation.

Facts About Dreams: 10 Interesting Facts About Dreaming

Dreams are an amalgamation of images, memories, emotional sensations, and other subconscious stimuli that human beings and certain other animals experience while asleep. While it’s possible to dream in other phases of sleep, the rapid eye movement or REM sleep stage is when you’re most likely to experience dreaming. The subconscious mind borrows from real-life experiences to construct these surreal and sleep-induced phenomena. Dreams sometimes form somewhat coherent narratives, but they also might feel more like completely random impressions in quick succession on occasion, too. The study of dreams still produces just as many questions as answers, but sleep scientists are certain these strange nighttime occurrences are essential to mental health and well-being. Dreaming helps people wake up feeling fully rested and refreshed each morning, as they sort through the memories and experiences of the past day.

What Are Dreams?

If you transition from a waking state into sleep for long enough, you’ll almost inevitably dream. You spend one-third of your life asleep, meaning the average person will dream for almost six years’ worth of time before they die. Once your sleep cycle progresses beyond non-REM (or NREM sleep) into the REM stage of sleep, you’re even more likely to have <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vivid-dreams-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vivid-dreams-explained","linkCopy":"vivid dreams","category":null}'>vivid dreams</a>, intense dreams that linger in your mind and feel similar to real-life memories. Dreams are a formative aspect of any good night’s sleep. While it’s possible you might not remember your dreams when you wake up, brain scan imagery and studies have confirmed time and again that people enter dream states routinely each night even when they wake up without any memory of the experience.

Does Everyone Dream?

Deciphering the meaning of dreams on an individual basis can be very difficult, but there’s still plenty of concrete information about these phenomena in a general sense. Consider these ten intriguing facts about dreams: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Dream interpretation is not a science. Sigmund Freud made interpretation one of the main linchpins of his psychology of dreams. In the decades since Freud’s death, however, it’s become increasingly apparent that the content of dreams is harder to decipher than he thought. Some dream research seems to indicate dreams might, in fact, be completely random and nearly impossible to interpret. Still, you can keep a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal","linkCopy":"dream journal","category":null}'>dream journal</a> and come up with your own interpretations. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Dreaming is most common in the morning. You might find you remember your dreams better just after awakening in the morning. This is because you spend more time in the REM stage of sleep right before waking, leading to vivid and longer dreams. It’s possible to have dreams during the deep sleep common throughout the night, but they’ll likely be a little harder to remember once you wake up hours later. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Less stress leads to better dreams. Stress and other negative emotions lead to problems like depression, high blood pressure, and bad dreams, too. If you notice yourself only having negative dreams or even nightmares, consider seeking mental health care to see if there might be an underlying issue you need to resolve. Once you achieve a greater sense of inner tranquility, you’ll likely have better <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-dreams-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-dreams-explained","linkCopy":"types of dreams","category":null}'>types of dreams</a>, too. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Memories inform your dreams. Waking life experiences seep into your subconscious, laying the foundation for your future dreams. Some neuroscience professionals believe short-term to long-term memory consolidation happens during the dreaming process. Others insist dreams are a way the brain prepares human beings to handle future events as well. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Men and women dream differently. While everyone can dream about all sorts of different things, there are some core differences in common dream themes between men and women. For instance, men dream more often about having to act aggressively, while women tend to have dreams about hard conversations or experiencing rejection. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Negative dreams are more common. Bad dreams are unfortunately far more common than good ones for most people. This is partially due to the amount of stress many experience in their daily lives. This might be because of the neurons and neurotransmitters flooding in and out of the amygdala (the fear center of the brain) often during sleep. Some sleep doctors use antidepressants or forms of sleep medicine to help treat nightmare disorders of this variety. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Part of your brain shuts down while you dream. The prefrontal cortex—or the part of the brain that makes sense of the wide array of stimuli you encounter while awake—shuts down while you dream. This leads to dreams taking on their bizarre and sometimes nonsensical quality, as you lose out on the ability to sift through your brain activity rationally. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. While dreaming, you’re motionless. Your brain makes it impossible for you to move while you’re dreaming, at least in most cases. This prevents you from being able to act out your dream experiences physically, which would potentially lead to injury. Still, sleep disorders can develop on this front. For example, sleep paralysis causes you to remain temporarily paralyzed (and often hallucinating) as you enter a waking state, while sleepwalking occurs when your brain fails to prevent you from acting out your dreams. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 9. You can take control of your dreams. Some dreamers tap into the ability to remain semiconscious in especially ornate and visual dreams. This process, known as lucid dreaming, allows you to take on an active role in the storyline your subconscious weaves. Through learning how to lucid dream, you can hone your problem-solving abilities and overall imaginative capacity even as you sleep. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 10. You are likely to forget most of your dreams. Your brain remains at a lower level of cognition throughout the entirety of the dreaming process, and this makes it hard for most people to remember what they even dreamed about the night before. Dream recall is freshest right after you wake up and gradually fades throughout the day. Recurring dreams are slightly easier to remember since they happen repetitively. </li></ol>

10 Interesting Facts About Dreams

Saw some of the best darn logs of your life with a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and exclusive instructional videos from Dr. Matthew Walker, the author of Why We Sleep and the founder-director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Between Matthew’s tips for optimal snoozing and info on discovering your body’s ideal rhythms, you’ll be sleeping more deeply in no time.

Want to Learn More About Catching Those Elusive Zs?

In your dreams, all sorts of strange things can happen. This might make the process of dreaming seem completely mysterious, but neuroscientists and psychologists still know a lot about why people dream. Learn more about why and how these subconscious nighttime narratives serve as the cornerstone of a solid sleep foundation.

In your dreams, all sorts of strange things can happen. This might make the process of dreaming seem completely mysterious, but neuroscientists and psychologists still know a lot about why people dream. Learn more about why and how these subconscious nighttime narratives serve as the cornerstone of a solid sleep foundation.


Menu

Unlock the Secrets of Space

Unlock the Secrets of Space