The DNA of

Science Writing
Presented by: Mr. Generie M. Manuel
BEFORE WE STUDY SCIENCE
WRITING TECHNIQUES…

Let us first understand the

role of a

Science writer
 Chart Style
Due to technical
Insert the title oflanguage
your subtitle Here barriers,

Scientists/ Find it hard to convey their findings Ordinary

experts/ for the consumption of persons/
non-scientists
professionals
Without science writers, this one-way communication model
will hamper exchange of ideas
 Chart Style
With the presence of Science
Insert the title of your subtitle Here
writers,

Scientists/ Can have their studies and

findings translated, and Ordinary
experts/ simplified so that it can be
understood by
persons/
non-scientists
professionals

Science writers can also facilitate the exchange of ideas

between experts and ordinary persons
 In other words, if you are a
Science writer,you should know
how to:
• Be genuinely interested in the Sciences
• Widen your language to translate difficult terms
or jargons into simpler words
• Know which terms to define, how to properly
define them, and attribute source/s
• Explain how and why things occur with respect to
Scientific processes
• Make people understand why Science is
important in their lives

•
 Regardless of form, there is
one essential factor that you
should not forget:

Expert Interview/
Credible Source/
Professional Opinion
Since Science is an integral
discipline,
Information is vital.

Therefore, everything
you write without
source/s will be
attributed to you.
To spice up your article,
never forget to highlight

CONTROVERSY
These are the issues that hound or can
put doubt on the purpose of the topic
Columns ISSUE CONTROVERSY
Style
Is there really a cause for alarm?
Insert the title of your
subtitle Here
West valley fault Or is this just used by some
sectors to lure the market into
buying emergency kits?
Isn’t six months too long to
Boracay closure clean the island? Or is it just a
tactic to bring in materials the
building of a casino?

Dengvaxia Was its premature approval

used for political purposes?
 Chart Style
If Science writing were an animal,
Insert the title of your subtitle Here
it would have been a CHAMELEON

Science writing has no original form.

It follows the form of either a

NEWS EDITORIAL FEATURE RESEARCH

GLOBAL WARMING
RABIES
TUBERCULOSIS
DENGUE
EBOLA VIRUS
 Acquired
Immune
Deficiency
Syndrome
CANCER
1. Definition – illustrate the context clues to be defined

2. Statistics – facts, number or percentage

3. Case Study – actual experiences

ELEMENTS OF A GOOD
4. Subject Matter Expert – attribution, source, credibility and answers so what

SCIENCE OUTPUT?
1. Definition – illustrate the context
clues to be defined
2. Statistics – facts, number or
percentage
3. Case Study – actual experiences
4. Subject Matter Expert –
attribution, source, credibility and
answers so what
 DEPENISYON“

Ang mikrobyong
“leptospira” ay agad na
nakapapasok sa katawan ng
isang tao mula sa mga balat
na may sugat na nakababad sa
tubig baha, basang lupa o
halamang may ihi ng daga.
 DEFINITION

An acute virus disease of the

nervous system of mammals that is
caused by a rhabdovirus ( species
Rabies virus of the genus Lyssavirus)
usually transmitted through the bite of
a rabid animal that is characterized by
increase salivation, abnormal behavior
and eventual paralysis and death when
remained untreated.
 STATISTICS

Ayon sa Department of
Health umabot na sa 25% o
338 katao ang nasawi sa
Tuberculosis mula sa 1,350
naitalang kaso noong buwan
ng Hunyo taong kasalukuyan.
 STATISTICS

During the past 20 years, there

has been a dramatic increase in
obesity in the United States and
rates remain high. More than one-
third of U.S. adults (35.7%) and
approximately 17% (or 12.5 million)
of children and adolescents aged
2—19 years are obese.
 CASE STUDY

Si Edwin Carbonel, 12 taong

gulang,tubong Amadeo ay isa sa mga
naging biktima ng Leptospirosis.
Nakadama si Carbonel ang lagnat,
panginginig ng kalamnan, paninilaw ng
balat, pamumula ng mata at matinding
sakit ng ulo.
Agarang itinakbo sa The Medical City
at nakumpirma ni Dr. Lorna Maranan, isang
epidemologist na ito ay isang kaso ng
leptospirosis.
 CASE STUDY

A 15year old Amadean presented to Gentri Doctors hospital

with a history of weakness in the left arm and shoulder,
with discomfort and difficulty dressing himself, for the past
one and a half months. Initially he had attributed his issues
to a prior rotator cuff injury. He then noted progressive
shrinking in the muscles of his left arm and hand with
decreased grip strength (overall he felt that he lost about
80% strength in his left arm) and developed uncomfortable
'charley horses' (painful spasms or cramps) in his left leg.
There were no sensory, swallowing, or visual issues, and he
denied having experienced any head or neck trauma.
Results of a neurological examination showed he is
suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.
 SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

Ayon kay Dr. Francisco Duque, kalihim

ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, maging
alerto ang bawat mamamayan sa sakit na
Leptospirosis.
“ Iwasang lumusob sa mga
kontaminadong tubig o maruming baha,
gumamit ng bota kung lulusong sa baha,
panatilihing malinis ang loob at labas ng
bahay upang hindi pagbahayan ng daga.”
Dagdag pa ni Sec. Duque.s
 SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

Dr. William Ruddiman, a climate scientist

at the University of Virginia, argues that
humans have actually been changing the
climate for some 8,000 years—as a result of the
earlier discovery of agriculture. The “Ruddiman
Hypothesis” has been controversial ever since
it was featured as a cover story in Scientific
American.
According to Ruddiman,“The impact of
farming on greenhouse-gas levels, thousands
of years before the industrial revolution, kept
our planet notably warmer than if natural
climate cycles had prevailed — quite possibly
forestalling a new ice age”.
Science News Structure
Headline
Primary Lead Who, what, so what
Secondary Lead
All important details that cannot
be included in the lead
Supporting
facts Can be arranged
through descending or
chronological order
Writing the headline
who or what/ present tense of the verb/ direct object/ receiver
Boracay closure impacts tourism, environmental workers

who or what/ past tense of the verb/ direct object/ receiver

Chemistry Law, isinabatas para sa K to 12
 Lead
A one-sentence narration of the whole
news article
Consists of 28-32 words
Anwers who, what, where, when,
why, how, so whats
Lead (for past events)
Who/ what/ when/ verb/ so what
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte on Apr. 5 affirmed that the development of
Science and Technology in the country is a major program of his
administration.

Who/ what/ verb/ When/ so what

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte affirmed on Apr. 5 that the development of
Science and Technology in the country is a major program of his
administration.
Lead for past events)
Past tense of the verb/ Who/ what/ so what
Tiniyak ni Pang. Rodrigo Duterte na hindi ibinebenta ng Pilipinas
ang mga likas na yaman sa mga teritoryo nito sa Tsina sa kabila ng
pagtanggap ng bansa ng sunud-sunod na ayudang pinansyal.
 Common error
Putting the ‘when’ at the end of the lead
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte addressed all overseas Filipinos in China as
part of his state visit, Apr. 5.

*for past events, The only exception in putting the date at the end of the lead is that
if the publication is released weekly or fortnightly (every 14 days)
Lead (for future events)
Who/ what/ verb/ so what/ when
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will address all overseas Filipinos in China
as part of his state visit on Apr. 5

Main verb/ who or what/ so what/ when

Itatalaga ang bagong punungguro ng Lipa National High School sa
Hun. 5.
SAMPLE OF SCIENCE NEWS
ARTICLE

Pakikipagtalik at paggamit
ng mga infected needles.
Ilan lamang sa mga
kinikilalang sanhi ng
pagkalat ng sakit na AIDS.
 SAMPLE OF SCIENCE NEWS
ARTICLE

Nilagdaan ng Philippine Institute

of Volcanologist and Seismology
kasama ng Finland Ambassador to
Manila ang Memorandum of
Agreement hinggil sa Tsunami Early
Warning System ng mga coastal
communities sa kalakhang Maynila.
Science Feature Structure
Title

Introduction

Body

Body

Body
Conclusion/ Re-word
the Introduction
 Soft Science Article
Feature (Subjectivity)
o When using unfamiliar scientific
terms, define as briefly as possible
(give its literal meaning).
o Make it descriptive; give it a touch of
color
o Emphasize the magnitude of the
problem
o Use percentages sparingly; instead,
use 1 out of 10 for 10%, 1 out of 2 for
50% etc.
 Soft Science Article
Feature (Subjectivity)
o When reporting a research or
technological breakthrough, do tell why
it is breakthrough; then give contrast on
why things are better now
o Sometimes, a little bit of history helps
o Give the other side of the situation;
widen the outlook to include other
aspects of the problem
SAMPLE OF SOFT SCIENCE
FEATURE

“Walang malaking
nakapupuwing,” patunay ito sa mga
maliliit na bagay ay dapat pag-ingatan
at pagtuunan ng pansin.
Isang sakit na halos bumalot sa
mundo. Walang pinipili, banyaga man
o kapwa Pilipino.
 TIPS ON WRITING

In depth analysis of 5W’s and H

Lead can be novelty, narrative, descriptive,
etc.
Short and concise about the issue
Focused to the angle
Use plenty of descriptive words
Make readers want to read it
“SO WHAT” paragraph is next (significance)
 TIPS ON WRITING

 Statistical details plus percentage etc.

 Gives reader a sense of issue regarding
community.
 Body takes a story in logical
order/chronological order.
 Facts, events, ideas, quotes for conclusion.
 TIPS ON WRITING

Background facts and relevant

quotations
Organize thoughts well through
transitional devices
End by returning to the subject/full of
emotions
Science Editorial Structure
Affirmative Negative Both

Issue/ Topic Issue/ Topic Issue/ Topic

Affirmative Stand Negative Stand Introduce two stands

Sets of evidence/ Sets of evidence/ Affirmative

Support to affirmative stand Support to negative stand
Affirmative
Sets of evidence/ Sets of evidence/
Affirmative
Support to affirmative stand Support to negative stand
Negative
Sets of evidence/ Sets of evidence/
Support to affirmative stand Support to negative stand Negative
Conclusion Conclusion Negative

Conclusion