SCIENCE

WRITING
 Science Journalism

"In science, the credit

goes to the man who
convinces the world,
not to the man to
whom the idea first
occurs."
--Sir William Osler
Amazing science…

 Is there a possibility of head transplant for

humans?
 Why chocolates are bad for dogs?
 Can gold be eaten?
 T-shirt as vitamin C?
 Scented sweat, anyone?
 Is it safe to use anti-aging capsules?
 How dangerous is the ‘mummy virus’?
SCIENCE WRITING IS…

 Nearly, all elements of

style accepted and
encouraged in general
academic and effective
writing is also
considered a good
practice in science
writing.
SCIENCE WRITING…
 Writing about scientific subject matter, often
in a non-technical manner for an audience of
non-scientists (a form of journalism or
creative nonfiction).

 Writing that reports scientific observations

and results in a manner governed by specific
conventions (a form of technical writing).
Why do we write science
articles?
popular literature

technical/semi-technical
scientific
literature
Scientific literature

 These are original research articles; e.g.

Primary journal, scientific books,
monographs, poster presentation;
audience is scientists, researchers, and
technical people
Technical/semi-technical

 Purpose is information exchange; e.g.

technical reports, annual report, manual,
fact sheet, brochure, newsletter; audience
is engineers, technicians, and other linkers
and end users
Popular literature

 These are popular publication; purpose is

information utilization (translates S&T for
the lay audience; e.g. News and press
release, feature articles, popular bulletin,
leaflet, comics/photo, novel, movie, and
broadcast scripts
SCIENCE WRITING IS…

 Goal oriented- about

how science is
portrayed to the public
to improve the quality
of human life.

 Pragmatic- it’s about

sensible and practical
SCIENTIFIC matters
affecting the world.
REQUISITES IN SCIENCE
JOURNALISM…

 precision- avoid ambiguities in writing.

 Clarity- make complex methods and
concepts clear and specific.
 Objectivity- claims must be based on facts,
not intuition or emotion.
 Scientific method.
Please watch.

 Parasite Cleanse - What's eating you.mp4

PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE SCIENCE
WRITING.

Master clear
1 and effective
writing.
1.Master clear and effective
writing.
Generally, use active voice
Generally, use active voice.
 Generally, use the
active voice. However,
the passive
construction can also
be quite useful,
especially when the
performer of an action
is unknown or
unimportant.
Using active voice
effectively.

 PASSIVE (WEAK): The uncertainty principle

was formulated by Werner Heisenberg in
1927.

 ACTIVE (STRONG): Werner Heisenberg

formulated the uncertainty principle in 1927.
WHEN TO USE THE PASSIVE
VOICE?
 1. THE ACTOR IS UNKNOWN.
The cave paintings of Lascaux were
made in the Upper Old Stone Age. [We
don't know who made them.]
 2. THE ACTOR IS IRRELEVANT.
An experimental solar power plant will
be built in the Australian desert. [We are
not interested in who is building it.]
…

 3. YOU WANT TO BE VAGUE ABOUT WHO

IS RESPONSIBLE.
Mistakes were made. [Common in
bureaucratic writing!]
 4. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A GENERAL
TRUTH.
Rules are made to be broken. [By
whomever, whenever.]
…

 5.YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE

PERSON OR THING ACTED ON. FOR
EXAMPLE, IT MAY BE YOUR MAIN TOPIC.
Insulin was first discovered in 1921 by
researchers at the University of Toronto. It
is still the only treatment available for
diabetes.
…

 6. YOU ARE WRITING IN A SCIENTIFIC

GENRE THAT TRADITIONALLY RELIES ON
PASSIVE VOICE. PASSIVE VOICE IS OFTEN
PREFERRED IN LAB REPORTS AND
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PAPERS, MOST
NOTABLY IN THE MATERIALS AND
METHODS SECTION.

 The sodium hydroxide was dissolved in water.

This solution was then titrated with
hydrochloric acid.
SIMPLIFY AND EXPLAIN.
 Simplify and explain

- Define scientific terms right

2
away when you use them.
Remember, you are writing
for the laymen.
SAMPLE TERMINOLOGY

Greenhouse effect
WHITE DWARF
LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK)
Science…science…science…

Tsunami placebo effect storm surge

Necrosis cryonics ebola

Xylem parenchyma bipolar

LPA capillaries filariasis

ACHIEVING PRECISION…

 Word and phrasing choice

Ex:
WORD CHOICE 1: Population density is
positively correlated with disease
transmission rate.

WORD CHOICE 2: Population density is related

to disease transmission rate.
…

 The word correlated is more acceptable. It

conveys a precise statistical relationship
between two variables.

 In science writing it is typically not enough to

simply point out that two variables are
related: the readers expects you to explain
the precise nature of relationship.
PITFALLS OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE…

 Figurative language can make for interesting

and engaging casual reading but is by
definition imprecise. It’s difficult for a reader
to objectively evaluate your conclusions if
details are left to the imagination, so exclude
similes and metaphors from your science
writing.
QUANTIFY YOUR STATEMENT

 Example: Development rate in the 300C

temperature treatment was ten percent
faster than development rate in the 200C
temperature treatment.

 It is better than saying a qualitative phrase:

Development rate was faster in higher
temperature treatment.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE…

 Precision often requires a fine level of detail.

Phrase you sentences substantially.
 Example: (Badly written)
The osmoregulatory organ, which is located at
the base of the third dorsal spine on the outer
margin of the terminal papillae and functions
by expelling excess sodium ions, activates
only under hypertonic conditions.
…

 Several things make the sentence complex.

First, the action of the sentence (activates) is
far removed from the subject
(osmoregulatory organ). The reader has to
wait a long time to get to the point. Second,
the verbs functions, activates, and expelling
are somewhat redundant.
CONSIDER THIS REVISION…

 Located on the outer margin of the terminal

papillae at the base of the third dorsal spine,
the osmoregulatory organ expels excess
sodium ions under hypertonic conditions.
 The sentence is slightly shorter, conveys the
same information, and is easier to follow. The
subject and the action are now close
together, and the redundant verbs have been
eliminated.
VERBOSITY

Avoid generic phrases that contributes no novel

information:

The fact that…

It should be noted that…
It is interesting that…
These are all cumbersome and unnecessary
…………………………………………………………………………..

 THE REPORTER’S
3. JOB: Good reporters
must succeed in
________ helping the public
interpret scientific
Bring significance: jargons and events
Why should the and understand how
readers care? these things are
changing the world.
BASIC STORIES FOR SCIENCE
REPORTING…
 Research findings
 documentaries
 Reports
 Discoveries
 Advances in
Knowledge
 Threats
 Public Policy
SOURCES OF SCIENCE STORIES…

 Agricultural science
 Environmental science
 Health and allied sciences
 Earth science
 Technology
 Animal science
 Government Projects on environment,
research, etc.
Science news structure

 It follows the same structure as HARD NEWS

or SOFT NEWS
 Hard News presents more newsworthy
angles. It observes the elements of
OBJECTIVITY.
 Soft news is more featurized, more deep,
more point of views, perspectives. It
combines OBJECTIVITY and SUBJECTIVITY. It
is pegged on documents.
…

 The inverted pyramid  Hard science news

follows the inverted
pyramid structure.
 The LEAD presents the
gist of the story.
 The BODY elaborates,
explains, presents
quotes, statements,
figures and statistics.
 The conclusion wraps up
the article.
…

 The Pyramid structure  The soft science news

follows the usual
pyramid structure. It is
featurized. The LEAD is
a descriptive type.
 The BODY presents
more analysis.
 The conclusion
presents synthesis.
 How will you determine
whether it is a soft or hard
news?
 It depends on data. If you have less data at
hand, then write a hard news. If you have
more deep documents, then write a soft
news.

 In science writing COMMON SENSE matters.

It is not really common to all. You should have
the spirit of a winner.(must be smart and
wide-reader).
What are the weapons you
need to have?
 Make an impression to the judge (love at first
sight in your article).
 Determine what structure to use, your choice of
words, line of thought, etc.
 Know the W’s of the topic.
 Avoid quotes in the lead, it must be in the lower
paragraph of the story.
 It is important to conduct an interview.
 REMEMBER: If the given data would be in a fact
sheet, write a science news while if it is in video,
write a science feature.
Hardcore science writing

 When using unfamiliar words, define them

immediately and as briefly as possible.
 Give its literal meaning. Example: cadang-
cadang, ruminants, regurgitation.
 Make descriptions. Give your story a touch of
color. The description must be closed to the
standard to avoid bias.
 Emphasize the magnitude of the problem.
(when you say epidemic explain it, use stats: (one
of the ten,) round up you stats
Statistics is better than percentage.
…

 When reporting a research or technological

breakthrough, do tell why it is a
breakthrough.
 A little touch of history helps.
 Give the other side of the situation when
needed.
 When using a controversial statement,
prediction or debatable observation, always
mention the source preferably by name.
Sample science news(Americares.com)

The Ebola, an infectious and generally fatal

disease marked by fever and severe internal bleeding,
spread through contact with infected body fluids by a
filovirus continues its relentless spread in West
Africa, pushing the death toll over 1,500 victims.
The Ebola outbreak, now declared to be an
international public health emergency by the World
Health Organization, has already infected at
least 240 health workers and killed 130, including
doctors and nurses.
“The outbreak has gone beyond
expectations,” a WHO official said on Tuesday.
…
Confirmed cases and fatalities have been reported in
Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, and aid
organizations in the field warn that official case and fatality
figures may greatly underestimate the true scale of the
outbreak.
Two emergency air shipments have arrived to
restock hospitals and clinics in Liberia where President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made an urgent appeal for safety
equipment for health workers.
The first air shipment contained 20,000 pairs of
gloves, 20,000 surgical masks and 60,000 surgical caps,
among other medical supplies. The second shipment
included more protective equipment and supplies.
Shipments of intravenous fluids to rehydrate Ebola patients
are also headed to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
…
Since the first outbreak in 1976, the Ebola virus has
one of the highest fatality rates—up to 90%. The current
outbreak has a 60% death rate. There is no vaccine and no
proven cure.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with
blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. Bodies
can remain contagious for up to 60 days.
Ebola has an incubation period of 2-12 days.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache
and sore throat.
There are five strains of Ebola virus, three of which
have been associated with large outbreaks of the virus in
Africa.
…

 Hard science news follows the inverted

pyramid structure.
 The LEAD presents the gist of the story.

 The BODY elaborates, explains, presents

quotes, statements, figures and statistics.

 The conclusion wraps up the article.

The science feature

 Define
 Observe
 It’s a matter of perspective
 Read between the lines
 Inject concepts (this is where the “paramihan
ng alam” comes in). It tells how much do you
know about the topic.
Science feature

 It is more in-depth. You can have sub-topics.

Lead
Info or aids
Details analysis
Case 1
Case 2
Conclusion (synthesis)
Going bananas
Tender, smooth, oblong or elliptic, fleshy-stalked leaves,
numbering 4 or 5 to 15, are arranged spirally. They unfurl, as
the plant grows, at the rate of one per week in warm
weather, and extend upward and outward, becoming as
much as 9 ft (2.75 m) long and 2 ft (60 cm) wide. They may be
entirely green, green with maroon splotches, or green on
the upper side and red purple beneath.

At first, it is a large, long-oval, tapering, and purple-

clad bud. As it opens, it is seen that the slim, nectar-rich,
tubular, toothed, white flowers are clustered in whorled
double rows along the floral stalk, each cluster covered by
a thick, waxy, hood-like bract, purple outside, deep-red
within. After days of continues swelling of the heart-
shaped flower, a bouquet of fruits appear – the bananas.
…
Banana is a very popular fruit among Filipinos. It is
often regarded as monkey’s favorite food because of the
Filipino fable, Si Matsing at angPagong. But if you thought
all the while that bananas are for monkeys, think again.

You'll never look at a banana the same way again after

discovering the many health benefits and reasons to add
them to your diet. Bananas combat depression, they make
you smarter, cure hangovers, relieve morning sickness,
protect against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and
blindness. They can cure the itch of a mosquito bite and put
a great shine on your shoes.

So, going bananas every day is not a bad habit? Of

course yes. Here are the top reasons.
…

GREAT FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND IMMUNITY

Bananas are very high in vitamin B6 and also
contain modest amounts of vitamin C, manganese,
potassium and of course fiber. Sports enthusiasts
appreciate the potassium–power delivered by this
high energy fruit which many claim is as effective
and even superior to sport energy drinks.
Since the average banana contains a whopping
467 mg of potassium and only 1 mg of sodium, a
banana a day may help to prevent high blood
pressure and protect against atherosclerosis.
…

The effectiveness of potassium–rich

foods such as bananas in lowering blood
pressure has been demonstrated by a number
of studies. For example, researchers tracked
over 40,000 American male health
professionals over four years to determine
the effects of diet on blood pressure. Men
who ate diets higher in potassium–rich foods,
as well as foods high in magnesium, had a
substantially reduced risk of stroke.
…

A study published in the Archives of Internal

Medicine also confirms that eating high fiber
foods, such as bananas, helps prevent heart
disease. Almost 10,000 American adults
participated in this study and were followed for
19 years. People eating the most fiber, 21 grams
per day, had 12% less coronary heart disease
(CHD) and 11% less cardiovascular disease (CVD)
compared to those eating the least, 5 grams
daily. Those eating the most water–soluble
dietary fiber fared even better with a 15%
reduction in risk of CHD and a 10% risk reduction
in CVD.
…

 ANTI-CANCER AGENT
According to Japanese Scientific Research,
full ripe banana with dark patches on yellow skin
produces a substance called TNF (Tumor
Necrosis Factor) which has the ability to combat
abnormal cells. The more darker patches it has
the higher will be its immunity enhancement
quality; Hence, the riper the banana the better
the anti–cancer quality. Yellow skin banana with
dark spots on it is 8x more effective in enhancing
the property of white blood cells than green skin
version.
…

Tumor Necrosis Factor(TNF) is a cytokine,

substances secreted by certain cells of the immune
system that have an effect on other cells. This is
indeed helpful in fighting abnormal tumor cells in
body. Research done on ripening bananas has
proved that the levels of TNF induction increased
markedly with dark spots on skin before the entire
banana peel turned brown. The research concluded
that the activity of banana was comparable to that
of Lentinan, a chemical immune-stimulant that is
intravenously administered as an anti–cancer agent.
So, ripe banana can act as an anti–cancer agent by
stimulating the production of white blood cells in the
human cell line.
Concluding part.

Eating bananas is only part of an overall

lifestyle change– including a healthy diet,
cardiovascular exercise and strength training
— that can result in effective weight loss. Or
cancer-free living. Eating bananas should not
be the sum of your weight–loss plan nor
cancer avoidance, but rather one small part of
it. Remember, everything big begins with a
small deed.
Writing activity.

 What is the Ebola virus, and how worried

should we be-.mp4