Science Feature Writing

Joemar L. Furigay
The Fact Sheet
Fact sheets provide the details
of the subject matter usually
in the form of tables, listings,
or statistics.
One issue that you might find in
a fact sheet is problem-oriented
that might cause tension (e.g.,
doubt, fear, uneasiness).
 When 43-year-old Zhu Zhong-fa of China went
to the hospital complaining of a headache and
seizures that caused him to lose consciousness,
doctors found hundreds of tapeworms living in his
brain and chest, Newsweek reported.
The parasites are believed to have come from
a piece of undercooked pork that the man had
eaten about a month before in a hot pot he "felt
unsure about.
Landsverk, G. (2019, November 27). Doctors found
hundreds of tapeworms in a man's brain a month after he ate a pork hot pot he 'felt unsure about'. Insider. https://www.insider.com/doctors-
found-hundreds-tapeworms-in-mans-brain-from-undercooked-pork-2019-11
External conflict deals with
an outside force such as
naturally occurring events.
 Recent research found the rate of ice loss from
five Antarctic glaciers had doubled in six years and
was five times faster than in the 1990s. Ice loss is
spreading from the coast into the continent’s
interior, with a reduction of more than 100 meters
in thickness at some sites.
Morton, A. (2019, July 9). Glacial melting in Antarctica
may become irreversible. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/09/glacial-melting-in-antarctica-may-become-
irreversible?platform=hootsuite
 Scientific ideas provide an
explanation about how things
work or give a new information as
a result of a scientific process such
as experiments or researches.
 Researchers from the University of South
Australia have shown that curcumin can be delivered
effectively into human cells via tiny nanoparticles.
The researchers have shown in animal
experiments that nanoparticles containing curcumin
not only prevents cognitive deterioration but also
reverses the damage. This finding paves the way for
clinical development trials for Alzheimer’s.
University of South Australia. (2020, March 5).
Curcumin is the spice of life when delivered via tiny
nanoparticles. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200305132144.htm
Scientific discovery refers to the
application of scientific knowledge
leading to the finding of new
things, events, or processes.
 Scientists have successfully grown mini-brains,
known as "organoids," from human stem cells that
differentiate into neurons and assemble into 3D
structures.
With miniature models of the brain in hand,
scientists could help deduce how neuro-
developmental disorders unfold; how neuro-
degenerative diseases break down brain tissue; and
how different peoples' brains might react to different
pharmacological treatments.
The major discoveries that could transform the world in
the next decade. (2020, January 1). Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/next-decade-biggest-scientific-advances.html
 FACT SHEET
-Tension
-External Conflict
-Scientific Idea
-Scientific Discovery
 THE HEADLINE
▪ Key Ideas
▪ Impression
▪ Style
▪ Form
 The headline refers to
the title of your science
feature article.
 KEY IDEAS
The headline should present the
major ideas of your article.
-what is your topic all about
-what is the main point you want
to tell them
 Medical Implants

Insect Wings Hold Antimicrobial Clues

for Improved Medical Implants
Detecting Odor Combinations

Making Sense of Scents

3D Videos Reveal How the Nose
Detects Odor Combinations
IMPRESSION
The headline should also sound
like a science story and not
some other journalistic genres.
 The Abused, the Undernourished,
and the Obese

Links between Childhood Adversity and

Adverse Health Outcomes: Exploring the
Impact of Abuse, Undernutrition, and Obesity
List of New Orchids in the Philippines

Blooming Beauty: Discovering the

Dazzling Diversity of the Philippines'
New Orchid Species
STYLE
STYLE
➢ Repetition of letter sounds
Most Bird Feed Contains
Troublesome Weed Seeds
Cats Can Get Coronavirus, Study Suggests—
but Pet Owners Need Not Panic
 STYLE
➢ Play on words
Parasitic Worms Have Armies,
Produce More Soldiers When Needed

Cats Can Get Coronavirus, Study

Suggests—but Pet Owners Need Not Panic
 STYLE
➢ Parody
When Birds of a Feather Don't Flock
Together: Exploring the Surprising
Benefits of Mixed-Species Bird Flocks
Birds of a feather flock together
 STYLE
➢ Humor
Not Just a Pretty Beak: The Harsh Reality
for Male Songbirds Who Rely on Their
Looks
FORM
Hammer
-one to five short words
-written in ALL CAPS
-top center of the main headline
-saying, clause, phrase, word
SAYING
HEALTH IS WEALTH
Disordered Eating Among Young Adults Found
to Have Long-Term Negative Health Effects
 PHRASE

TO MAKE OR TO BREAK
Novel Reversible Technique Produces
Acyl Fluoride Using Rare Metal
WORD
CANCEROUS
Drinking Hot Tea Linked
with Elevated Risk of Esophageal Cancer
FORM
Kicker
-three to eight words
-aligned with the main headline
-either underlined or italicized
-written in down style
KICKER
HIGHLIGHT
By tempting insects to their webs
Bright Yellow Spots Help
Orb Weaver Spiders Lure Their Next Meal
 KICKER

SIGNIFICANCE
May help conserve PPEs
New algorithm aims to protect surgical team
members against infection with COVID-19
 KICKER

SUBJECT MATTER
On genetic mutation
How Monarch Butterflies
Evolved to Eat a Poisonous Plant
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
OPENING BITE
composed of one or two paragraphs
1st par – strategy used
2nd par – main point of the article

1. Direct Strategies
2. Suspended Interest Techniques
OPENING BITE
DIRECT STRATEGIES
1. Intrigue
2. Surprise
3. Problem
OPENING BITE
INTRIGUE: Begin your science feature
with something that is mysterious and
fascinating, or illicit and detrimental.
1st par – intriguing situation
nd
2 par – take-home message
 Power lines could be messing with honeybees
by emitting electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that can
alter the insects’ behavior and ability to learn.
In the lab, honeybees (Apis mellifera) were more
aggressive toward other bees after being exposed
to EMFs, researchers report in PLOS ONE. Those
exposed bees also were slower to learn to respond
to a new threat than unexposed bees were.
Fritts, R. (2019, November 12). Power lines may mess
with honeybees’ behavior and ability to learn. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/power-lines-may-mess-with-honeybees-
learning-
behavior#:~:text=Power%20lines%20could%20be%20messing,behavior%20and%20ability%20to%20learn.&text=Those%20exposed%2
0bees%20also%20were,concerning%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Sebastian%20Shepherd.
 Power lines could be messing
with honeybees by emitting
electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that
can alter the insects’ behavior and
ability to learn.
(Intriguing Situation)
 In the lab, honeybees (Apis
mellifera) were more aggressive toward other
bees after being exposed to EMFs,
researchers report in PLOS ONE. Those
exposed bees also were slower to learn to
respond to a new threat than unexposed
bees were.”
(take-home message)
OPENING BITE
PROBLEM: A situation considered as
unwelcome, harmful, or problematic
might draw the attention of curious
readers.
1st par – pressing problem
nd
2 par – take-home message
 Children of mothers, who were prescribed with
macrolide antibiotics during the first trimester of
pregnancy, are at an increased risk of major birth
defects, according to a new UCL study.
The study aimed to assess the association
between macrolides , a class of drugs used to treat
common bacterial infections, and major
malformations such as heart and genital defects, as
well as four neuro-developmental disorders in
children.
University College London. (2020, February 2019).
Some antibiotics prescribed during pregnancy linked with birth defects. Science Daily.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219184601.htm
 Children of mothers, who were prescribed
with macrolide antibiotics during the first
trimester of pregnancy, are at an increased
risk of major birth defects, according to a
new UCL study.
(problem)
 The study aimed to assess the association
between macrolides , a class of drugs used to
treat common bacterial infections, and major
malformations such as heart and genital
defects, as well as four neuro-developmental
disorders in children.

(take-home message)
OPENING BITE
SURPRISE: Anything that is unexpected or
that which deviates from common knowledge
might also be interesting to your readers.
1 st
par – surprising event
2nd par – take-home message
 An international team of scientists sequenced a protein
crystal located in the midgut of cockroaches in 2016. The
reason? It's more than four times as nutritious as cow's milk
and the researchers think it could be the key to feeding
our growing population in the future.
Although most cockroaches don't actually produce
milk, Diploptera punctate has been shown to pump out a type
of 'milk' containing protein crystals to feed its babies. A single
one of these protein crystals contains more than three times
the amount of energy found in an equivalent amount of
buffalo milk.
Bowler, J. (2018, April 7). Scientists think cockroach
milk could be the next superfood, and we wish we were kidding. Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-think-we-should-start-
drinking-cockroach-milk-superfood
 An international team of scientists
sequenced a protein crystal located in the
midgut of cockroaches in 2016. The reason?
It's more than four times as nutritious as cow's
milk and the researchers think it could be the
key to feeding our growing population in the
future.
(surprising findings)
 Although most cockroaches don't actually
produce milk, Diploptera punctate has been
shown to pump out a type of 'milk' containing
protein crystals to feed its babies. A single one of
these protein crystals contains more than three
times the amount of energy found in an equivalent
amount of buffalo milk.

(take-home message)
OPENING BITE
DIRECT STRATEGIES
1. Intrigue
2. Surprise
3. Problem
OPENING BITE
Suspended Interest Techniques
1. Problem – Solution
2. Situation – Question
3. Triple Analogy
4. Direct Statement
5. Disjointed Sentence
OPENING BITE
PROBLEM – SOLUTION
You could first present a relatable
problematic condition and then lay
down its possible solution.
 Plastics are a growing problem for our
environment, in part because they are so
difficult to recycle. Now scientists have
identified a microbe that might be able to
help break down one of the toughest
plastics around.
Neild, D. (2020, March 31). Good news, there's a
microbe that can metabolise one of the hardest plastics to recycle. Science Alert.
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-identify-a-microbe-that-can-break-down-hard-to-recycle-plastics
OPENING BITE

SITUATION – QUESTION
Present the situation first, and
then ask a relevant question
afterwards.
 Life is pretty easy to recognize. It moves, it grows, it eats,
it excretes, it reproduces. Simple. In biology, researchers
often use the acronym "MRSGREN" to describe it. It stands
for movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction,
excretion and nutrition.
But Helen Sharman, a chemist at Imperial College London,
recently said that alien lifeforms that are impossible to
spot may be living among us. How could that be possible?
Rolfe, S. (2020, January 14). Could invisible aliens
really exist among us? An astrobiologist explains. Homeland Security News Fire. http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20200114-
could-invisible-aliens-really-exist-among-us-an-astrobiologist-explains
OPENING BITE
TRIPLE ANALOGY
Compare your subject matter with
at least three things, situations, or
conditions that are similar in
significant respects.
 “We all know people who have trained their dogs to
fetch the daily newspaper without tearing it. Similarly, we
all know that horses can be trained to respond to the
slightest movement of their riders. And we all know that
goldfish can be trained to come to the front of the fish
bowl at the sound of a bell. Now it turns out that even
octopi (Octopus vulgarus) can be trained to perform
certain simple tasks, and that they actually learn those
tasks more quickly from each other than from a human
trainer.”
Crawford, C. (2016, December 4). Writing for a
general audience: Science journalism. Silo.Tips. https://silo.tips/download/writing-for-a-general-audience-science-journalism
OPENING BITE

DIRECT STATEMENT
Use direct statements from people who
have had an actual experience of the
subject matter, or from those who have
comprehensive and authoritative
knowledge about the topic.
 “Tragedy is when I cut my finger,” the Mel
Brooks adage goes. "Comedy is when you fall
into an open sewer and die." Or when a guy gets
hit in the groin.
In real life, we don't usually find another
person's pain so hilarious, but in performance, or
even in amateur YouTube videos, it can give us a
major fit of the giggles.
Ferro, S. (2013, July 26). Why is it funny when a guy
gets hit in the groin?. Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/fyi-why-funny-guy-hit-groin/
OPENING BITE
DISJOINTED SENTENCE
A series of at least three fragmented
ideas – usually in clauses, phrases, or
just words – might attract the attention
of readers.
 Burns in children.
Psychiatric illness.
Head injuries.
These are not funny subjects. But apparently almost
anything can seem funny if you think about it long enough –
especially if you’ve devoted years to studying the subject.
Many scientists try to get clever with their article titles,
presumably to make their work seem more fun and interesting.
Fortunately, the results of this creativity range from hackneyed
to outright offensive.
Carpenter, M., & Fritz-Laylin, L. (2015, December 15).
Scientists’ silly, dark, and sometimes inappropriate humor. Slate. https://slate.com/technology/2015/12/the-best-funny-
clever-or-offensive-science-paper-titles.html
Opening Bite
DIRECT Suspended Interest
STRATEGIES Techniques
1. Problem – Solution
1. Intrigue
2. Situation – Question
2. Surprise
3. Triple Analogy
3. Problem
4. Direct Statement
5. Disjointed Sentence
 Parts of a Science Feature
Opening Bite
-
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
Bridging Component
-
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
Bridging Component
1. Definition
2. Explanation
3. Clarification
4. Description
5. Backgrounding
Bridging Component
Definition
-Any technical term mentioned in the
opening bite should given meaning in
the succeeding paragraphs.
Herbivores are animals that eat mostly or
only plants. They can be tiny insects, such as
aphids and grasshoppers. But a diet of
plants can also sustain massive beasts, like
rhinos, elephants and moose. Even some fish
are herbivorous. For example, pacus–cousins
of meat-eating piranhas–nosh on plants.
Wilke, C. (2020, January 13). Scientists say: Herbivore.
Science News for Students. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/scientists-say-
herbivore#:~:text=Herbivore%20(noun%2C%20%E2%80%9CHER%2D,BIV%2Dor%2Dus).
Bridging Component
Explanation
-If what you presented in the
opening bite creates a confusion or
makes an unclear account of
something
 Previous research had hinted that spider webs
might have antimicrobial properties that outright
kill bacteria. But subjecting the webs of three
spider species to four types of bacteria revealed
that the spiders use a resist strategy instead,
researchers report in the Journal of Experimental
Biology.
Runwal, P. (2019, October 30). Spider webs don’t rot
easily and scientists may have figured out why. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/spider-webs-dont-rot-easily-
scientists-may-have-figured-out-why
 Spiders spin strings of silk to trap food, wrap
their eggs and rappel. Their silk webs can sport
leaf debris for camouflage amidst tree canopies
or leftover dead insects for a meal later. These
bits and bobs lure bacteria and fungi involved in
decomposition to the web, exposing the
protein-rich web silks to the microbes.
Runwal, P. (2019, October 30). Spider webs don’t rot
easily and scientists may have figured out why. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/spider-webs-dont-rot-easily-scientists-may-have-figured-
out-why
Bridging Component
Clarification
-Give additional information, or
contradicts common
knowledge
 Biologists used to think there was only one
species of electric eel, Electrophorus
electricus. But now we know that there are
actually three species of these fish: E.
electricus, E. voltai, and E. varii. E. voltai sets
the record for the biggest zap, reaching 860
volts in tests by scientists.
Zielinski, S. (2020, March 26). Let’s learn about
electric eels. Science News for Students.
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/lets-learn-about-electric-eels
Bridging Component
Description
-Give a vivid picture of the
topic, use descriptive words.
 Saharan silver ants (Cataglyphis bombycina)
have merely runner-up proportions, with legs
about 18 percent shorter than those of a related
desert ant (C. fortis). Yet adjusting for body
length, silver ants can rush along about twice as
fast as their leggier cousins.
Milius, S. (2019, October 29). Saharan silver ants are
the world’s fastest despite relatively short legs.
Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sahara-silver-ants-world-fastest-despite-relatively-short-
legs#:~:text=Saharan%20silver%20ants%20(Cataglyphis%20bombycina,fortis).&text=That%20silvery%20protection%20come
s%20in,in%20the%20furnace%20of%20midday.
Bridging Component
Backgrounding
-provide the relevant context of the
topic to be discussed
-present a historical or personal
background information of the subject
matter
 The Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) centre, founded by
local scientists, is a model for developing country research
institutions capable of rigorously evaluating AIDS vaccine
candidates.
KAVI was founded in 1999, with support from the
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, to develop a vaccine
against the HIV strain most prevalent in Kenya. Since then it
has built research capacity in Africa and developing
partnerships across the continent that can address other
health issues.
Kenyan AIDS vaccine work boosts African research.
(2011, September 8). SciDevNet.
https://www.scidev.net/global/cooperation/feature/kenyan-aids-vaccine-work-boosts-african-research.html
Bridging Component
1. Definition
2. Explanation
3. Clarification
4. Description
5. Backgrounding
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
Detailing Section
-
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
1.Is there any tension?
2.Is there an external conflict?
3.Is there a scientific idea?
4.Is there a scientific discovery?
5.Is there more than one central
issue?
Detailing Section
Patterns of Organization
1. Chronological
2. Sequential
3. Spatial
4. Compare–Contrast
5. Cause–Effect
Detailing Section
Patterns of Organization
6. Advantages-Disadvantages
7. Problem-Solution
8. Classification–Division
9. Topical
But, first, give a hint for the Detailing Section

The Premise
-a paragraph of one or two sentences
-a slight indication or suggestion on what
type of logical organization would be used in
the succeeding paragraphs
Opening Bite
Human history has seen its fair share of epidemic outbreaks that
have plagued the world. In the year 541, the “Plague of Justinian”
caused by rats from Egyptian grain boats wiped out almost 40
percent of the Eastern Roman Empire. In 1347- 1351, a virulent
strain of plague known as the “Black Death” tore across the
European continent killing as many as 50 million people. In 1918, a
dangerous form of influenza called the “Spanish Flu” left the global
population decimated with 50 million deaths.
And today, the modern world is experiencing another large-scale
pandemic: the Human Immunodeficiency Virus infecting around 38
million people worldwide. Although the world has taken great strides
in discovering a medicine for this, its eventual end still seems bleak
especially in a conservative country like the Philippines.
Bridging Component
According to a report from UNIAIDS, HIV cases in the country
has risen from 4,300 in 2010 to over 10,500 in 2016, making
the outbreak in the nation the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in
the Asia-Pacific for the past six years with a 140% increase in
the number of new cases.
The statistics is of no surprise to the average Filipino citizen;
after all, stigma like the disease, does not discriminate. As a
country dominated by people with strong religious ties, HIV as a
topic may rather be talked about with hushed tones in dark
corners. People cannot even discuss broad topics concerning
sexual health without being condemned by the Church and other
conservatives.
Premise
If we want to flatten the curve, we cannot
just go with the notion that the country is not
in need of awareness on matters regarding
sexually transmitted infections like HIV.

Possible Pattern of Organization:

cause-effect; problem-solution;
advantages-disadvantages
Opening Bite
Go big or go home?
Scratch that!
In nanotechnology, the future is big in several small
ways.
Nanotechnology has caught the attention of
researchers because of its extensive applications. Yet
a future of nanotechnology lies behind the utilization
of a novel type of nanoparticle: carbon dots.
Bridging Component
Carbon dots, otherwise known as C-dots, are
minute particles structured by Carbon – the primary
element which forms the framework of living
organisms. These nanoparticles possess flexible
applications in different biological aspects. Carbon
dots contain photoluminescent properties, which
suggest that they are able to “glow” once allowed to
enter the cell in vivo. This makes them viable bio-
imaging agents for medical applications.
Premise
So how does this theoretical
construct address local issues?
Possible Pattern of Organization:
cause-effect; problem-solution;
advantages-disadvantages
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Chronological
-progression of time
✓ past-present-future format
✓ “before-during-after” development
Premise
When people get HIV and don't receive treatment,
they will typically progress through three stages.
Detailing Section
Acute HIV infection is the earliest stage of HIV
infection, and it generally develops within 2 to 4 weeks
after infection with HIV. During this time, some people
have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and
rash…level of HIV in the blood is also very high, which
greatly increases the risk of HIV transmission.
 The second stage of HIV infection is chronic HIV
infection (also called asymptomatic HIV infection or
clinical latency). During this stage, HIV continues to
multiply in the body but at very low levels. People
with chronic HIV infection may not have any HIV-
related symptoms…
 AIDS is the final, most severe stage of HIV
infection. Because HIV has severely damaged the
immune system, the body can’t fight
off opportunistic infections. People with HIV are
diagnosed with AIDS if they have a CD4 count of
less than 200 cells/mm3 or if they have certain
opportunistic infections. Once a person is diagnosed
with AIDS, they can have a high viral load and are
able to transmit HIV to others very easily…
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(2019, June 25). The stages of HIV infection.
AIDSinfo. https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/46/the-stages-of-hiv-
infection#:~:text=AIDS%20is%20the%20final%2C%20most,t%20fight%20off%20opportunistic%20infections.
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Sequential
-step-by-step process that must be
followed strictly
-write details by following a particular
order
Premise
To understand the car manufacturing process,
you have to understand the underlying supply
chain that drives domestic vehicle assembly. This
means a car's "production" plant is an active
assembly point, where skilled workers and robotic
systems bring together all of the necessary loose
components to create a final product on a "just-
in-time" basis.
Detailing Section
The chassis of the car is the baseline component. All other parts
are integrated on, or within the chassis… Parts that are
sequentially applied to the chassis include the engine, front and
rear suspension, gas tank, rear-end and half-shafts, transmission,
drive shaft, gear box, steering box, wheel drums and the brake
system.
Once the "running gear" is integrated within the frame, the body
is constructed as a secondary process. First, the floor pan is
positioned properly, then the left and right quarter panels are
positioned and welded to the floor structure. This step is followed
by adding the front/rear door pillars, the body side panels, rear
deck, hood and roof.
 Before painting the vehicle, a quality control team
inspects the body as it sits. Skilled workers look for
dents, abrasives or other deformations that could
create a finishing problem when undergoing the
painting process. Once this step is completed…
Carlton, R. (n.d.). Car manufacturing process. It Still
Runs. https://itstillruns.com/car-manufacturing-process-5575669.html
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Spatial
-how certain things are arranged or fitted in
physical space
-distinguish the parts according to their
perceptual structure, placement, or
arrangement
Premise
The Earth has layers not unlike an onion
and can be dissected to understand the
physical and chemical properties of each
layer and its influence on the rest of the
Earth.
Detailing Section
The first layer is the crust and is by far the thinnest of the
layers of earth. The thickness varies depending on where
you are on earth, with oceanic crust being 5-10 km and
continental mountain ranges being up to 30-45 km thick…
The mantle is the layer of the earth that lies below the
crust and is by far the largest layer making up 84% of
Earth's volume. The mantle starts at the Mohorovicic
Discontinuity, also known as the Moho. The mantle acts
similar to plastic and at very high temperatures and
pressures the rock is deformable at geologic timescales…
 The outer core is the liquid largely iron layer of
the earth that lies below the mantle. The outer core
is 2,300 km thick and goes down to approximately
3,400 km into the Earth…
Nace, T. (2016, January 16). Layers of the earth: What
lies beneath earth's crust. Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2016/01/16/layers-of-the-earth-lies-beneath-earths-crust/#66d53418441d
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Cause-Effect
-reason why something happens and
what are its effects
-discuss the important relationships that
exist between these variables
Premise
David Secor and his colleagues think
that climate change might cause declines in
some fish and shellfish species. Some of
these species are already stressed by disease
and poor water quality.
Detailing Section
Secor suspects that fish that thrive in cooler waters,
such as striped bass, could experience decreases in
population brought about by a warmer
climate. “Maybe we’ll see higher production of some
things like blue crabs, but we may see diminished
production of fish that don’t do so well in warmer
waters such as striped bass, perch and black sea
bass,” he says.
 According to Bill Dennison, the Chesapeake Bay’s rising water
temperatures could also change the makeup of the region’s plant
communities. He cites an unusually warm summer in 2005 that
caused a mass die-off of eelgrass, a marine plant that is commonly
found along the mouths of tributaries that flow into the bay from
Virginia.
If eelgrass were to die out in the Chesapeake Bay due to
warming water temperatures, its disappearance would affect other
species in the region. For example, some species, such as blue
crabs, hide in the eelgrass to molt. When they lose that protection,
they are more likely to be caught by predators.
Thornton, S. (2010, November 4). Warming waters.
National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/warming-
waters/#:~:text=If%20eelgrass%20were%20to%20die,to%20be%20caught%20by%20predators.
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Comparison-Contrast
-how similar or different things are from
one another
-arrange the details by comparing and
contrasting them
Premise
Researchers found that all animals
subjected to this particular study
became more active after receiving
the aloe extracts.
Detailing Section
Result of the 42-day experiment showed that the
final weight and gain in weight of the broilers were
significantly affected by the Aloe vera extract
supplementation. Broilers that were given with aloe
extracts as drink supplement (5-20 ml) significantly
improved their growth rates compared to those
broilers given plain water, which showed the lowest
final weight and gain in weight.
 In terms of feed consumption, broilers that were given
the 15 ml and 20 ml of aloe extracts in their drinks rated
the highest (average of 3387.78 g and 3148.89 g,
respectively) while those given the plain water rated the
least (2737.22 g). This result, according to the
researchers implied that the final weight and gain in
weight were strongly influenced by the feed intake of the
chicken.
dela Cruz, R.T. (2006). Extracts from aloe: Not only a
natural healer also a poultry growth enhancer.
BAR Digest. Retrieved May 15, 2020, from https://www.bar.gov.ph/index.php/digest-home/digest-archives/73-
2006-2nd-quarter/4393-aprjun06-aloe-extracts
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Advantages – Disadvantages

-the “good” and “bad,” or the “pros” and

“cons” of the topic
-arrange the details by focusing on the
advantages and disadvantages
Premise
So, what are the benefits and dangers involved in
nanotechnology?
Detailing Section
According to Markita del Carpio Landry, physicist at the
University of California, nanotechnology boosts crop productivity
by using nano fertilizers and nano pesticides. Nano fertilizers
improve nutrient uptake, reduce water loss, and increase
microbial activity among plants. Moreover, nano pesticides do
not only protect plants against insects and diseases, but it also
reduces environmental contamination.
 In addition, nanotechnology could also prevent
food wastage and food poisoning…
This technology also finds ways of improving
nutrition…
Despite the benefits, scientists worry about the
impact of nanotechnology on health and wildlife.
New studies suggest that nanoparticles can
penetrate through the skin, lungs, and digestive
system which may cause damage to cells and DNA…
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Problem – Solution
-encourage the readers to take some
course of action against an issue
-arrange ideas by discussing the problem
first and then providing its possible
solutions
Premise
A radical plan to curb global warming and so reverse the
climate change caused by our rampant burning of fossil fuels
since the industrial revolution would involve covering parts of the
world's deserts with reflective sheeting, according to researchers
from the International Journal of Global Environmental Issues.
Detailing Section
Finding a way to 'stop', or at least minimize, global warming
and to even cool the Earth can be achieved by focusing on the
primary heat balance between the amount heat produced by
human activities and the loss of heat to outer space…
 Engineers Takayuki Toyama and Alan Stainer
suggest that heat reflecting sheets could be used to
cover arid areas and not only reflect the sun's heat
back into space by increasing the Earth's overall
reflectivity, or albedo, but also to act as an anti-
desertification measure… They add that the same
approach might also be used to cover areas of the
oceans to increase the Earth's total heat reflectivity.
 The team's calculations suggest that covering an
area of a little more than 60,000 square kilometers
with reflective sheet, at a cost of some $280 billion,
would be adequate to offset the heat balance and
lead to a net cooling without any need to reduce
atmospheric carbon dioxide...
Inderscience. (2008, December 23). Fix for global
warming? Scientists propose covering deserts with
reflective sheeting. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081222114546.htm
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Classification – Division
-discuss the topic based on certain
criteria and standards
-arrange details according to their groups,
classes, or categories
Premise
The outermost shell of a terrestrial planet, called crust,
was in fact materials that initially stayed in their liquid phase
during the outgassing process. These formerly called
“incompatible elements could be categorized according to
their compositions.
Detailing Section
Oceanic Crust
Oceanic crust, extending 5-10 kilometers (3-6 kilometers)
beneath the ocean floor, is mostly composed of different
types of basalts. Geologists often refer to the rocks of the
oceanic crust as “sima”
 Continental Crust
Continental crust is mostly composed of
different types of granites. Geologists often refer to
the rocks of the continental crust as “sial.” Sial can
be much thicker than sima (as thick as 70 kilometers
kilometers (44 miles)), but also slightly less dense
(about 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter (1.6 ounces
per cubic inch)).
 Extraterrestrial Crust
Our solar system’s other terrestrial planets
(Mercury, Venus, and Mars) and even our own Moon
have crusts. Like Earth, these extraterrestrial crusts
are formed mostly by silicate minerals. Unlike Earth,
however, the crusts of these celestial bodies are not
shaped by the interaction tectonic plates…”
Crust. (n.d.) National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/crust/#:~:text=Continental%20crust%20is%20mostly%20compo
sed,abundant%20minerals%20in%20continental%20crust.&text=Cratons%20are%20the%20oldest%20and%20most
%20stable%20part%20of%20the%20continental%20lithosphere.
Detailing Section
Organization Pattern: Topical
-If the article covers several topics, using only
one pattern might strike out other important
details; thus, develop the story by arranging
the details into their sub-themes.
Premise
According to the IPCC’s most recent report (in 2007), Earth’s average
surface temperatures have risen about 0.74 degrees Celsius (1.33 degrees
Fahrenheit) during the past 100 years… The IPCC states that most of the
temperature increase since the mid-20th century is likely due to human
activities.
Detailing Section
What is Greenhouse Effect?
Human activities contribute to global warming by increasing
the greenhouse effect…
Greenhouse gases let the sun’s light shine onto the Earth’s surface, but
they trap the heat that reflects back up into the atmosphere…
Another way people release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is by
cutting down forests. This happens for two reasons…
What are the Effects of Global Warming?
Even slight rises in average global temperatures can
have huge effects…
Ice sheets and glaciers advance and retreat naturally. As
Earth’s temperature has changed, the ice sheets have
grown and shrunk, and sea levels have fallen and risen…
Rising sea levels could flood coastal communities,
displacing millions of people in areas such as Bangladesh,
the Netherlands, and the U.S. state of Florida…
What are the Changes in the Future?
Nobody can look into a crystal ball and predict the future with
certainty. However, scientists can make estimates about future
population growth, greenhouse gas emissions, and other factors
that affect climate…
The IPCC predicts that greenhouse gas emissions will continue
to increase over the next few decades…
The panel also predicts global warming will contribute to some
serious changes in water supplies around the world…
 What Measures can be Done?
There are several ways that governments, industries, and
individuals can reduce greenhouse gases. We can improve energy
efficiency in homes and businesses…
Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow.
Protecting existing forests and planting new ones can help balance
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Changes in farming practices could also reduce greenhouse gas
emissions…
Greenhouse effect. (n.d.) National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/greenhouse-effect/
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
Recapping Segment
-bring back the attention of your
readers to the premise of the article
-make them feel happy that they read
the story
Recapping Segment

-Restate the premise of the

story with fresher and deeper
understanding.
Premise:
Many orb weaver spiders sport
yellowish stripes or spots on their
undersides, and for a good reason.
That color yellow tempts bees and flies
into a spider’s web, a new study
suggests.
Recapping Segment:
Understanding the function of color patterns in
animals is a fundamental question for evolutionary
biologists. Studying animal colorations can inform
practical applications. For example, a team
member’s interest in animal colors could lead to
researching light reflectance with interesting
applied opportunities in energy storage.
Law, Y-H. (2020, March 2). Bright yellow spots help
some orb weaver spiders lure their next meal.
Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bright-yellow-spots-help-some-orb-weaver-spiders-lure-their-next-meal
Recapping Segment
-Address the “so what” of the
premise by demonstrating its
importance.
Premise:
Here’s something neat about
sleeping sheep: Their brains have
fast zags of neural activity, similar
to those found in sleeping people.
 Recapping Segment:
“In humans, changes in sleep spindles
have been linked to aging, as well as diseases
including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and
Huntington’s. Studying these spindles over
time in sheep may reveal clues about these
human disorders, the researchers suspect.”
Sanders, L. (2020, March 2). Brain waves common
during sleep also show up in awake sheep. Science
News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sleep-sheep-spindles-brain-memory
Recapping Segment

- Propel the readers to a

new view of the premise.
Premise:
Gray wolves are known to snack on
blueberries, but the animals do more than fill
their own bellies. A new, serendipitous
observation shows an adult wolf regurgitating
the berries for its pups to eat, the first time
anyone has documented this behavior.
Recapping Segment:
The findings, however, are generating plenty of
questions. Researchers are curious about the nutritional
value of blueberries for the mostly carnivorous wolves,
and the consequences of a bad berry year. They
wonder: What happens when blueberries are not
available if a pack is used to relying on them?
Buehler, J. (2020, February 11). Wolves regurgitate
blueberries for their pups to eat. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/wolves-regurgitate-blueberries-pups-diet
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
Looping Piece
- provide a sense of closure for the
readers
-bring your readers back to your
opening bite
-make your science feature article a full
circle
Opening Bite:
Picture this:
You’re snuggled in bed on a Saturday morning and
your partner lets one rip.
The last thing you want to do is smell it, but it turns
out sniffing farts has secret health benefits.
And it’s all to do with a specific gas that is released
when you pop off.
Downey, A. (2017, October 7). Sniffing your
partners’ farts could help ward off disease. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2017/10/27/sniffing-your-partners-farts-could-help-ward-off-disease/
Looping Piece:
So the next time your partner lets go of
that hiss or blare, don’t be bothered as
much as you were before.
As it turns out, that stinky flatulence
may be beneficial to your and loved one’s
overall health after all.
Opening Bite:
It's a pain.
Treating back pain typically involves medication, including
opioids, surgery, therapy and self-care options. Efforts to
reduce opioid use and increase physically based therapies to
reduce pain and increase physical function and safety are
crucial.
Patients are often advised to use non-pharmacological
treatments to manage lower back pain such as exercise and
mind-body interventions.
But, do they really help?
Looping Piece
Yoga, tai chi, and qigong could be used as effective
treatment alternatives to pain medications, surgery, or
injection-based treatments such as nerve blocks, which are
associated with high incidence of adverse effects in treating
lower back pain. But evidently, we need more clinical trials
and empirical evidence so that clinicians can prescribe these
types of interventions with more confidence for managing
lower back pain in their patients.
Florida Atlantic University. (2020, February 6). Oh my
aching back: Do yoga, tai chi or qigong help?. Science Daily.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200206102727.htm
Looping Piece
Tip: If your opening bite begins
with a situation that is problematic,
your looping piece could focus on
the challenge that the readers face
in solving the problem.
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Parts of a Science Feature
-Opening Bite
-Bridging Component
-Detailing Section
-Recapping Segment
-Looping Piece
 Open Discussion/
Audience Engagement