SCIENCE WRITING

Carol P. Cuevas
BSE-English
Dr. Anacleta M. Cabigao
Professor
 OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the SPA’s should be able to:

• Gain knowledge about Science Writing

• Demonstrate skills needed in Science Writing
• Appreciate the values of Science Writing in Campus
Journalism
 Science writing is simply writing on
science-related topics. The scientific topics
involved are what defines science writing.
This writing deals basically with
information that has been collected using SCIENCE
scientific methods and techniques. WRITING 
-is writing about science for the
popular media. The audience is much
more general — anyone with an
interest in science.
 SCIENTIFIC WRITING

Scientific writing is technical writing by a

scientist, with an audience of peers —
other scientists.
 SCIENCE NEWS WRITING COVERS

1.) Science News

2.) Science Editorial
3.) Science Feature
4.) Science Column Writing
SCIENCE NEWS

-medicine and technology broadly, including

new findings and techniques, surprising
statistics and the latest science trends.
 SCIENCE EDITORIAL

A newspaper article written by on or behalf of an editor that

gives an opinion on a science issue.
• Focus on the facts
• Analysis of the issue must be based on scientific facts and
following the scientific method
• Assumptions raised must be based on solid logic and
following the scientific method
Science Feature
Human interest story that looks into science.
Example: Mental health

Science Column Writing

Column- a vertical divisions of the news page.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE
WRITING
• Objective- statements and ideas are supported by appropriate evidence
that demonstrates how conclusions have been drawn.
• Structured logically- ideas and processes are expressed in a logical order.
The text is divided into sections with clear headings.
• Neutral- it avoids making assumptions and unproven statements. It presents
how and where data were collected and supported by evidences.
• Use concrete words where possible
People understand solid, concrete things which they can feel, smell, see,
touch, taste or hear. Because much of science is about ideas, where possible
you should explain the scientist's abstract ideas in concrete words your
ordinary readers or listeners can understand
 GUIDELINES IN SCIENCE WRITING

• Understand the jargon

Scientific names and technical terms (sometimes called jargon) are necessary
for scientists.
For example: If a surgeon told his assistant to cut "the big tube" during an
operation, all sorts of mistakes could happen. Instead, the surgeon might talk
about a patient's "aorta" or "vena cava", so that there was no mistake.
It is possible - and sometimes it is informative - to include scientific terms in
reports, as long as they are explained immediately in words your audience can
understand.
For example: Researchers in California say they have found a new way of testing
unborn babies for spina bifida - a deformity of the spine which can cause paralysis.
Do not overload with figures
Do not overload your stories with large
numbers or lots of figures. In many cases,
especially at the start of a story, you should
round figures off to make them simpler to
understand. For example, 19,750 kilometres
becomes "almost 20,000 kilometres". This is
especially important in radio, where listeners do
not have time to grasp complicated numbers.
Write brightly
Your audience will not like long boring explanations. This is especially true in radio, where the
listeners can quickly grow tired of concentrating on lots of facts and figures. So you should develop a
bright style of writing.
RIGHT:
Pig farmers on New Ireland are battling an insect plague which has already killed more than 500 pigs on
the island.

The insect, which is related to the horse fly, has already devastated herds in Africa and South East Asia.

The new species called penetrens lugoles lays its eggs in pigs' ears. When the eggs hatch, the maggots
burrow into the animal's brain in search of food. 

WRONG:
Farmers on New Ireland are battling a plague of the new insect species penetrens lugoles which is
related to the horse fly and has devastated large herds of pigs in Africa and South East Asia and already
killed 527 pigs on the island by laying eggs in their ears which eventually hatch into maggots which
burrow their way into the animal's brain in search of food.
General considerations for science writing

Thoroughly understand your sources. (question your sources)

Support everything with evidence

Know your audience

THANK YOU, SPAS!!!