science and technology writing

1. SCIENCE
AND
TECHNOLO
GY WRITING
CRISTOPHER R. POLLISCO
MASTER TEACHER II
VINCENZO SAGUN CES
VINCENZO SAGUN DISTRICT

2. Science and Technology Writing
Most Essential Learning Competencies
English IV, Quarter 4
1. Distinguish among types of Journalistic
Writing (news report, opinion article, feature
article, and sports news article)
2. Write a news report using given facts

3. “Science values detail, precision, the
impersonal, the technical, the lasting facts,
numbers and being right.
Journalism values brevity, approximation,
the personal, the colloquial, the
immediate, the stories, words and being
right now. These are going to be
tensions.”

4. SCIENCE WRITING is the clear and effective
presentation of scientific reports translated into
stories that the average reader or the layman
could understand. - Prof. Ceciliano-Jose Cruz
✔ Science News
✔ Science Editorial
✔ Science Feature

5. Science Journalism
Doctor, scientist,
expert
Science Writers
Ordinary Persons

6. SCIENCE WRITING can be in the
form of news, feature, or editorial but
a Science article differs from other
forms because of the ANGLE.
An angle is the side of the story you want
to emphasize.
For Science writing, we must
emphasize a story’s relation to
any scientific process or
matter.

7. News: Number of mothers who are
breastfeeding
Editorial: Why millennial mothers do not
breastfeed
Feature: Breastfeeding: Bonding
between the mother and the child
Science: Nutritional Benefits of
SCIENCE
WRITING
Topic:
Breastfeeding

8. SCIENCE
WRITING
Topic: Fumigation
1. Don’t just mention that there was a fumigation.
1. What were the chemicals used during the
fumigation?
1. What are the descriptions of these chemicals?
1. How can these chemicals ensure that dengue
mosquitos will be terminated?
1. Do these chemicals have any effects on human
health?

9. 1.FACTS - Science article must present
sensible, digestible, coherent and
relatable data
2. EXPERT INTERVIEW -The end-all,
be-all of your article
3. FIGURES/STATISTICS -This makes
your article more specific
ESSENTIAL
ELEMENTS OF A
WINNING
SCIENCE
ARTICLE
5

10. 4. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS -
Highlights the intensity/progress of your
topic
5. SOLUTION -Don’t leave the readers
hanging hopeless and scared! Science
always provides a way out!
ESSENTIAL
ELEMENTS OF A
WINNING
SCIENCE
ARTICLE
5

11. The Basic Parts of a Science
Article
1. Headline/Title – catchy, not to
long
2. Lead – catchy, twist or other
types, the first paragraph
3. Body –smooth flow, 1 idea per
paragraph
4. Conclusion – check lead, serves

12. Writing a Science Article
Headline/Title
✔ Headline/Title must have a complete thought
✔ Headline/Title must trigger curiosity
(Feature Style)
Aquaculture: Five Ways on How to Make it
Sustainable
(News Style)
Local fish farmers say aquaculture easy to
sustain with correct methods
Bacteria make ‘spider silk’ that’s stronger than

13. Lead
✔ It explains the headline. (Science News)
✔ Be direct to the point
✔ Be conversational
DOH: Leptospirosis cases rise to 1,500
The Department of Health (DOH) on July 5
confirmed the rise of leptospirosis cases all over the
country.
Writing a Science Article

14. Lead (Science Feature)
✔Punch (one-sentence paragraph as catch
line)
Alcohol and driving can mix. (The alcohol-
gasoline blend)
✔Rhetorical Question
Which has higher vitamin C content in
Kalamansi? The juice or the peel?
Writing a Science Article

15. Lead (Science Feature)
✔ Direct Quotation
“The banana industry is a sagging
enterprise,” according to the DOST
✔ Saying
An ounce of prevention is better than a
pound of cure –the safe and the best way
to avoid getting contaminated with
leptospirosis lends a truism!
Writing a Science Article

16. The packet is pristine white, almost
antiseptic and the advertising stresses
the cleanliness of the brand. Under the
cellophanes, high gloss paper and silver
foil are 20 cigarettes which the
somewhat evangelical wrapping says
are of ‘low-tar content.’
MAKE IT
DESCRIPTIVE;
GIVE IT A TOUCH OF
COLOR

17. Writing a Science Article
Body
✔The body of the news story/article gives the readers the detailed parts of the news.
It develops the facts and the data given in the lead.
✔It is the elaboration of the Ws and H of the news.
✔It is the meat of the story.
✔Preferably one sentence for one paragraph. It encourages readers to continue
reading.

18. DOH: Leptospirosis cases rise to 1,500
The Department of Health (DOH) on July 5 confirmed
the rise of leptospirosis cases all over the country.
Dr. Benjamin Herrera, an alumnus of the University of
Santo Tomas, said that local cases have reached
1,500.
He also added that the National Capital Region (NCR)
has the highest cases of leptospirosis, followed by
CALABARZON (Region IV-A) and Central Luzon
(Region III)

19. In NCR, Malabon has the highest case of leptospirosis,
followed by Navotas, Caloocan, Marikina, Valenzuela and
Makati.
These cities were determined by the Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) as flood prone areas.
One of the common misconception about leptospirosis is
that it on only came from rat urine.
According to experts, bacteria can penetrate in the body
through any skin opening or wound.

20. Formula for Science Articles
For illnesses For trends For tonics/supplements
Title Title Title
Origin Origin Origin
Symptoms Science Angle 1 Nutritional Content
Cure Science Angle 2 Health Benefits
Prevention Benefits Source
Conclusion Threats Conclusion
Conclusion

21. The Anatomy of a Science
Article
✔Headline/Title (with source;
statistics)
✔Lead (elaboration of the headline)
✔Facts with source
✔Facts with source
✔Direct statement
✔Direct statement
✔Fact with source
✔Direct statement

22. The Anatomy of a Science
Article
✔ Headline must mention the source/expert
and statistics
✔ Expound the headline
✔ Mention the representative/name of the
expert, his background (if any), then info
about the disease
✔ Source
✔ Symptoms
✔ Cure
✔ Prevention

23. Tips in Science Writing
1.Write in a conversational manner.
2.Do not leave your readers hanging.
3.Define scientific terms.
4.Learn how to appreciate data.
5.If there are figures provided, make sure
this will be included in your headline.
6.If the expert is not famous, do not mention
him/her in the headline and in the lead.

24. Tips in Science
Writing
7. Make sure that your lead is
the explanation of your headline.
8. When you mention the name
of the expert, the first time, write
his full name. For agencies,
organization, spell it out.
9. Stick to the scientific angle
of the story.

25. Tips in Science
Writing
10. Do not provide other
information unless it is from a
known authority or a data
accessible to the public.
11. Do not forget to define
terms, explain/cite the sources,
implications and cures of
diseases.

26. Essential Factors
✔Expert Interview
✔Credible Source
✔Professional Opinion

27. 1.
Translate
Writing a Science
Article
2. Interpret
3. Develop the
Body
4. Write a Good
Ending

28. Thank you so
much and God
bless!