The document provides guidelines for writing various types of science articles, including news, features, and editorials, highlighting essential elements such as definition, case studies, and expert quotes. It also discusses the waste management crisis in the Philippines, emphasizing challenges related to the disposal of 35,000 tons of garbage daily and shortcomings in legislation aimed at addressing the issue. Additionally, tips on clear and effective writing, including clarity, sound reasoning, and specificity, are outlined for science writers.

1. SCIENCE
& HEALTH
WRITING

3. TYPES OF SCIENCE ARTICLES
(according to structure)
–Science news (hard)
–Science feature (soft)
–Science news feature
–Science editorial/commentary

4. ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE ARTICLE
●Definition
●Case Study
●Statistics
●Expert's quote

5. TIPS ON WRITING SCIENCE
NEWS ARTICLE

6. ✔ Assess data provided in
the fact sheet; can be done
by categorizing the data
using 5Ws

7. ✔Appreciate
the fact sheet.
Identify the
news (angle).

8. ✔ Avoid
editorializing/injection
of so many opinions;
use interviews/quotes
from experts/fact sheet

9. ✔ Provide analysis to
statistical data.

10. ✔ Use descriptions,
definitions for literal
meanings

11. ✔ Use
quotations in
the lead only if
highly quotable

12. ✔ Write
subheads.

13. Philippines grapples with
35,000 tons of garbage daily: ADB expert
MANILA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines
generates about 35,000 tons of garbage daily, and
more than 8,600 tons per day in Metro Manila alone,
an Asian Development Bank (ADB) expert said on
Friday.
In an article in the Asian Development Blog published
on Friday, ADB's Aldrin Plaza of the urban
development officer of the Sustainable Development
and Climate Change Department said that disposing
solid waste poses a big challenge to the Philippine
government.

14. He said a sizable proportion of the refuse is
openly burned, further worsening the quality
of the city's already heavily polluted air.
"There have been attempts to hold back the
tide of rubbish. The 2000 Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act (ESWMA) is
considered landmark legislation on
environmental management," Plaza wrote.
However, Plaza lamented that "many of the
law's goals have yet to be achieved."

15. "The NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude,
weak local government units capacities, and
lack of alternatives to landfilling have
aggravated the situation," he said.
Metro Manila is now home to more than 12
million people. As with many other
megacities in Asia, Plaza said waste
collection and disposal is a major
environmental issue. "The problem extends
beyond the capital," he said.

16. The 2000 Act, for instance, is considered
landmark legislation on environmental management.
It aimed to systematically organize and sustainably
manage the collection and disposal of municipal solid
waste (MSW) in the country.
The law mandated the establishment of MSW
collection systems anchored on the so-called 3R
formula - reduce, reuse, and recycle - that involves
segregation at source and the establishment of
intermediate facilities such as materials recovery
facilities, which ideally should be established at the
barangay (neighborhood) level.

17. The law also provided specific deadlines for
closing unsanitary open dumpsites. "Cities are still
dumping waste on open dumpsites," he said.
In 2010, when all open dumpsites should already have
been closed as mandated by the law, he said 790 were
still operating.
Plaza cited three major obstacles that have
contributed to the Philippines' failure to stem the tide
of producing garbage.

18. A second obstacle is financing and governance.
He said the investment costs and management burden
of a comprehensive MSW management system are too
burdensome for many cities.
Third, he said the ban on incineration eliminated a
viable alternative to landfilling.
The 2000 law solely prescribed engineered sanitary
landfills as the acceptable method of final waste
disposal, and the 1999 Clean Air Act prohibited
incineration for MSW disposal.

19. TIPS ON WRITING SCIENCE
FEATURE ARTICLE

20. 1. When using unfamiliar
scientific terms, define as briefly
as possible
a. Give its literal meaning
The disease, called Cadang-cadang, has
caused the deaths of millions of coconut trees since it
was first reported in 1931. Cadang-cadang literally
means yellowing or the slow death of a plant…

21. • 1. When using unfamiliar scientific
terms, define as briefly as possible
b. Make it descriptive; give it a touch of color
The packet is pristine white, almost antiseptic
and the advertising stresses the cleanness of the
brand. Under the cellophane, high gloss paper and
silver foil are 20 cigarettes which the somewhat
evangelical wrapping says are of ‘low-tar content.’
They are double-filtered and they are said to be
ultra light, as opposed to their several dozen
competitors which are variously touted to be simply
‘light,’ ‘super light,’ ‘cool,’ or ‘refreshing.’

22. • Emphasize the magnitude of the
problem
The Central plains (in Thailand) where rice
harvest is plentiful is also home to millions of rodents,
causing an average loss of 25 percent of pre-harvest
crop. Some estimates even peg the total crop loss to as
much as 70 percent.
The World Health Organization estimates that
one rat can eat about 27 pounds of warehouse food
and deposit about 25,000 droppings to spoil more.
More than 4 billion rats (about 1 billion in Asia) now
inhabit the world and they destroy more than 33
million tons of stored grains each year.
In Asia, they destroy about one-third of the
food produced yearly.

23. • When reporting a research or
technological breakthrough, do tell why
it is a breakthrough
The most promising treatment against
diarrheal attacks developed so far is the oral
rehydration fluid.
The oral rehydration fluid is made of 3.5
grams table salt, 2.5 grams of baking soda, 1.5
grams of potassium chloride and 20 grams of glucose
(or sucrose) dissolved in one liter or potable water.
An aluminium foil packet produced by the
Philippine Ministry of Health costs 70 centavos (US
$0.09) and three packets dissolved in three liters of
water usually are enough to bring a child to full
recovery.

24. • Incorporate historical points as
backgrounder
One of the earliest and most
dramatic demonstrations of the efficacy of
oral rehydration was acted out in the
subcontinent under the most difficult field
conditions.
During the 1971 civil upheaval in
Bangladesh, refugees in Indian camps were
firat given intravenous fluids against shock
and then the oral fluids. Deaths from
diarrheal diseases were brought down from
30 percent to 1 percent.

25. • Provide a balanced perspective.
A serious protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM)
affects an estimated half of all Filipino children under
four –one of the highest rates in the world. A
malnutrition survey by the Department of Health also
reveals that 85 percent of schoolchildren were
suffering from PCM. “Very closely linked to this is the
available food supply,” a Philippine country health
profile says.
Since 1960, farms devoted to food crops have
sunk while commercial croplands expanded to 35
percent of all cultivated land. About 55 percent of the
whole farming acreage is used for export crops—sugar,
coconuts, bananas, rubber, pineapple, coffee and cocoa
—much of it directly controlled by foreign interest.

26. • Provide attribution.
More and more researches
involving humans will be done in Asia in the
coming years, and there is a strong need to
safeguard participating people,” says Dr.
David M. Macfadyen, head of WHO’s
Research and Promotion Development.
Or:
The US Congress-commissioned
study made by its Environment, Energy and
Natural Resources Subcommittee says the
“nuclear power is no longer a cheap energy
source…”

27. TIPS ON WRITING
SCIENCE EDITORIAL

28. S - tate the problem
P - osition on the problem
E - vidence to support your position
C - onclusion: Who’s going to be
affected and how?
S - olutions to the problem; give at
least 2

29. 1. State the subject and your
position on the subject in the
introduction.
2. Discuss opposing points of
view.
3. Prove your position with
supporting details.
4. Draw a conclusion.

31. The Beginning: Editorial Lead
• The editorial lead, like in the news story, is the
showcase of the write-up. However, it is not
considered the heart of the story unlike in the news.
• The heart could be in the middle or at the end,
depending upon the whims and style of the editorial
writer.
• Remember that it must contain enough “sparks” to
urge the readers to read the whole article. A flat, dull
and dragging lead will readily turn readers away.
• It does not have to follow the traditional five W’s and
one H.
• The editorial writer has more freedom to display his
creativity than the news writer in the writing of the
lead.

32. Opening statements…
• Narration
– ex. October saw a long and heated debate
in the Constitutional Convention Hall
which resulted in the passing of a
resolution lowering the voting age from 21
to 18.
• An order
– ex. Go out and vote.
• A question
– ex. Remember the legend of the poinsettia
and the story of the sanctuary bells?

33. The opening statement must be brief. It may consist
only of the news on which the editorial is based, or
the topic or problem to be taken up. It may be:
• Emphatic statement or maxim
– ex. The law might be harsh, but it is the law.
• A striking statement about the topic.
– ex. Patriot, orator, lawyer, martyr – that was Jose
Abad Santos.
• A quotation
– ex. “Time is gold,” so the saying goes.
“Education is the best provision for old
age.” Such were the words of Greek
Philosopher Aristotle.

34. Opening statements...
• Poetic
– ex. In the darks depths of man’s labyrinth of fears
may lie hidden a ray of hope which man, in his
despair over other problems, may have
overlooked.
• Prophecy
– ex. If nothing is done, we will wake up one day to
find that there are not enough schools for our
children.
• Reaction
– ex. Never has the government been so concerned
with labor as it is now.

35. The Body
The body should
include the editorial’s
basic facts, the
causes and effects
behind incidents,
situations,
illustrations and
arguments.

36. Drafting: Writing the BODY
When writing the body,
remember to:
– Keep an eye on the list of
points you intend to
discuss.
– Write without worrying
whether the wording of
each sentence is perfect
and
– Leave plenty of room for
rewriting

37. The Conclusion
The last part drives
home the final
important thought or
direction. This
conclusion may be in
the form of advice,
challenge, command
or just a rounding out
or a simple summary.

38. Drafting: Writing the CONCLUSION
• If the editorial must have an
impelling lead paragraph, it
follows that it must also have a
good ending - one that could
literally clinch the “ballgame.”
• The writer must remember that
the most emphatic positions
are the beginning and the end.

39. Here are some typical last paragraphs:
• Proverb
– ex. Savage sentences ought to be deplored. But
there is only safe rule to follow when travelling
abroad. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
• Quotations
– ex. A book by Dennise and Ching Ping Bloodworth
offers us an insight into the ways of statecraft. We
think this quotation from the book a timely reminder:
“…A country or a party should form a vertical
‘united front’ with enemies who can be liquidated
later, in order to be able to destroy the enemy who
must be liquidated now.”

40. Last paragraphs...
• Advice
– ex. We must always be on the guard against these
lawless elements.
• Comparison
– ex. Other countries were able to save their forests by
buying our exported logs. For a few thousand
dollars, we are practically selling them the environs
of future generations of Filipinos.
• Contrast
– ex. Societal reforms cannot, indeed, make headway
if more privileges are piled up for a few while the
great majority of the population become mere
onlookers.

41. Last paragraphs...
• Crusading
– ex. Get out and vote!
• Argumentative
– ex. We therefore urge the police, the local
governments, the BAI, and the courts to crack down
hard on dog thieves. In the old American West,
horse thieves are lynched. We are not advocating
the same punishment for dog thieves but they
should be treated as criminals, not as mere
pranksters. If we don’t, our moral values will certainly
go to the dogs.

42. Last paragraphs...
• Formal and the standard form
– ex. We hope it is not too late. It is about time
the proper steps are taken.
• Conclusion
– ex. With these improvement programs, the
people of Manila and suburbs are assured of
good water supply and efficient service.

43. After writing the draft…
• Revise your work.
– Add action and clarity
to writing
– Reread your draft carefully
– Focus sentences through
parallelism and translation
– Rethink, reevaluate and
rewrite
– Use transitions
– Move sentences
– Add words and phrases

44. After writing the draft…
• Proofreading and Editing
– Concentrate on surface features of your writing
– Check for clarity
– Check for errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics
and spelling
• Publishing
– Prepare copy for print, broadcast or electronic media
– Follow style sheet
– Choosing a way to present your work:
❖Print
❖Broadcast
❖Electronic Media

45. Tips for writers

46. Simple style
• Avoid high fallutin’
words
• Learn to develop a
simple, clear, direct
and vigorous style of
writing
• Choose your words
that will accurately
describe or explain a
point or issue

47. Sound reasoning
• Support arguments
with the right facts
• Logical thinking
shows the writer’s
competence
• Cluttered ideas and
unsubstantiated
arguments shoo
readers away

48. Brief, exact & concise
• 150 to 200 words
• Complex sentences and
long paragraphs are
wearisome and dull the
senses
• See to it that every word
used counts and serves
its purpose

49. Be specific
• Use concrete facts
and figures not
general ideas, terms
or statements
• Hazy and broad
generalizations do not
impress