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Science Writing: A Template for Success By Oreta Samples These findings are usually reported to an audience who by
their own scientific involvement and interest, have an understanding and
appreciation for the information that the author seeks to impart. Due to the
nature of science-based publications, the author follows a more rigid template
for reporting his findings. This includes (but is certainly not limited to) a
introduction of the subject matter, detailed discussion of means and methods (of
discovery), results of the research/experiment, and a conclusion which
elaborates on the implications of the results for a given group or scenario. There are in fact hundreds if not thousands of technical
and scientific journals, magazines, and periodicals produced monthly. These range from
journals that report the latest cutting edge research and discoveries such as
the Journal of the American Medical Association to more popular
publications such as Prevention Magazine or National Geographic. As a college student, I came to appreciate the simplicity
of writing term papers of a scientific nature due to the fact that there seemed
to be a journal for every type of scientific discipline. Coupled with the ease
of Internet search engines, and voilá-- it was possible to have a whole library
at one's fingertips. After surviving graduate school and the dreaded thesis
defense, I became interested in writing for science journals and publications
for fun. I learned all too quickly that a rejection letter is nothing personal
and could actually be quite helpful if viewed in the proper manner. I also can
attest to the observation that editors can be our friends and teachers if you
let them. The following are some tips and advice on how to write with success in
the field of science. 1. Have a good background in spelling and English grammar.
Use programs such as spell-check and grammar-check to proofread your work. When
you find yourself using certain words over and over, utilize a thesaurus in
order to curb repetitious usage. 2. Acquire a working knowledge of medical terminology.
Recognize that all branches of science have their own language to some extent;
become proficient in your usage. 3. Become familiar with the various forms of words and
their meanings. For instance a common prefix that can be misused is hyper (high
or elevated) versus hypo (low or decreased). When either of these is combined
with "tension" the resulting word has completely opposite meanings. 4. Check, check, and recheck facts before you report them.
Maintain a file of contact information for your sources for documentation. Your editor
may require it later. 5. Always be aware that just as you have researched your
article, somewhere there is an editor who is rechecking your facts before they
go to print; be thorough. 6. Before submitting an article, request and be familiar
with the style of the publication you are submitting to. Writer's guidelines and
queries are invaluable and will cut down on rewrites and edits of your material.
Be specific and provide information on how you may be reached by the editor
(i.e., phone numbers, e-mail, and snail mail addresses). The easier you make it
on an editor to work with you, the more likely she is to work with you a second
time. 7. As part of your query letter, attach a formal outline of
your piece showing exactly what you plan to address. This may go a long way in
securing the assignment as the editor can see exactly where you are going with a
given topic. Once the outline is approved, stick to the format that you
submitted. 8. Deadlines are your friends; they keep you on track and
focused. Respect them and try to be early. If you are unavoidably late, contact
your editor and let him know as soon as possible, along with a projected finish
date. 9. Scientific papers and articles require much research.
Keep careful records of where you find information and data and give appropriate
credit to the source. Also, be aware of the format that publications prefer for
articles and bibliographies. 10. When submitting pictures along with an article, be
careful to document the source of the photo and acquire the appropriate rights
or permissions. It is best to get this in writing. 11. Although the World Wide Web has indeed made it easier
to do research, be aware that not all sources are reputable and should be double-checked.
Also, some publications have a limit as to how many web pages you may list as
references. Be smart and discuss the use of these resources with editors before
using them. 12. If you have a friend or acquaintance who is an expert on the topic you are writing about, enlist her as a proofreader of scientific fact and use of jargon. She may spot mistakes or errors in wording that you are too close to the project to see.
Oreta is a part-time freelance writer whose works have appeared in Veterinary Technician Journal as well as the popular magazine I Love Cats. She currently writes a bi-weekly column called Fin, Fur, and Feathers for two newspapers in Georgia on the subject of pet care. She holds a BS degree in veterinary science as well as a Masters degree in public health and has been a science writer since college.
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