CAMPUS JOURNALISM
SCIENCE WRITING
- is the latest form of Philippine Journalism.
Ø A science writer should be able to communicate clearly and effectively so that he can
popularize and translate scientific reports into stories.
Science News Writing Covers:
1.) Science News
2.) Science Editorial
3.) Science Feature
4.) Science Column Writing
Science News Reporting
Ø Is science writing by a scientist or by a non-scientist for mass consumption.
Ø His report is written for mass understanding.
Ø He writes his story in such a way that the science un-oriented reader may understand and
appreciate it because it is written in layman’s language.
Ø He writes his story in such a way that the science un-oriented reader may understand and
appreciate it because it is written in layman’s language.
Technical Writing vs. Non-technical Writing:
• the objective of technical writing is to emphasize hand information
• The main aim of journalistic writing is to inform, interpret, entertain, and to educate.
• Purpose of Technical Writing
- The main purpose of technical writing is to inform and persuade by providing facts
and opinion based on facts that help readers answer question, solve a problem, make a
decision, or perform a task.
• Characteristics of Technical Writing:
It contains only factual information presented objectively.
All data could be verified and would not change unless new findings are made.
The writing depends on the author’s treatment of the subject and by the reader’s need to
useful information.
Technical subject is specialized and usually mechanical or scientific.
• Specific Uses of Technical Writing Skills:
- Modern society is becoming highly technical
- Police and fire personnel write detailed incidents or investigation report that must be
clear enough to serve as evidence in court.
- Nurses and medical technicians keep daily records that are crucial to patients’
welfare particularly as bases for litigations
- Secretaries must write clear and precise memos, letters, minutes, and reports.
- Managers write memos, personal evaluation, requisitions, and instructions.
• Writing for Readers:
To define something – as to insurance costumer who wants to know what variable annuity
means.
To explain something – as to a fellow teacher on how to write a news story.
To describe something – as to an architectural client who wants to know what a new addition
to her home look s like.
To persuade someone – like to an adviser of a school paper to change page format.
* Do’s and Don’ts in Technical writing
Omit no key words
Avoid ambiguous phrases – in technical writing, a sentence should have one meaning only.
Avoid over-stuffing – a sentence that crams so many ideas, forces readers to struggle in
order to get what is meant.
Avoid un-stacked modifiers – too many nouns stacked up as modifiers in front of another
noun make for hard reading.
Rearrange word order – just as any paragraph has a key sentence, any sentence has a key
word or phrase. For emphasis, place the key word or phrase at the beginning or end of the
sentence.
Use the active voice
Make sentences concise (brief) – a concise sentence is brief but informative. It gets right to
the point w/o clutter.
Eliminate redundancy – avoid using phrase when a word will do. Avoid needless repetition
Avoid “there” sentence openers – save words and improve your emphasis by avoiding
“there is” and “there are” at the beginning of the sentences.
Avoid certain “it” sentence openers – eliminate any ”It” that does not refer to somerthing
specific.
Delete needless “to be” construction – forms of the verb “to be” (is, was, are) often add
clutter w/o adding meaning.
Avoid excessive prepositions
Use “that and “which” sparingly
Fight noun addiction – excessive nouns make sentences awkward and wordy
Make negative positive – save words and get to the point by eliminating negative
construction.
Clear out the clutter words
Delete needless preface – get to the point. Deliver to the point w/o a long wind-up.
Avoid triteness
Avoid over-statement
Avoid sweeping generalization
Use specific, concrete language.
