Writing for the Natural Sciences

Some subject areas that fall under the category of the natural sciences are biology, chemistry, physics, or astronomy. An investigation in the natural sciences attempts to build on empirical evidence or observable, verifiable information.

Key points to remember when writing for the Natural Sciences:

Write to inform

When you inform readers, use precise descriptions of the sequence of events. Mathematical and quantifiable precision is also necessary, especially in lab reports. Remember that informative writing can have a more specific rhetorical twist. For instance, you could be defining a problem, classifying different species, comparing and contrasting two studies, or analyzing scientific findings.

Write to argue or persuade

Most scientists want to do more than inform their audience; they also want to persuade them through claims and evidence. The process of scientific inquiry deals with an on-going cycle of published reports and challenges to those reports.

The Lab Report: a generic sample

Warning: specific science teachers may have their own lab report specifications; always follow your instructor's guidelines.

I. Introduction

Define the problem or question to be studied.
State the hypothesis you're investigating.
Give your reasons for investigating this particular subject

II. Materials and Methods

In concise, complete sentences, chronologically describe how you performed the experiment. For example, describe what you studied, what instruments you used, and the method of analysis you incorporated.
Try to use past verb tense (present tense is reserved for published data) and passive voice. For instance, say, "The liquid was poured into the beaker," rather than "I poured the liquid into the beaker."

III. Results

Clearly state your findings or the data you accumulated throughout the experiment.

IV. Discussion

Finally, you want to interpret your findings and discuss the ramifications of them. In other words, "what do these findings mean?"