databases have two features to help you find search words as well as topics and sub-topics.
Use the "subject guide search" feature in databases to help you find good search terms. .
Use the "topic finder" to help you find good topics and sub-topics
The NSDL is an open access library of digital content relevant to all aspects of hard and applied sciences.
Writing the Essay
An essay in the sciences requires is more than just generating and presenting data. Analysis of the data is also essential. The main body of the essay should consist of an argument or evaluation based on the data or information presented . You can gather your own data through a variety of methods, or rely on secondary data. You should use graphs, tables, or diagrams to point out the significance of your findings.
You should ensure that the main body of the essay is well structured and has an obvious logical progression. You can use numbered and headed paragraphs to impose a clear structure. Your evaluation should show that you understand the the data they have collected and its significance to the world.
In your analysis, you should also describe and explain the limitations imposed on the research by factors such as
Students should also consider biological limitations such as:
Safety and Ethics in Choosing a Topic
In all cases where human subjects are used as the basis for an investigation, clear evidence of informed consent must be provided in accordance with the IB guidelines.
Some topics may be inadmissible because their means of investigation are unethical. For example, investigations that:
Some topics may be unsuitable because of safety issues. Adequate safety apparatus and qualified supervision is required for experiments involving dangerous substances such as:
Other topics may be unsuitable because the outcome is already well known and documented in standard textbooks.
A review essay for the biological sciences serves to discuss and synthesize key findings on a particular subject. Review papers are helpful to the writer and their colleagues in gaining critical awareness in specialized fields that may or may not be their own.
This guide explains what a review essay is and identifies several approaches to writing a review essay. Although much of the information is geared directly to the biological sciences, it is generally applicable to review essays in all fields.
A review essay is a synthesis of primary sources (mainly research papers presented in academic journals) on a given topic. A biological review essay demonstrates that the writer has thorough understanding of the literature and can formulate a useful analysis. While no new research is presented by the writer, the field benefits from the review by recieving a new perspective. There are several approaches one may take when writing a biological review:
A State of the art review
A state of the art review considers mainly the most current research in a given area. The review may offer new perspectives on an issue or point out an area in need of further research.
A Historical review
A historical review is a survey of the development of a particular field of study. It may examine the early stages of the field, key findings to present, key theoretical models and their evolution, etc.
A Comparison of perspectives review
A comparison of perspectives review contrasts various ways of looking at a certain topic. If in fact there is a debate over some process or idea, a comparison of perspectives review may illustrate the research that supports both sides. A comparison of perspectives review may introduce a new perspective by way of comparing it to another.
A Synthesis of two fields review
Many times researchers in different fields may be working on similar problems. A synthesis of two fields review provides insights into a given topic based on a review of the literature from two or more disciplines.
A Theoretical model building review
A theoretical model building review examines the literature within a given area with the intention of developing new theoretical assumptions.
This guide will inform you of certain things not to miss when writing a review essay. It will also give you some information about using and documenting your sources.
When writing a review essay it is important to keep the scope of the topic narrow enough so that you can discuss it thoroughly. For example a topic such as air quality in factories could be narrowed significantly to something like carbon dioxide levels in auto manufacturing plants .
A good way to narrow your focus is to start with a broad topic that is of some interest to you, then read some of the literature in the field. Look for a thread of the discussion that points to a more specific topic.
A review essay is not a pure summary of the information you read for your review. You are required to analyze, synthesize, and interpret the information you read in some meaningful way.
It is not enough to simply present the material you have found, you must go beyond that and explain its relevance and significance to the topic at hand.
Establish a clear thesis from the onset of your writing and examine which pieces of your reading help you in developing and supporting the ideas in your thesis.
A review essay reviews the academic body of literature—articles and research presented in academic journals. Lay periodicals such as, Discover , Scientific America , or Popular Science , are not adequate sources for an academic review essay.
If you are having trouble finding the academic journals in your field, ask one of your professors or a reference librarian.
The material that you discuss in a review essay is obviously not your own, therefore it is crucial to document your sources properly. Proper documentation is crucial for two reasons: 1. It prevents the writer from being accused of plagiarism and 2. It gives the reader the opportunity to locate the sources the writer has reviewed because they may find them valuable in their own academic pursuits. Proper documentation depends on which style guide you are following.
No one wants to read a paper that is simply a string of quotes; reserve direct quotations for when you want to create a big impact. Often times the way a quote is written will not fit with the language or the style of your paper so paraphrase the authors words carefully and verbage as necessary to create a well formed paragraph.
The title you choose for your review essay should give some indication of what lies ahead for the reader. You might consider the process you took in narrowing your topic to help you with your title—think of the title as something specific rather than a vague representation of your paper's topic. For example the title Wastewater Treatment might be more informative if rewritten as The Removal of Cloroform Bacteria as Practiced by California's Municipal Water Treatment Facilities .
More than likely your audience will be your academic peers, therefore you can make a couple assumptions and choose a writing style that suits the audience. Though your audience may lack the detailed knowledge you have about your topic, they do have similar background knowledge to you. You can assume that you audience understands much of the technical language you have to use to write about your topic and you do not have to go into great detail about background information.
This guide explains each section of a review essay and gives specific information about what should be included in each.
On the title page include the title, your name, and the date. Your instructor may have additional requirements (such as the course number, etc.) so be sure to follow the guidelines on the assignment sheet. Professional journals may also have more specific requirements for the title page.
An abstract is a brief summary of your review. The abstract should include only the main points of your review. Think of the abstract as a chance for the reader to preview your paper and decide if they want to read on for the details.
The introduction of your review should accomplish three things:
The discussion section is the body of your paper. The discussion section contains information that develops and supports your thesis. While there is no particular form that a discussion section must take there are several considerations that a writer must follow when building a discussion.
A review essay is not a pure summary of the information you read for your review. You are required to analyze, synthesize, and interpret the information you read in some meaningful way. It is not enough to simply present the material you have found, you must go beyond that and explain its relevance and significance to the topic at hand. Establish a clear thesis from the onset of your writing and examine which pieces of your reading help you in developing and supporting the ideas in your thesis.
Because the conclusions section often gets left for last it is often the weakest part of a student review essay. It is as crucial a part of the paper as any and should be treated as such.
A good conclusion should illustrate the key connections between your major points and your thesis as well as they key connections between your thesis and the broader discussion—what is the significance of your paper in a larger context? Make some conclusions —where have you arrived as a result of writing this paper?
Be careful not to present any new information in the conclusion section.
Here you report all the works you have cited in your paper. The format for a references page varies by discipline as does how you should cite your references within the paper.
Bastek, Neal. (1999). Review Essays for the Biological Sciences. Writing@CSU . Colorado State University. https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=79
International Baccalaureate (IB)
IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.
If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .
I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:
If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.
The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.
For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.
Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.
The IB Extended Essay must include the following:
Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:
Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.
As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.
According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.
The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.
Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :
Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.
We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!
You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.
It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.
Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:
You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?
Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!
You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)
I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.
But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?
Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.
Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.
One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).
There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.
You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.
If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.
I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!
When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.
Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.
If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...
Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!
If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).
For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.
I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.
Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).
The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.
There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.
Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.
Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.
Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.
Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.
Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.
Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.
The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.
The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.
If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.
You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.
Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.
Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.
Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):
Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)
I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!
The early bird DOES get the worm!
Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .
How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.
Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .
Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.
30-34 | Excellent: A |
25-29 | Good: B |
17-24 | Satisfactory: C |
9-16 | Mediocre: D |
0-8 | Elementary: E |
Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):
A | 10.1% |
B | 24.4% |
C | 40.8% |
D | 22.5% |
E | 1.4% |
N (No Grade Awarded) | 0.7% |
The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.
To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .
This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.
Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .
Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.
Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)
In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.
Trying to figure out what extracurriculars you should do? Learn more about participating in the Science Olympiad , starting a club , doing volunteer work , and joining Student Government .
Studying for the SAT? Check out our expert study guide to the SAT . Taking the SAT in a month or so? Learn how to cram effectively for this important test .
Not sure where you want to go to college? Read our guide to finding your target school . Also, determine your target SAT score or target ACT score .
How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League
How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA
How to Write an Amazing College Essay
What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?
ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?
When should you take the SAT or ACT?
Get Your Free
Find Your Target SAT Score
Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests
Score 800 on SAT Math
Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing
Score 600 on SAT Math
Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing
Find Your Target ACT Score
Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests
Get a 36 on ACT English
Get a 36 on ACT Math
Get a 36 on ACT Reading
Get a 36 on ACT Science
Get a 24 on ACT English
Get a 24 on ACT Math
Get a 24 on ACT Reading
Get a 24 on ACT Science
Stay Informed
Get the latest articles and test prep tips!
As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.
Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!
Biology writing is a promising career path and a skill that individuals with varying levels of expertise can hone. This comprehensive guide aims to equip aspiring and seasoned biology writers with current essential knowledge about the guidelines and techniques necessary to excel in this field. By following the expert tips in this guide, you can refine your writing abilities, develop strong and relevant scientific vocabularies, and produce persuasive and informative pieces that captivate your readers.
Whether you are a seasoned professional or simply an enthusiast looking to expand your skills, this guide will be invaluable in your endeavors to become a successful biology writer.
It is always a dream for every science scholar to have their paper published in reputable journals. Shockingly, more than 60% of published articles were initially rejected. How can you be among the slim 30% of publications accepted at the first submission? The first thing a biologist must do is understand scientific writing conventions. How do you format your biology paper? What are the various types of writing in biology? What are the common mistakes to avoid in biology research writing? This free, short guide to writing about biology will answer all these questions to boost your academic and scientific writing in biological sciences.
Scientific writing involves technical writing to communicate scientific concepts to other scientists in written form, such as a presentation, book, essay, or a document. A scientific writer broadly writes about physical and life sciences like biology, chemistry, and physics. Excellent biology and scientific writing skills promote professional success across various aspects of life. This form of writing comprises extensive research and the use of exact words to communicate summarized findings, peer reviews, or grant requests for future projects. Other reasons for scientific writing include seeking professional school admission and employment opportunities like biology writing jobs
According to Statista.com , the United States recorded over 49.4 thousand writers and authors in 2021 alone. Studies have shown that professional biologists spend more than 50% of their time writing. Scientists require an expert approach when writing their manuscripts; students do the same when writing their academic assignments.
Everyone has the potential to be the next J.K. Rowling or James Patterson, the two biggest personalities who have made their fortunes from writing. Anyone can become a good biology writer and reach their goals if they work hard and stay focused.
A good biologist should be able to analyze information critically, make decisions based on evidence, use proper citations, pay attention to details, and organize their writing. Biology and general scientific writing are important aspects of a scientist’s job because they help them learn more about science beyond what they learn in school.
Even in the biological sciences, you can find interesting things to write about. In reality, the reverse is true of good writing. Skilled scientific writers can make their work more interesting because they know how to convey their message to their audience. Whether presenting results from basic or applied research, the author must work hard to capture the audience’s attention and demonstrate why they should care about what they have to say. The quality of the published work is directly proportional to the writing competency levels of the writers. In other words, people will assume that a writer’s expertise is substandard if they generate awful writing.
Researchers in the biological sciences usually write for other scientists in their field or for a more general scientific audience. Scientific writing can be anything from an abstract to a lab report to a long manuscript that explains the results of a study. People are becoming more aware of how important it is to share scientific findings with the general public. Because of this, biologists communicate their findings to people outside of the scientific community more and more. As opposed to “scientific writing,” this is what we call “writing about science.”
Journal authors usually don’t receive payment for their published works. However, some journal authors pay journal authors depending on their pre-agreement arrangements. Authors may sometimes receive payment for their articles through an honorarium or royalty payment . Journal authors benefit from the increased visibility and recognition of publishing in a reputable journal and the opportunity to share their research with a wider audience.
Biology takes many forms, from scientific and academic writing to professional writing like journals and magazines. To be good at professional biology research writing, you must know the different kinds of writing used in the biological sciences. This section explores the major types of biology writing and offers tips for mastering each. This section encompasses all aspects of scientific writing papers in the biological sciences, including microbiology research, molecular biology writing, biotechnology writing, and cell biology authoring.
Biology research proposals are subject to peer-review and consist of a brief justification for the study, a problem statement, proposed study procedures, research questions or hypotheses, expected outcomes, and potential implications. The National Science Foundation (NSF) acknowledges that certain research proposals may have wider implications than others depending on the researcher’s approach.
Teaching students or assisting in resolving a societal problem based on scientific study findings is one example of a broader impact. Undergraduates in biology can find several minor grant opportunities. Learning to write grants is an excellent way for students to practice justifying their research.
A laboratory notebook is a record-keeping tool used in scientific research to document experimental procedures, observations, data, and other relevant information. It is a legal document and a scientific record of the research done in the lab. Notable settings that require the use of lab notebooks include providing evidence in patent applications, legal disputes, and academic publications. Writing a laboratory notebook provides technical references and resources for other scientists using the laboratory.
Lab notebooks offer a genuine, reliable record of the research conducted by a single researcher. A scientist’s laboratory notebook is an authentic record of their research efforts. Its contents will naturally vary from one researcher to the next. Yet, when a scientist leaves a laboratory, they leave behind the notebook because it belongs to the laboratory. The writer(s) of the laboratory notebook should include legible, trustworthy, and detailed information.
Laboratory notebooks are typically tamper-proof and include numbered pages, dates, pre-printed grids, and spaces for signatures and witness statements. In addition to research data, laboratory notebooks may also have notes about instrumentation, reagents, fixing problems, and other important details that could affect the validity and replicability of the research.
A laboratory report is a formal document that presents the results and analysis of a scientific experiment or investigation conducted in a laboratory setting. Writing a biology lab report includes a title, an abstract, a one-sentence summary of the experiment’s objectives, an introduction, sections on materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusions, references, and, if needed, appendices.
Biology lab reports also include tables, graphs, and other visual aids to make the information clear and understandable. Scientific lab reports communicate the experimental procedures, results, and conclusions to the scientific community in a standardized format, allowing others to verify and build upon the findings. Scientists, researchers, or students in many areas of biology, such as molecular biology, biotechnology, developmental biology, microbiology, and cell biology, can write lab reports.
A biology research manuscript is a primary literature describing scientific experimental results. They can be full-length reports or short notes. Full-length reports communicate long experiments more completely, whereas short notes highlight notable results. Besides the standard sections of a biology paper, research manuscripts also have acknowledgments of technical and financial aid and a bibliography.
Review papers are a type of secondary literature that provides a detailed and thorough overview of all the published research on a certain topic in biology. They are valuable resources for scientists who are new to a field. The authors of the review collect and analyze the primary literature. They then present their findings in a way that is clear, well-structured, and backed up by proper references.
A critique of primary literature involves evaluating the content and quality of a publication. To do a thorough review, the writer must first put the paper in its proper context, figure out its main point, and analyze its methods and results in detail. In general, authors of critiques must assess the manuscript’s readability and adherence to established guidelines per the Short Guide to Writing About Biology, 9th Edition. Critiques of primary literature usually discuss the pros and cons of the experiment’s setup and the scientific style used.
An abstract summarizes a research paper or poster, highlighting each section’s most important parts. Abstracts usually have a short introduction, the main goals, the method, the most important results, and a short explanation of the data. In many fields, it is also appropriate to include a sentence or two on the implications of the research. In practical circumstances, you must compose an abstract when applying to present your research paper at scientific conferences.
A poster in scientific writing presents a visual display of research findings. It combines text, graphics, and images to concisely and clearly summarize the data collected. Posters are a popular form of scientific communication at conferences. Posters capture the audience’s attention and effectively convey the key points of the research. Biology posters should scientific and full of useful information that helps the audience understand the biology research as a type of paper in the biological sciences.
Writing about science requires the same set of skills as scientific writing. However, it employs a more accessible language and style to increase reader engagement. You can write about science in blog posts, persuasive essays, tweets, discussion forums, or informative pieces that translate scientific journal articles. Although writing improvement approaches apply to scientific writing and writing about science, certain conventions, such as using SI units, citing primary literature, and using scientific names, appear more often in scientific writing.
When writing in biology, evidence is crucial to support arguments and conclusions. Sources of evidence in biology writing include primary literature, secondary and mainstream sources, and data. Understanding how professional biologists write can help you see how the same practices apply to your writing for biology papers.
The writing style for scientific articles incorporates peer-reviewed literature to support the study’s justification in the introduction, describes the methodology used in the methods section, and places the work within a broader context or comparison in the discussion section.
Even though writers of biology papers may also use mainstream sources, these sources do not replace peer-reviewed literature. Peer-reviewed literature is available in two forms: primary and secondary. The data in the results section provides evidence to support any speculations mentioned in the discussion section. You can think of the evidence used in biology writing as falling into four categories: primary sources, secondary sources, mainstream sources, and data.
Primary sources, usually scholarly articles, are the first written record of a study and include the original data and ideas. These papers undergo peer review by the scientific community before publication, although the review quality may vary. A standard primary literature paper has an abstract, an introduction, methods, results, and a discussion. The abstract serves as a stand-alone summary of the entire study. Still, it’s important to read the primary source, not just the abstract, because it might not tell the whole story.
Secondary sources, also called review papers, are pieces of writing that collect and combine information from primary sources. These sources may reorganize or change data, look for links between different publications, or do metadata analyses on data from other sources. These analyses aim to identify patterns in data produced by other researchers. Some secondary sources, especially those in book chapters, may undergo peer review. However, secondary sources have less original information or ideas than primary sources.
Newspapers, encyclopedias, and textbooks are examples of mainstream sources that don’t go through peer review and give general or background information about science instead of reporting on new discoveries. Writing about science often relies on review summaries, science translation websites, and other sources to support a story. Institutional or government websites can be a good source of information for biologists. Still, before using them as sources, one should check these sources for accuracy, authority, currency, objectivity, and coverage. For instance, Wikipedia cannot be a reliable source. Laboratory reports may refer to textbooks or lab manuals.
In research papers, scientific writers present information in different ways, such as tables, graphs, photos of gels, or diagrams. Biology writers can change these presentations to make them clearer. Still, they must be careful not to change the truth of the data or misrepresent the interpretation of these results. Regardless of the form, proper labeling and descriptions must provide context. Each presentation of data should be self-sufficient and understandable outside of the paper.
Instead of giving raw data, authors of numerical analysis should give means along with a measure of variation, usually one standard deviation (SD) or standard error (SE). After performing statistical significance tests, scientific research writers should report the P value and the right test statistic (such as F for ANOVA, R for correlation analyses, and R2 for regression). In agarose or polyacrylamide gel images, the bands must be clear and, if necessary, labeled with their molecular weight.
Are there set standards for writing in the biological sciences? No, biology as a subject comprises many fields that can overlap or develop their own writing standards. As scientific research becomes increasingly multidisciplinary, new forms of biology writing are emerging. In biology, no central body or system regulates writing style like in other fields (such as psychology or history).
Like those in journals, biology papers often use unique formatting for citations and bibliographies. For instance, a biochemistry journal would have a different formatting style from a molecular biology paper. But all biological science papers must use ideas from peer-reviewed or scholarly articles and sources that are up-to-date, clear, and correct. Also, the standard format for peer-reviewed publications is constant all of biology’s main fields.
How can one avoid manuscript rejections? Follow the guidelines under this section.
There are rules about biological articles’ structure, presentation, and coherence (i.e., figures, citations, notations, tense, voice, etc.). Biologists don’t earn revenue when they publish in the usual venues for disseminating their research findings, such as peer-reviewed journals. In fact, many journals have page charges for articles. Hence, every word counts! A biologist needs to understand how to summarize their findings in as few words as possible while still getting the point across.
When sending a paper to a journal, authors must read the journal’s “ Guide to Authors ” and follow its instructions to increase the chances of the peer-reviewers accepting the papers. The manuscript authors still have a chance to resubmit their papers elsewhere after making all the necessary corrections per the laid-down publication standards. All the papers you’ll write for your biology disciplines will follow the same format as those published in scholarly journals.
Biology is a complex and varied field that overlaps with many other areas of study, such as chemistry, physics, math, and even the social sciences. Biology is the study of life at many different levels, from the molecular (like DNA and RNA sequences) to the micro (like how cells work) to the macro (like human ecology). The intersection of these diverse fields has resulted in groundbreaking discoveries like translational medicine, molecular neuroscience, and molecular ecology.
So, writing in biology is inherently interdisciplinary , and authors must be able to explain complicated ideas to people with different backgrounds and levels of knowledge. No matter their field, authors of articles for biology magazines and manuscripts must follow the publication’s rules. Whether you’re a scientist, a student, or a science writer, it’s important to understand how writing in the biological sciences relates to other fields.
Even though there are no hard-and-fast rules for writing in biology, scientific papers usually follow a set of conventions that you should use in your papers. The following are some of the conventions of writing in the biological sciences.
Most scientific papers are written in the English language. Still, it’s important to remember that English is only a few scientists’ first languages. So, writers must use proper English without colloquialisms, jargon, slang from a certain region, or cultural references. Most of the time, biologists write about their audience in the third person to keep a formal and professional tone.
The style and level of creativity in titles of scientific manuscripts and posters differ across sub-disciplines in biology. Ecologists use clever metaphors to explain science, while people who write about cell and molecular biology usually use standard technical language. Ecologists like to write in the active voice, while cell biologists only write in the passive voice. Molecular biologists also use passive voice but use active voice sparingly for emphasis.
These conventions can be explained by ecologists studying organisms that exhibit action. At the same time, inanimate objects are more common in cell and molecular biology (e.g., “the spider moved” vs. “sodium hydroxide was added; the gel bands were illuminated”).
Biology writers are not free to quote, as they also need to follow the conventions of academic and professional writing. Quoting should be used sparingly, and most of the text (99.9%) should be paraphrased in the writer’s own words. When quoting, it’s important to use the right format and citation, such as quotation marks and a citation that shows the source of the quote. Direct quotes should be used when the wording is noteworthy, or the author’s original phrasing is essential.
No one citation style applies to all areas of writing in biology. It is necessary to follow the specific guidelines the publisher, professor, or client provides. Most institutions provide their respective guidelines in the student handbook for writing in biology. On the other hand, every publisher has rules that authors of biology papers must follow when sending their manuscripts. If none are given, commonly used styles include CSE , APA , AMA , Vancouver , or Harvard .
Council of Science Editors (CSE) is biologists’ most preferred formatting and citation style. Still, it is not the only recommended style.
When citing peer-reviewed primary literature, biologists usually include the author, year, title, journal, volume (issue), and page numbers. Parenthetical notation often refers to sources, figures, or statistical support within the text. Sources are typically cited in a “Name and Year” format, sometimes with a comma depending on the journal or style.
Statistical tests, programs, and instrumental parameters can also be included in parentheses. It is recommended to consult examples from the target journal, school, or client. Footnotes are rarely used in scientific papers, but some publications may use a numbered reference superscript to refer to the list of references.
i. Concentrate on clear and relevant objectives
Good papers should make huge contribution to the specific area of study. This can be demonstrated by explaining to your reviewers and audiences the specific objectives you want to achieve.
ii. Select the right journal and adhere to its rules
Not all journals will fit your research paper. Take your time to go through various journals, read their requirements and focus on formatting your paper to meet the its guidelines.
iii. Discuss your results
Most manuscripts get rejected because of focusing only on presenting findings instead of critically explaining these research findings. You must discuss and interpret your findings to convince readers, editors, and review bench.
iv. Craft a clear and compelling abstract
An abstract is the first section your audience will see. Again, you will present your research abstract to the publisher before sending the whole manuscript for consideration. Ideally, and abstract is your selling section of the paper. Therefore, it should be written concisely and precisely to encourage reviewers and readers.
v. Your manuscript should be original and non-plagiarized
This doesn’t mean that every part of your research should be new. Instead, you should present the main aspect of your biology paper with prove of originality. Where applicable, provide references for other peoples’ concepts or your previous work. Ethical writing in biology disregards recycling and rewrapping of other people’s work or your past projects. Submitting a manuscript with new research increases its chances of being accepted.
vi. Most importantly, proofread your work before submission
After writing your biology paper, you should edit and proofread all parts of the paper. Validate arguments and revising where necessary. You can hire a biology editor and proofreader freelancer from platforms such as premierlance.com . This way, you can reduce the chances of your paper being rejected as early as the manuscript submission stage.
When a reputable scientific journal accepts a manuscript for publication, it is called a “publication.” This process typically involves a rigorous peer-review process in which experts evaluate the manuscript in the field and provide feedback on the quality and validity of the research. Can I submit a rejected paper to another journal? Before a manuscript is accepted for publication, the author may have to make changes and resubmit it more than once.
Once the manuscript has been accepted, it will be proofread and set up for print or online publication. The final published version of the manuscript will typically include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and be indexed in databases such as PubMed , Google Scholar , and Embase , allowing other researchers to discover and cite the work.
Some papers can also be published before they are fully reviewed and accepted by the journal publisher. These are referred to as preprints.
Writing latin names in biology papers.
In biology writing, pay attention to formatting when using Latin. For ecology, you should always put an organism’s genus and species in italics or underlines and capitalize the genus but not the species. In molecular biology, the rules for formatting genes and the things they make are different and must be used consistently throughout the text. You can find specific formatting information for different species on dedicated websites like genenames.org for humans, flybase.org for flies, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information for bacteria .
Use correct spelling and formatting of characters when writing chemical formulae; for example, MgCl 2 should have the subscript.
A biology writer should use the active voice and past tense. The active voice shows that the action is done by the subject of the sentence, while the past tense shows that the action happened in the past. It is also important to pay attention to the person (preferably 1st or 3rd, not 2nd) and subject/verb agreement, considering both the number and tense.
In biology writing, it is required to use metric or SI units of measure. In case of conversion, you can use online tools such as goconvert.com.
Although the above guidelines emphasize writing in biology, this article is an all-inclusive guideline for scientific writing. You learn the fundamentals of scientific research writing in life and physical sciences like physics, biology, and chemistry. Writing a biology paper can be hard, but using the tools and ideas in this guide can make an informative and interesting paper.
From learning the basic structure and details of writing different types of biology papers to understanding how to cite and format them, this complete guide has made it easier to understand all the tricks and tips you can use to do well in writing biology papers. Also, you can determine what you expect from your biology writer for every specific type of scientific writing.
Whether you are a freelance writer, a researcher, or a student, these guidelines for scientific writing will help you create content that engages your target audience and correctly adds new, reliable information to the scientific field. So, use these tips and tricks immediately to turn your ideas into good scientific papers.
If you are looking for a professional writer in biology and healthcare or need editing and proofreading of your manuscripts and other articles, don’t hesitate to contact me here .
You can also submit a query for a free biology and scientific writing consultation.
Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to share it with your friends and comment below.
Writing essays about biology can be difficult because it’s composed of many subtopics. Check out this article for our top essay examples and writing prompts.
Biology came from the Greek words “bios” (life) and “logos” (study). It’s why biology is the study of life or living organisms. Aside from being a natural science, it also has consolidated themes, such as cells making all organisms. Because it’s a broad topic, biology is divided into specialized fields such as botany, genetics, zoology, microbiology, medicine, and ecology.
Biologists consider living beings’ origin, evolution, growth, function, structure, and distribution. It’s a comprehensive subject, so there are many things you can write about in your essay. However, at the same time, you might find it challenging to focus on just one area.
Below are examples to give you an idea of how to write your essays about biology:
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
---|---|---|
Grammarly | ||
ProWritingAid |
2. my interests in biology by anonymous on essaywriting.expert, 3. essay on the importance of study of biology by akhila mol, 4. what biology means to me by anonymous on studymode.com, 5. how my biology teacher changed my perspective of learning the subject by sankalan bhattacharya, 1. biology in my everyday life, 2. something i realized because of biology, 3. my memorable biology class experience, 4. genetics’ role in people’s diseases, 5. my experience during the pandemic, 6. biology and health.
“Studying Biology is important for a number of reasons, but in particular because it is used in every field. If we did not have a good understanding of Biology then nobody would be able to understand how bodies work, and how life on earth functions.”
Wilkins shares her desire to study anatomy, a branch of biology, and expounds on what makes biology an essential field. Because biology lets people know more about the world, she digs into why she’s interested in anatomy, specifically to find ways to cure illnesses and develop technologies to discover new treatments. She ends her essay by relating biology to the existence of doctors and hospitals.
“It is known that education plays an important role in the life of any individual. It gives an opportunity to develop personality and gain specific skills, to get profound knowledge and experience in order to apply them practically in the future. As for me, my major goal is to study Biology in order to get appropriate knowledge and skills required for my future profession.”
The author shares why they want to study biology, referring to the human body as the “perfect machine” and curious about how it performs each of its systems’ functions. The writer also mentions how biology is critical to their future profession. They aim to help people with their health problems and relay their desire to research the brain to find more data on it.
“The study of biology owes great significance in human life, because man for its day-to-day requirements is dependent on plants and animals either directly or indirectly.”
Mol lists seven reasons why humans need biology in their daily lives. Her list includes health, diseases, agriculture, horticulture, food, animal breeding, and entertainment. She expounds on each point and how they affect a man during his time on Earth. She explains each relationship in a simple manner that’s easy to understand for the readers.
“Without biology, we would have no idea about an organism’s makeup, or the most basic unit of life, a cell… Biology influences me in many ways. Biology influences me by teaching me why to take care of the environment, why I am to take care of my body, and by giving me a better overall view of all scientific areas of study.”
In this short essay, the writer lists down reasons why biology is essential. These reasons include taking care of the environment, one’s body, and others. The author also expounds on their reasons by presenting facts supporting biology’s importance to the world and human lives.
“He told that the syllabus may be a good way to prepare for an exam but our knowledge should not be limited to any syllabus and the questions that were asked in the examination were related to the topic only. He told that if we try to know things in detail and understand them properly then the interest in the subject will develop, otherwise, students will not treat the subject as a subject of their choice.
Bhattacharya shares his experience with a teacher with a unique teaching style. His Biology teacher from Class 7, before the era of the internet, don’t just carry one book to get all his lessons from. Instead, he has a notebook with the collated information from many books to teach his class.
Bhattacharya’s teacher taught them things that were not in the curriculum, even if following the curriculum would give him higher points in his evaluation. He only wanted his students to learn more and share with them why learning differs from just knowing.
Do you want to be sure you have an excellent essay? See our round-up of the best essay writing apps to help you check your output.
You don’t have to be a biology student to write an essay about the subject. If you’re looking for easy prompts to write about, here are some to get you started:
If mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, who is the powerhouse of your classroom? Your home? Relate a biology topic to a similar structure in your life, then explain why you think they are the same.
For instance, you can compare your mother to mitochondria which generate the energy needed to power a cell. The cell being you. You can say that she gives you energy every day by being there and supporting you in whatever way she can. This prompt bodes for a creative and intriguing essay.
Relay a lesson you learned from biology and how it perfectly explained something you were once hesitant about. Such as being insecure about your big ears – only to know from a biology trivia that ears never stop growing. You can then share how this help lessen your insecurity because you now know large ears are normal.
Do you have a memory you won’t forget that happened during biology class? Narrate this story and explain why it’s something that left an impression on you. To give you an idea, you can talk about the first time you dissected an animal, where you first realized how complex organisms are and that they are made of many systems to function, no matter how small.
Gene action and heredity are evolving. If you have a genetic illness or know someone who has it, you can share your experience. Then explain what your genes have to do with the disease. Is it something you got from your parents? Did they inherit it from your grandparents? Finally, you can add what your parents’ and grandparents’ lives were like because of the disease.
Virology, another branch of biology, studies viruses and viral diseases. A recent example is the coronavirus pandemic, where more people realized the importance of knowing a virus’ origin, structure, and how they work. Write an essay where you explain how the pandemic operates, such as why people should wear masks, social distance, etc.
For this essay, you can write about how biology helps you care for your health. For example, you can include how biology helped doctors give you the appropriate diagnosis, how you had the opportunity to have the proper treatment, etc.
If you want to write on a related topic, here are essay topics about nature you can consider for your next essay.
Username or Email Address
Remember Me
At once sophisticated and practical, Writing in Biology advises students on composing research articles, literature reviews, oral presentations, and other key biology genres.
For sale via Oxford University Press :
At once sophisticated and practical, Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide advises students on composing research articles, literature reviews, oral presentations, and other key biology genres. The book gives careful attention to both the governing priciples of audience, purpose, and argument, and the ground rules for style, visual design, and sourcing. Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide is a part of a series of brief, discipline-specific writing guides from Oxford University Press designed for today’s writing-intensive college courses. The series is edited by Thomas Deans (University of Connecticut) and Mya Poe (Northeastern University).
Leslie Ann Roldan, Ph.D., is a Lecturer II in MIT's Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication (WRAP) program, and co-author of Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide (Oxford University Press, 2016). She holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Biology from MIT, where she trained with Tania Baker. Since 2005, she has been teaching communication-intensive courses in the MIT Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Brain & Cognitive Sciences. Her current scholarly research focuses on developing pedagogical tools to help students write literature reviews and understand the logic of their disciplines. Her nonacademic interests include cooking, learning jazz, and enjoying the outdoors.
Related articles, convergence culture: where old and new media collide.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Select a Research Question. Writing a biology essay, you should use a scientific approach. Come up with a research question you want to answer in your paper. Of course, you shouldn't choose something too complicated that it is impossible to work through in terms of one piece. It shouldn't be too obvious as well.
Provide a description of the experimental design, including controls, variables, and procedures. Add the list of materials and equipment used. Explain how data was collected and recorded. This part of the essay will be solid proof of your no-plagiarism work. Results - think of the way you are going to display the results of your research and ...
Create an Outline. Always have a clear plan when writing biology essays while starting a paper. Use a 5-paragraph structure with an outline to keep your main idea and arguments organized. Use any format that works best for you and adjust as needed. Discard any ideas that don't fit your research question.
One requirement of the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme core, the extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper. According to the IB, "t he extended essay provides: practical preparation for undergraduate research. an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of ...
Avoid jargon for the title to look professional. The title should also give the reader a quick understanding of the topic. 2. The content page. This page is located at the beginning of biology papers after the abstract and the title pages. The page shows the numbers as well as the subsections of the essay on biology. 3.
Publishing in Biology: Follow the Directions. In terms of writing style, papers in biology must meet agreed upon standards for organization, clarity, coherency and consistency in form (i.e., voice, tense, notation, citation, figures, etc.). In traditional outlets for sharing results (peer-reviewed journals), biologists do not get paid for ...
This essay will discuss the role of genetic inheritance in the development of several human diseases, namely: Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, as well as the ethical implications surrounding genetic testing and treatment. Use specific examples to support your arguments. In A Level Biology essays, it is ...
KCSE BIOLOGY BIOLOGY ESSAY QUESTIONS WITH MARK SCHEMES 1. Explain the various ways in which a typical cell is adapted to its functions Has a cell membrane; with pores; that regulates substances entering and leaving the cell; cytoplasm; contain sugars and salts; for maintaining its osmotic pressure; also has a liquid
Biology in IB Extended Essay is the examination of living organisms and their life processes. The assignment integrates biological theories and examines the nature of the subject. While you can approach a Biology EE from varying viewpoints, the treatment of the material used in your investigation must be 100% biological.
Choosing a Topic. Biology is the science that deals with living organisms and life processes. A biology EE should incorporate biological theory and emphasize why it is relevant today. The topic must relates specifically to biology. Many topics can be approached from different viewpoints, but for an EE in biology the treatment of the topic must ...
copy of the following book to guide you in the techniques of writing about biology: Pechenik JA (2007) 'A short guide to writing about biology.' 6. th edn. (Longman: New York) Hargrave-Andrew Library Call No: 808.06657 P365S . There are numerous other books on the subject (in the Hargrave-Andrew Library) that you illw also find helpful.
A review essay for the biological sciences serves to discuss and synthesize key findings on a particular subject. Review papers are helpful to the writer and their colleagues in gaining critical awareness in specialized fields that may or may not be their own. This guide explains what a review essay is and identifies several approaches to ...
Body of the essay. Conclusion. References and bibliography. Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories, or IB subject groups, which are as follows: Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature. Group 2: Language Acquisition. Group 3: Individuals and Societies. Group 4: Sciences.
Do not reiterate the question. In the conclusion, stick to the ideas discussed in the body. Avoid writing in the first person, unless instructed otherwise. Conclude with a wrap-up statement that summarises your arguments supporting your thesis. Discuss one idea comprehensively in one paragraph. Stay on topic.
Biology is detailed and comprehensive A-level content, uses appropriate terminology, and is very well written and always clearly explained. No significant errors or irrelevant material. For top marks in the band, the answer shows evidence of reading beyond specification requirements. 16-20. Relational.
This section explores the major types of biology writing and offers tips for mastering each. This section encompasses all aspects of scientific writing papers in the biological sciences, including microbiology research, molecular biology writing, biotechnology writing, and cell biology authoring. 1. Biology Research Proposals.
1. Essay About Biology by Kelli Wilkins. "Studying Biology is important for a number of reasons, but in particular because it is used in every field. If we did not have a good understanding of Biology then nobody would be able to understand how bodies work, and how life on earth functions.". Wilkins shares her desire to study anatomy, a ...
Evidence for all section 1 criteria need to be demonstrated in this way throughout the essay. Section 2: The suggested structure is based on the extended essay guides and the examination reports from 2009. Stages such as the Investigation (C) will probably require further sub division to guide the examiner through the stages of your essay.
The importance of shapes fitting together in cells and organisms. 1) Enzyme properties and digestion. 2) Protein structure. 3) Plasma membrane structure and cell transport. 4) Antigens, antibodies, B cells & T cells. 5) Vaccines. 6) Structure of DNA. 7) DNA Replication (not PCR) 8) Transcription & translation.
Written by. Leslie Ann Roldan, Ph.D., is a Lecturer II in MIT's Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication (WRAP) program, and co-author of Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide (Oxford University Press, 2016). She holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Biology from MIT, where she trained with Tania Baker.
A-level Biology essay Training guide for teachers Throughout the development of our new A-level Biology specification, we spoke to teachers and university experts. We were told that extended writing was an important skill that students should be developing. The 25 mark essay has been an element of AQA A-levels for many years, going back several
Focusing on the essay performance on the 7402 biology specification only, we can see how the 2017-2019 essays have performed in isolation in Figure 2. The 7402 essay has shown performance that skews slightly to the higher end of the mark scale, which is understandable given the mean mark sits just above 50%.
An extended essay in biology provides you the student with an opportunity to apply a range of skills while researching a topic of personal interest in the field of biology. The nature of an extended essay in biology is characterized by a particular biological emphasis within the more general context of a scientific investigation. Choice of topic.