APPENDIX C

Writing Successful Scientific Essays

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A. Introduction
Writing reports and essays is an important part of
any science. No matter how brilliant your
observations, unless you can present them so as to
share them and convince others of their validity, the
work is not useful. In almost any career you will
need to write reports, present data to others, explain
ideas in different contexts. You must also have the
ability to assess what others have written critically,
and to access and synthesise information relevant to
your area of interest. Essay writing offers an
opportunity to practise these skills and get feedback.
B. Criteria for judging essays
In general, the following aspects of an essay are
considered important:
(1) Scientific content - accuracy, conceptual
framework, relevance of material to topic,
comprehensiveness and coherence;
(2) Effectiveness of the communication conciseness of expression, use of original (i.e. your
own) illustrations or diagrams where appropriate,
grammar, spelling and punctuation; neatness and
impact of presentation;
(3) Organization - logical order, paragraphing, use
of headings or sub-headings if appropriate;
(4) Referencing - distinction between a reference list
and a bibliography; relevance of references; accuracy
of use and listing; appropriate number.

C. Writing the essay

(1) Scientific content
Many essay topics are "open-ended"; that is, there
is no single "correct" approach. You may have to
decide whether to attempt a rather broad
overview of the topic or to select a smaller
number of points or issues for lengthy treatment (or
some of both). For each essay, it is helpful to explain
in an early paragraph what approach is to be taken;
you should explain the conceptual framework in
which your ideas are embedded, so that their
relevance is made clear. It also contributes to clarity
if major paragraphs are introduced by a topic
sentence, since this aids the coherence of your
ideas and enables a quick survey of their
comprehensiveness.
(2) Effectiveness of communication
When you are ready to write, make sure that you
write clearly, preferably using at first short
sentences; it is easy later to improve the expression
and join sentences together. Do not feel that you
must use long words or cumbersome expressions;
for your reader, clarity is all-important. Avoid
indirect expression if you can: it is shorter and
simpler to say "Smith (1993) observed that..." rather
than "In a series of experiments, it was observed
that ... (Smith, 1993).
You may, in some cases, find it useful to summarise
ideas in diagrams, concept maps or tables, both to
improve the communication of the ideas and to
clarify your own thoughts. It is best wherever
possible to develop and draw your own simple

diagrams to illustrate particular points; however,

there is no point in repeating in words exactly the
same information as is presented in a concept map.
Be selective with diagrams and use only those that
provide an excellent summary, draw attention to an
idea or a result, or illustrate one aspect of an
argument. In general, you may use an illustration
from published work if you redraw it yourself and
indicate the source. It is not particularly useful
simply to copy an existing figure or graph; do so only
if you want to change it in some way to highlight a
particular point. Any modifications from an original
must be indicated in the legend (e.g. ... adapted from
Smith [1990]).
(3) Organization
The organization of your essay is very important
there should be an introduction, which clearly
defines the scope of the essay. It is usually best if
the main body of the essay is divided into sections,
each with its own heading or sub-heading; this
makes the essay much easier to read and also will
help you to organise the essay into a logical
structure. It is also very important to have a
conclusion that summarises the main points that
you wish to emphasise.
Paragraphing is important to aid clarity and "flow";
it is often poorly done. As a general rule, a
paragraph should contain one idea and is usually
longer than one or two sentences, although
occasional short paragraphs may be used for
emphasis (as we do in this guide). Long paragraphs
often lose the reader quite quickly; again as a rough
guide there are usually several paragraphs on a
page. It is acceptable to list if that seems an

appropriate way to deal with a flow of related ideas

(as we have done here), but an essay that comprises
only short paragraphs and/or lists seldom
communicates coherent ideas and it reads very
disjointedly.
Pay attention to any specific requirements,
especially length, or particular instructions about
the use of diagrams and, of course, the due date.
There is no need to fill an essay with words up to the
limit allowed; if you can express yourself
succinctly that is a virtue. The method of counting
the number of words is somewhat arbitrary,
especially as computers do not think about content
but simply add up everything, including the "ofs"
and "ands". Obviously if there is a great
discrepancy between the number of words set as a
limit and your essay, you may be misinterpreting the
requirements; check them and speak to the lecturer
concerned if you are still in doubt.
Neatness and impact of your presentation are
expanded below.
(4) Referencing
One of the important aspects of scientific and
scholarly writing is the appropriate
acknowledgment of your sources of information.
For essays in second year it may be sufficient
simply to list the textbooks you have used in a
bibliography. There is no need, however, to cite a
reference for well-attested material or for every new
word or idea used, but it is to some extent a matter
of judgement; you will learn by experience.
Note that there is a difference between a

bibliography and a reference list. A bibliography is

a list of articles (e.g. textbook chapters) that you
have used as general source material for your essay.
Such articles do not need to be cited in the text of
your essay each time you want to make a point. On
the other hand, a reference list is provided when
specific points in the text refer to a particular article,
which contains specific results, observations or
conclusions that you wish to discuss. In this case,
each article is cited in the text (e.g. "Elliott (1904)
was the first to show that smooth muscle contracts
when adrenaline is applied to it"). Your essay, then,
should include a bibliography and/or (if appropriate)
a reference list. Remember that the information
must be sufficient to enable your reader to locate
and check the source. Hence you must include
journal volumes and page numbers, book publishers
and editions.
The order of the information and the style of
presentation vary in different journals and books;
you should choose one style and be consistent.
For examples, see the reference lists at the end of
papers, reviews or the chapters of some textbooks.

* When you submit your essay, you will be required

to complete a cover sheet attesting that the work is
your own. Refer to your course guide for further
information on plagiarism.

D. Handing your essay in

If you do not have easy access to a computer, a
typed essay is undoubtedly easier to read than a

handwritten one, but it is time-consuming to

produce and difficult to change as you write and
review it. Note that there is access for students to
computers for essay writing on campus. If you
intend to hand-write the essay, make sure that it
is legible and clear.
Before handing it in, proofread it carefully for
spelling or grammatical errors (or use a spell
checker carefully), or ask someone else to help you
to do so, particularly if English is not your first
language. Such help must not include extensive
rewriting or major editorial revision. It is
appropriate to acknowledge assistance if it is given;
it does not detract from you own efforts but suggests
that you are prepared to take a little extra care.
Make corrections neatly (preferably using whiteout).
While occasional errors in spelling, grammar or
punctuation can be excused, a barely literate
attempt cannot.
Present it neatly. Remember that if you don't show
that you care about what you have produced, the
marker will probably also not care to reward you! On
the other hand, your time is usually too precious to
waste on excessive decoration or unnecessary
additions.
Make sure that it is clearly labeled with your name
and that the title is included. Essays should be
presented in a folder or plastic sleeve for
protection, but NOT one separate sleeve for each
page; markers may want to provide comments for
feedback in the body of the text. You must include
the declaration that the work is your own.
** Remember the 3 bottom line requirements: due
date, length, own work.

E. Assessment and feedback

Essays will be awarded grades as follows: 50% for
scientific content
20%
for communication
20%
for organization
10%
for referencing
Total: 10%
of semester mark
* Essays handed in late without prior adequate
excuse will not be marked and a zero will be
recorded.
Essays that exceed the word limit or are illegible will
be returned for revision.
Particularly for the first essay that you write, an
attempt judged to be sincere but inadequate may be
returned (with comments) to offer you the
opportunity of raising a failure to a pass.

Common Essay Errors

There are a number of common errors which

students make in writing essays in Physiology,
which lose them marks unnecessarily. These can be
addressed by asking the question: what is it that
distinguishes a good essay from a not so good one?

Following are some of the major differences; the

points about interpretation and organization can
also be applied to answering exam questions.

Characteristic
Reference Material

Example:

Interpretation of topic
Example:

Organization
Example:

Plus
Recent i.e. from last 5
yrs
esp. if journal article
Varied i.e. mix of types
Extensive
Accurate
Clear distinction
between
References &
Bibliography
Care re year of
reference
Accurate
Comprehensive
Complies with
directions
"Define and discuss"
"Use single diagram"

Minus
Old, esp. befor
Exception: old
Similar/same
Limited numb
Misspelt, inco
list
Not cited in te
appropriate
No reference f
diagrams

Off the mark

Addresses onl
Ignores directi
Dont define,
discuss
Use 2 uninteg
ones
Logical flow of material Repetitive,
Major headings
disorganized
Appropriate
No subdivision
paragraphs
apparent
Clear introduction,
Uneven divisio
body and conclusion
New relevant m
1 topic per paragraph
introduced in
conclusion
Topics scatter
through

Communication
Example:

Comprehensible English vocabulary,

grammar, punctuation
reasonable
Easy to read without
errors distracting

Meaning not c
to
poor English
vocabulary, gr
& punctuation
Use of incorre
not agreeing w
subject