Writing in Environmental ScienceJenny A. and Tom S., Writing Center tutors Please keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor's specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you. IntroductionWhen writing in Environmental Science, strong writing skills are imperative, as it is a career in which accomplishments are gauged by the number and quality of publications a scientist puts out. An ability to communicate will give you a clear advantage when working in the field. However, scientific writing often requires a more direct, factual style that can be hard to shift into after years of traditional essay writing. Below are some tips and helpful resources to reference when approaching your next assignment. In the Other Helpful Resources section below, we also provide links for those who are interested in learning more about writing with authority on environmental issues for both persuasive and creative purposes. Never before has the demand been so high for environmental science to be brought to the general public. Common Writing AssignmentsMost environmental science majors spend a significant portion of their undergraduate careers writing lab reports. These lab reports should follow the same strategies as any other papers. They should be well-organized, have a developed thesis and topic sentences, be grammar-error free, and have correct citations. Environmental science reports are typically written in APA format. Visit the Purdue Online Writing Lab Website for examples and instruction on APA format. General Structure of a Lab Report Borrowing from Brockport’s model, a lab reports usually consist of:
When writing a lab report, it is also important to remember:
Note: if you are writing about environmental science topics in a paper or fiction, be aware of your audience as well. Environmental terms such as “sustainability” and “global warming” are commonly ill-defined and misused. Define these for your reader. McGraw-Hill has created a glossary of commonly used environmental terms that may be helpful to you. DePaul University ResourcesDePaul University Department of Environmental Science DePaul University’s policy on Plagiarism Other Helpful ResourcesFor more information about helpful modules and resources visit Duke University’s website for Writing Resources. Literature and the Land: Reading and Writing in Environmental Science by Emma Wood Rous. This book is geared toward educators, but it would act as a great resource to any student interested in learning more about critically reading and writing in environmental science. It includes nature writing activities for practice. Far from a cut-and-dry guide, the book takes a look at the historical and often mystical relationship between humans and the environment and explores how this theme has surfaced in fiction and poetry. Environmental vocabulary is clearly explained and modeled in the up-to-date case studies. The College at Brockport provides an example of an environmental science lab report (pdf). Here, students will get a thorough explanation of the content, placement, and function of each section of an environmental science lab report. The sample literature cited page includes citation models of journals, websites, multiple authors, and more. Especially helpful is the checklist at the end that students can use to make sure their report has all necessary components. Nova Publishers provides Helpful Information and Tools for English as Second Language (ESL) Writers in Environmental Science. The book explores the obstacles ESL scientists often encounter in their scientific authorship. This source suggests solutions to help the reader acquire the necessary skills for clear, concise environmental science writing. |