Writing in Environmental Science

Jenny 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.

Introduction

When 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 Assignments

Most 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:

• Abstract: Includes a brief summary of your paper, answering the questions: 1) what was the objective of this report? 2) What were your methods for testing? 3) What were the results? And lastly, 4) what is the significance of these results?


• Introduction: Explains the background and the significance of your test.


• Method: Describes study sites, equipment/materials and procedures used in the study.


• Results: Clearly and succinctly presents data, observations, and the outcome of any hypothesis tests.


• Conclusion: In writing your conclusion, it helps to think about the following questions: Did my hypothesis support the conclusion? How does this relate to real world situations? What possible explanations are there for the results? Iowa State University provides a detailed list of How to Format and Stylize a Lab Report.

When writing a lab report, it is also important to remember:

• Audience: Be aware of audience when choosing when to define terms. Environmental science writing is formal writing. Tone and word choice should be professional and clear. Refrain from using subjective opinions when writing anything but your hypothesis.

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.


• Writing is a Process: There are many ways to organize one’s thoughts. One should utilize the techniques of brainstorming, outlining, and reverse outlining. Creating outlines and writing multiple drafts can help make the final draft stronger and easier for the audience to understand. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers detailed advice for writing scientific reports.


• Revision: Once you create your lab report, it is important to look for Common Errors in Writing. Things such as split infinitives, subject-verb agreement, and comma splices can be easy to look over on your first draft. Proofreading and self-editing are great tools to help you become aware of whether or not your grammar and structure of your report is correct. North Carolina State University provides Post-Lab Advice for Standard, Descriptive, and Student-Designed Lab Reports.


• Clarity: Revising your lab report and receiving feedback on your writing (from a friend, DePaul’s Writing Center, or any engaged listener) can help your writing be more clear and cohesive. As with most scientific writing, avoid adjectives. Sentences should be concise. Your ideas should connect to each other through the use of transitions. Most importantly, your lab report should make sense and be easy to follow.

DePaul University Resources

DePaul University Department of Environmental Science

DePaul University’s policy on Plagiarism

Other Helpful Resources

For 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.