How to Write a Science Essay

Although students generally don't think of science class as a venue for writing, there will be times when you'll have to write essays to explain your findings, express an opinion or summarize a topic. Don't be scared of writing for a science class. If you follow these steps, you'll be able to write a clear, cohesive, thoughtful essay.

Write a thesis statement first. A thesis statement is a sentence that explains the main idea of your essay. A thesis statement should be specific rather than general. For example, instead of saying, "I'm going to write about separating solutions," you should write, "The two most effective methods of separating solutions are evaporation and distillation." Now, you've told your readers exactly what to expect. You've also given yourself something to prove: evaporation and distillation are the two most effective methods of separating solutions.

Write an introductory paragraph, placing your thesis statement at the end of it. Start your introductory paragraph with background information that leads up to your thesis statement.

Use your thesis statement to make an outline of your main points. Using our example of separating solutions, you could map out three more paragraphs that cover the following points: why evaporation is effective, why distillation is effective and why other methods of separating solutions are less effective. Using this formula, you prove your main points and refute possible opposing points.

Write a concluding paragraph. In your concluding paragraph, reiterate your points using slightly different language. Do not introduce any new ideas in your concluding paragraph.

Proofread your essay. Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure you have used some transitions between paragraphs. Good transitional words and phrases include, "however," "also," "furthermore," "in conclusion," "instead" and "consequently."

Make a final copy of your essay. Swap essays with a friend, and ask for feedback. Peer reviews are great for finding holes in your logic or confusing wording.