Scientific Essay
Writng a scientfc essay, especially for the frst tme, can be a challenging task. Here’s a guide with
tps to assist students in understanding and undertaking this assessment.
1. Understanding the Sectons of a Scientfc Essay:
Abstract
• Purpose: Summarizes the entre essay, including an overview of the normal physiology, a
brief descripton of the chosen disorder’s pathophysiology, summary of the chosen drug and
the important components (refer to marking rubric as a guide), and the clinical relevance.
• Tips: Write this secton last; keep it concise. This should be summary of your own work and
therefore no references are needed. Use abstracts in peer-reviewed journal artcles to give
you an idea.
Introducton
• Purpose: Introduces the topic, normal physiology, chosen disorder, and why the subject is
important.
• Tips: Start with a general overview; then narrow down to the specifc issue being explored.
Normal Physiology
• Purpose: Explains the normal functoning of the biological or physiological system under
study. The audience/reader won’t have an overall good understanding of the
pathophysiology unless they can appreciate what it should be like and the
importance/implicatons of those changes.
• Tips: Use clear, scientfc language; include necessary details without over-complicatng. Your
utlisaton of anatomical terminology will play a key role in your grade. E.g. ‘right ventricle’ is
more accurate than statng ‘top right of the heart’.
Pathophysiology
• Purpose: Describes the altered physiological processes associated with disease or injury. This
is where a clear descripton of normal physiology will come in handy. Someone will have a
beter understanding of the importance of a degenerated artcular surface if they have been
told about the artcular cartlage covering ends of bones at the joint.
• Tips: Detail the deviatons from normal physiology; connect to symptoms or clinical
manifestatons. Use correct anatomical terminology where possible. ‘Short and sweet’ is
what we’re aiming for.
Pharmacology
• Purpose: Describes the drug of choice. State the class of drugs it falls under, their overall role
and acton, then provide specifc details regarding the pharmacokinetcs and
pharmacodynamics of your chosen drug.
• Tips: Except for clinical trials, you need to choose a minimum of ONE drug. E.g. Panadol
Extra. What is it’s actve ingredient? How does this ingredient work? What does it do in the
body? What does the body do to it? Which receptors are involved, which pathways, what do
these regulate? How is this regulated? Does it stmulate or depress, actvate or inhibit?
Link to Clinical Relevance
• Purpose: Connects the physiological understanding to clinical practce or patent care.
• Tips: Use real-world examples or case studies; explain how understanding the physiology
informs clinical decision-making.
2. General Writng Tips for a Scientfc Essay:
• Research Thoroughly: Gather informaton from reputable sources like scientfc journals,
textbooks, and academic websites. Use your Essay Guidelines and Marking Criteria as a guide
to help you tck the boxes of correct citatons and sources.
• Outline First: Creatng an outline helps organize thoughts and ensures that all required
sectons are covered. I’m a big fan of dot points wherever possible. Scaffolding
ttles/subttles, adding dot points of what needs to be covered, expanding those dot points
into sentences.
• Use Scientfc Language: Write using appropriate scientfc terminology and avoid
colloquialisms. This includes writng in third person and in past tense. All of this research has
already been conducted and published (except for ongoing clinical trials which are currently
underway). Avoid any emotve language (descriptve words, overuse of adjectves, which
evoke an emoton) and rather focus on facts.
• Cite Sources: Properly cite all references using a standardized citaton style (e.g., APA7).
While I encourage use of programs such as EndNote or Mendalay, it is up to you to ensure
that the fnal citaton has been formated following the outlined guidelines. You cannot
simply trust the pre-set APA setng.
• Avoid Plagiarism: Always paraphrase or quote directly from the source and provide proper
atributon. In-text citatons are not counted towards your overall word limit but there is no
need to add a reference at the end of every single paragraph. Although quotes are welcome,
you should be mindful of how much text you are quotng. An entre paragraph or sentence is
not appropriate.
We (the assessors) understand that there are only so many ways certain anatomical
tems/descriptons can be phrased, and we take this into consideraton when evaluatng the
TurnItIn percentage. We do not only look at the report fgure but the actual content that has
been highlighted.
• Include Visuals if Necessary: Diagrams, tables, or fgures can help clarify complex concepts;
ensure they are properly labelled and referenced. Refer to peer-reviewed journal artcles to
show you how fgures/diagrams/tables are generally formated within scientfc papers.
Figure number and ttle should be added at the botom of the image. Each fgure should also
have a brief descripton of the diagram.
Table number and ttle should be placed at the top of the table.
• Edit and Revise: Careful proofreading is essental for a polished product. Consider peer
review or utlising writng resources such as Smarthinking (due 23rd August) or other library
services.
3. Additonal Consideratons:
• Follow Guidelines: Pay close atenton to any specifc guidelines provided by the instructor,
such as word count, formatng, and content requirements. There are many and these count
towards the ‘formatng’ aspect of the marking criteria.
• Seek Help if Needed: Don’t hesitate to seek assistance from the course coordinator (Dr. Anna
Chruścik), peers (PASS), or academic writng sessions (Library Resources) if unsure about any
part of the writng process.
• Start Early: A scientfc essay requires thoughtul analysis and careful writng. Allow plenty of
tme for research, drafing, revising, and proofreading.
By following these guidelines and working systematcally through each secton, students can build a
coherent, well-researched scientfc essay that effectvely conveys their understanding of the topic.
General Essay Guide
Some additonal general essay guidelines/tps that you may wish to keep in mind include:
1. Understand the Prompt:
• Read Carefully: Ensure you understand what the essay queston is asking. The essay
guidelines and marking criteria are a huge help.
• Identfy Key Points: Highlight the main themes or keywords that need to be addressed. Feel
free to copy/paste the ‘Excellent’ criteria into your subsectons (as long as you remember to
remove this before submission!).
2. Plan and Outline:
• Brainstorm Ideas: Jot down thoughts and ideas related to the topic. Dot points, tables,
fgures, screenshots – whatever works best for you.
• Create an Outline: Organise the ideas into a logical structure, including introducton, body
paragraphs, and conclusion. You are wantng to tell a story of this disease and how to treat it.
3. Write the Introducton:
• Start with a Hook: Begin with an interestng statement, queston, or anecdote to grab the
reader’s atenton. You do not need to include things such as “in this essay” if you have
structured it correctly it will be evident.
• Introduce the Topic: Provide background informaton on the subject.
• State the Thesis: Clearly artculate the main argument or point of the essay. Plainly explain
the disorder/disease you are focusing on and why this is related to the introducton/normal
physiology.
4. Develop Body Paragraphs:
• Start with Topic Sentences: Each paragraph should begin with a sentence that introduces the
main idea of that paragraph. Paragraphs are a few sentences long and spacing between
paragraphs plays a big role in how the text is read. Consider some basics of paragraph
structure:
• Topic sentence
• Supportng sentence
• Explanaton/analysis
• Transiton sentence (if moving to a different topic)
Overall, you want to maintain coherence and logical flow of informaton. Be mindful of
sentence length, focus of each sentence, length of the paragraph and how it allows the next
paragraph to follow the logical transiton of ideas.
• Provide Supportng Evidence: Include examples, facts, or quotes that support the point.
• Explain Evidence: Discuss how the evidence relates to the thesis.
• Use Transitons: Employ transitonal phrases or words to guide the reader through the essay.
5. Write the Conclusion:
• Restate the Thesis: Reiterate the main point in a new way. You want to bring the story
together and highlight the main purpose for their menton, e.g. ‘Tie up loose ends’ – so to
speak.
• Summarize Key Points: Briefly recap the main arguments.
• End Strong: Provide a closing thought that leaves an impression on the reader.
6. Revise and Edit:
• Review for Clarity: Ensure that the argument flows logically and each paragraph supports
the thesis.
• Check Grammar and Spelling: Carefully proofread to catch any errors. Remember we are
striving to use Australian terminology and spelling wherever possible.
• Seek Feedback: Consider having a friend, library support ofcer, or even Smarthinking team
to read the essay to offer insights.
7. General Writng Tips:
• Write Clearly and Concisely: Avoid overly complex sentences or jargon. Correct anatomical
terminology is crucial, however not if you get yourself confused with it in the process.
• Stay on Topic: Keep the focus on the thesis and avoid tangents. Short and sweet, and avoid
rabbit holes.
• Use Appropriate Tone and Style: Consider the audience and purpose of the essay when
choosing language and tone. You can assume that the audience is educated, at a similar level
to yourself.
• Avoid Plagiarism: Always credit sources when quotng or paraphrasing. This is absolutely
crucial.
• Seek Help if Needed: Utlise resources like writng centres, teachers, or online guides if
you’re stuck.
Remember, writng an essay is a process that involves planning, writng, and revising. By following
these tps and taking the process one step at a tme, you can create a well-crafed and coherent
essay.