How to Write an Engaging and Informative Essay

There are several things to consider when writing an essay which is educational, compelling and impactful.

1. Choose a topic which you find interesting - It is much easier to write an essay on a topic you are passionate about. You can find inspiration from many reputable sources from newspapers and online news sites to academic journals and books. You might even come across content on social media which piques your interest and you might like to do further research into it (we will share some tips about using social media as a source of information later on).

Top Tip: Sites such as New Scientist , Scientific American , Chemistry World and Quanta are all examples of reputable science publications although there are many more examples of excellent science journalism available.

2. Research extensively - Unless the topic you have chosen to write about is brand new and pushing the frontiers of science, you will likely encounter a large number of resources that you can access to find out more about it. We highly recommend researching your topic broadly to ensure you are considering multiple viewpoints but also with depth, so that you fully understand what the subject is about.

For example, you might come across a video on TikTok which discusses an interesting chemical reaction - the thermite reaction. You then do a quick online search where you find that several reputable news outlets have recently written about this new sustainable method of energy production. You then use a website such as ScienceDirect to find some peer-reviewed academic journal papers to dive into this topic in more depth.

3. Think of your audience and the message you are trying to share - All areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) contain technical jargon specific to that subject. However, if your audience does not have a background in that area, it will make it challenging for them to understand. Help to make the essay more accessible to a general audience by explaining technical terms. What do you want the audience to do once they have read your essay - do you want them to take action? Or do you want to inspire them to learn more about a particular subject?

For example, your essay might discuss advances in AI and robotics and how they can be integrated into devices used in healthcare. This subject raises several ethical questions which you may want your reader to consider. Perhaps you are trying to make a persuasive argument as to why these advances should be implemented more quickly - they might save lives. Perhaps there has been a recent policy change which prevents the use of such devices within the NHS and you are keen to influence your audience to lobby for this to be changed. Whatever your message is, it should be concise and set the tone for a cohesive narrative.

4. Support your writing with evidence - If you make an argument in your essay you must provide evidence for this. The use of statistics and data helps to strengthen the point you are making - but, only if you can back it up. Using reputable sources and properly referencing will help you avoid plagiarism (passing someone else's work off as your own). Avoid using information you have gathered on social media. Instead, search for reputable sites which tell you the source of the information.

Top Tip: There are several types of referencing systems but you only need to choose one to use. Whatever one you decide to use, remain consistent and use it throughout your essay.

We will be sharing a series of helpful videos created by ABSW science journalists and writers. These will be made available shortly and will provide tips and tricks for crafting a compelling piece of writing.