EnglishFreePrintable

Scientific Writing Introduction

A free english worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Scientific Writing Introduction

Use the mini-investigation and data below to practise clear, accurate scientific writing. Answer in complete sentences where appropriate. Scientific reports may use different headings, but they should communicate evidence in a logical order.

A seed investigation

A class tested whether the amount of water affects radish seed growth. They placed 10 seeds in each of three identical trays of the same potting mix. The trays were kept in the same warm, sunny place for seven days. Each tray received a different amount of water each day. At the end, students measured the average shoot length. The class repeated the investigation twice and calculated the mean result.

Water each day

Mean shoot length

5 mL

2 cm

10 mL

6 cm

15 mL

4 cm

Read the evidence

The investigation changed the amount of water and measured shoot length. The seed type, number of seeds, potting mix, location and length of the investigation were kept the same. The greatest mean shoot length was recorded in the tray given 10 mL of water each day. This result suggests that, in this investigation, 10 mL per day supported the most growth. More trials or different conditions could produce different results.

Purpose and report structure

1.Which statement best describes the main purpose of scientific writing?

To entertain with an imagined story
To communicate methods, evidence and conclusions clearly
To persuade readers using personal opinions
To describe the writer’s feelings about an event

2.Match each report section to its job. Write the correct letter beside each section.

Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion

C. Describes the steps taken so the investigation can be understood or repeated
A. Explains what the evidence shows and whether it answers the question
D. Presents observations or measurements
B. States the question or aim and relevant background

3.Put these report sections in a sensible order: Discussion, Results, Introduction, Methods.

Notice the language

4.Choose the sentence that reports the evidence most accurately and formally.

The 10 mL tray was awesome and grew heaps.
The tray given 10 mL of water daily had the greatest mean shoot length, at 6 cm.
I reckon the seeds liked getting a medium amount of water.
The plants did a really good job in the sunny spot.

5.True or false: The sentence “The tray received 10 mL of water each day” is more precise than “The tray got a bit of water every day.” Explain your choice.

6.Rewrite this informal sentence as a clear, neutral methods sentence: “We chucked some seeds in dirt and gave them water every day.”

7.Complete the statement: In a fair test, the factor deliberately changed is the variable, and the factor measured is the variable.

Use data to build a report

8.From the investigation, identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.

9.Name two factors the students kept the same to make the test fair.

10.Write one Results sentence comparing two water amounts. Include both measurements and units.

11.Write a one- or two-sentence conclusion. Answer the investigation question and support your claim with data.

12.A student concludes, “More water always makes plants grow taller.” Is this conclusion fully supported by the data? Explain one limitation or a careful improvement to the claim.