When you convert a scientific article into a news report, a writer must follow many guidelines. Some guidelines include reducing jargon, organizing the content, and summarizing the data so it’s easier to read. In this article, I will review how Science Daily, a news organization specializing in research articles, has converted a Science Direct scientific article into this news report.
Convert a Scientific Article Into Layman’s Terms
The first step to reporting on something is truly understanding the subject matter. Research is required; in this case, that is done by reading the Science Direct article and watching the supplementary video. The video provided a clearer understanding of the subject matter for those unfamiliar with the scientific jargon. To best convert a scientific article into layman’s terms, worded so a non-professional could understand the writing, is to reduce jargon. Jargon is words that those in the field can understand but are less likely to be understood by a general audience.
Specific Example of How the Author Simplified the Material
The first step in reducing jargon is to understand it. Read through the article, research unfamiliar terms, and then find ways to simplify those terms. In the news report, the author states, “Sometimes they presented the matching toy, while other times they would present an object that didn’t match.” Meanwhile, the scientific articles read, “In human event-related potential (ERP) studies, object word knowledge is typically tested using the semantic violation paradigm, where words are presented either with their referent (match) or another object (mismatch).” Due to the jargon in the text, many readers would struggle to follow the context.
Organize the Content
This step may come before simplifying jargon, but not before understanding the subject matter. After reading through the article, it is recommended that any confusing terminology be clarified. However, the next step would be to organize the content and prioritize it to suit the reader’s needs best. To achieve this, it is best to familiarize yourself with the inverted pyramid approach for content writing. This approach aims to immediately give the reader the information they are looking for. As technology becomes more prominent, more people are electing to read online. However, most people will not read long blocks of paragraphs. Ensuring that the content is organized to satisfy those readers is crucial.
Ensure the topic is clearly stated and the reader can understand what your report will be about immediately. In the first two sentences of the news report, we quickly learn that:
- The report is about dogs.
- The report is specifically about dogs recognizing the names of specific items.
Then, it explains further what the study was for before presenting the data in easy-to-read language.
Wrap it Up in the Kicker
According to the inverted pyramid, the final stage is to wrap up the entire piece in “the kicker.” The kicker is the piece’s conclusion, where all the content is wrapped up and explained. Having the content summarized and completed allows for a satisfying reader experience. If the article ended after the copy, the body text where data is presented, it would leave the reader trying to make the connection themselves. If that were the case, the reader would likely look for another source that better summarized the information they presented.
Converting a scientific article into a news report is no simple task. After deciphering the information, simplifying the jargon, and organizing the content, one must write it. Following the inverted pyramid approach will allow the writer to focus on the most critical parts of the research and provide the reader with that information faster. After all the information is presented, the writer must summarize it in the kicker. This will help the readers complete their thoughts and better understand the entire process.