how to write essays in biology

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Writing Center

Writing in biology.

Writing for scientific purposes can be challenging and usually requires both discipline-specific study and lots of practice. Here you will find models of scientific writing, suggestions for how to read and review primary literature, and explanations of several conventions of scientific writing.

Instructor Resources

245WLongPaperGuide: Powerpoint on Writing a Long Paper: This powerpoint provides information on topic choice, organizing/understanding sources, finding connections across sources or building a thesis/argument for the paper and conventions of scientific writing.

Gopen & Swann paper:  A classic paper on distinguishing between clear and confused writing in science that highlights some common mistakes and problems. May be useful for providing students with ideas on common pitfalls in science writing.

Sand-Jensen paper:  A recent work that humorously illustrates problems with scientific writing (biological focus) and some ways to remedy them.

Peer Review Template:  This is a form intended to guide the peer review process if instructors choose to experiment with this approach. Peer review is used extensively in the non-scientific fields and can be an extremely useful way to encourage students to take ownership of the redrafting and editing process. Feel free to adapt the format to your course/assignment specifications.

The “Says/Does” Approach to Reading Primary Literature:  This handout is intended to guide students in the identification of the informative versus persuasive aspects of the primary literature in biology. It can be used to instigate thoughtful reading of the primary literature.

Biological Sciences: Science Communication

• Literature & News Sources
• Data & Code Support
• Bioinformatics Resources
• Open Science at CMU
• Open Access at CMU
• Science Communication
• Career Development Resources

Writing Help

Here is a list of resources for learning about how to write well. Writing about biology research requires special considerations in terms of style, clarity, and content, so some of these resources specifically cover science writing. This list will be updated as resources are created and discovered.

The Elements of Style

T he Elements of Style is the definitive text and classic manual on the principles of English language read by millions of readers. The 18 main topics are organized under the headings, “Elementary Rules of Usage,” “Elementary Principles of Composition,” “A Few Matters of Form,” “Words and Expressions Commonly Misused,” and “Words Often Misspelled.” Written in an engaging and witty style, the book emphasizes  simplicity, orderliness, and sincerity in writing.

Science Communication Workshops

Mellon College of Science has excellent resources for learning about science communication.  Download slides, schedule a meeting, and view upcoming events at the Science Communication Workshop Website . 

Short Guide to Writing About Biology

This best-selling writing guide by a prominent biologist teaches students to think as biologists and to express ideas clearly and concisely through their writing.

Providing students with the tools they'll need to be successful writers in college and their profession,  A Short Guide to Writing about Biology  emphasizes writing as a means to  examine, evaluate, share, and refine ideas. The text teaches students how to read critically, study, evaluate and report data, and how to communicate information clearly and logically.

Students are also given detailed advice on locating useful sources, interpreting the results of statistical tests, maintaining effective laboratory and field notebooks, writing effective research proposals and poster presentations, writing effective applications, and communicating information to both professional and general audiences.

Writing in the Sciences

This free online course developed at Stanford,  Writing in the Sciences , teaches scientists to become more effective writers, using practical examples and exercises. Topics include: principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, the format of a scientific manuscript, and issues in publication and peer review. Students from non-science disciplines can benefit from the training provided in the first four weeks (on general principles of effective writing).

Student Academic Success Center

The  Student Academic Success Center   at CMU provides resources for supporting students' efforts to improve written, oral, and visual communication skills.  The GCC supports any student, at any level, in any discipline, at any stage of the composing process.  The GCC offers free one-on-one tutoring for academic communication projects on the first floor of the Hunt Library.

Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Neuroscience Librarian

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Tips on How to Write a Biology Essay: Learn from the Example of Jellyfish Essay

How to Write a Biology Essay

In this article, we will guide you on how to write a perfect biology essay from scratch. You’ll find various tips to help you excel in writing your essay and creating a paper worth the highest grades. We also prepared a jellyfish essay example for you, so it can be easier to enhance all the specifics and structure of this kind of paper.

What is Biology Essay

A biology essay is a student-written work where you present arguments and ideas about a particular biological topic. The essay on biology can take different forms like argumentative, cause-and-effect, descriptive, detailed analysis, or ‘how-to’ instruction, depending on the professor’s guidelines and writer’s preferences. 

A descriptive paper can explain a biological subject, while an argumentative one provides evidence to support a point of view. It’s up to you to choose which type is more suitable for the topic you’re writing about. The most common type is a cause-and-effect essay explaining an event’s reasons and consequences. 

How to Craft a Perfect Essay About Biology

Writing is an art form that requires time and effort. But if you prefer someone else to write the paper for you, you can just text the experts, ‘ do my homework for me ,’ and consider it done. 

Here is the step by step instruction to organize the process for desired results. 

Choose Your Biology Essay Topic

To get a good grade:

• make your paper informative and enjoyable by choosing a topic you wish to explore. 
• Use a brainstorming technique to generate 30-50 options for biology essay topics and research to create a shortlist. 
• Keep a notebook to jot down your ideas.

Choose a Question for Research

When writing a biology essay, use a scientific approach by selecting a research question related to your topic. Always avoid overly complex or apparent questions. You can also text our profs ‘ write my research paper ,’ and it can be done in a blink.

Create an Outline

Always have a clear plan when writing biology essays while starting a paper. Use a 5-paragraph structure with an outline to keep your main idea and arguments organized. Use any format that works best for you and adjust as needed. Discard any ideas that don’t fit your research question.

Use a Strong Thesis Statement

The introduction should end with a strong thesis statement synthesizing the overall essay, conveying the research question and your point of view. The paper is ineffective without a clear thesis, as readers may not understand your position.

Use Citation and References

Include a list of references in your academic papers, such as biology essays, to avoid plagiarism and provide data sources. Use the appropriate citation style, like APA or CSE, and consult a guide for requirements.

How to Structure a Biology Essay

Ensure your essay has an attention-grabbing introduction, a detailed body, and a solid conclusion with distinct sections. Use around seven paragraphs for the main body, adjusting as needed for the required word count.

Biology Essay Introduction

In the introduction of your essay about biology, showcase your expertise by providing a brief background of the topic and stating the essay’s objective. For a research paper, explain why the study is relevant. Make sure the reader understands the essence of your subject.

The body section of your essay on biology should focus on supporting and defending your thesis statement. To achieve this, make a list of essential points to cover and address each one step by step. Starting a new paragraph for each point ensures neatness and a continuous flow. 

In conclusion, restate your thesis statement and summarize supporting points to solidify your arguments. Avoid introducing new concepts, and leave a lasting impression on your instructor.

Jellyfish Essay - Example of a Biology Essay About a Fascinating Creature of the Ocean

Jellyfish, also known as jellies, are incredible creatures of the ocean. They’re members of the phylum Cnidaria, including corals and sea anemones. You can find jellyfish in every ocean around the globe, from the surface to the depths of the sea. 

Do you know what shape the jellyfish body has?! It’s one of their most unique features. Their bell-shaped body comprises a soft, jelly-like substance called mesoglea, found between two cellular layers. The outer layer of cells, the epidermis, is thin and flexible, while the inner layer, the gastrodermis, contains the jellyfish’s digestive system. At the bottom of the bell is the mouth, surrounded by tentacles armed with stinging cells called nematocysts. 

The jellyfish tentacles consist of venom-filled sacs, which can be potentially dangerous and life-threatening. Considering the severity of its sting, researchers have gathered information on how to treat it effectively. Use thick clothing, tweezers, sticks, or gloves to alleviate the sting. It’s crucial to avoid touching the sting with bare skin since the venom can cause severe harm. Always dispose of the tool used for removing the sting to prevent re-stinging. 

Jellyfish are creatures that feed on small fish and other tiny marine organisms. They capture their prey using the tentacles and bring it to their mouth. Once the food is inside the jellyfish, it’s broken down by digestive enzymes and absorbed into the gastrovascular cavity. 

An exciting thing about jelly is its life cycle. They go through several stages of development, starting as a tiny, free-swimming larva and then growing into a polyp. The polyp stage is stationary, and the jellyfish attaches itself to a surface using a sticky pad. During this stage, the jellyfish reproduces asexually, creating clones of itself. These clones then break off from the polyp and develop into the familiar bell-shaped body of the adult jellyfish. 

Jellyfish play an essential role in the ocean’s ecosystem too. They’re a food source for many marine creatures, including sea turtles and some fish species. They also help to control the population of tiny marine animals by feeding on them, and their waste products contribute to the nutrient cycle in the ocean.

However, jellyfish populations can sometimes explode and become a nuisance. This phenomenon mostly occurs when their natural predators are eliminated from the ecosystem or when water conditions, like temperature and salinity, are conducive for jellyfish growth. In cases where jellyfish populations reach excessive levels, they can clog fishing nets and interfere with other human activities in the ocean.

Jellyfish really are stunning creatures of the ocean. They’re diverse, with many different species, and are essential to the marine ecosystem. While they can sometimes become a nuisance, they’re vital to the ocean’s food web and nutrient cycle. Studying jellyfish can give us a greater understanding of the complex and interconnected systems that make up our oceans.

Practical Tips for Creating Perfect Academic Papers

Developing writing skills is crucial for your academic success regardless of your major. Check out these tips we provided for improving your writing. But if you aren't fond of writing, you can easily hand it to professionals by saying, ‘ do homework for me .’

Search for Samples or Examples

To improve your writing, analyze examples of well-written biology essays or research papers. Although not all online samples are perfect, they can still provide insights into what works and what doesn’t. However, avoid plagiarism and ensure your paper is original by presenting fresh ideas and a unique perspective. 

Read Whenever You Can

Develop your writing skills by reading widely and extensively. Look for biology papers in scientific journals, websites, or books. Don’t forget to take notes on interesting points that you can use in your papers later.

Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t expect to write a perfect paper on your first try, so take every opportunity to practice your writing. Find a mentor if needed and use online resources to learn from your mistakes and improve your skills.

Always Organize Your Writing Process

Organize your work process instead of waiting for inspiration by defining stages, scheduling time for each task, and eliminating distractions. Don’t wait for mood to write an essay about biology; use different strategies to overcome writer’s block.

Proofread and Get Other Feedback

It’s hard to assess your own work accurately. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to identify strengths and weaknesses to improve upon. Don’t wait for your professor’s feedback to know if your biology essay is good. 

Interesting Biology Essay Topics from Our Experts to Practice Your Writing

In this paragraph, we listed different biology essay topics from which you can choose your preferred one and practice writing to excel in your academic papers.

• A jellyfish - my favorite creature
• Facts about animal behavior
• Biodiversity conservation
• Chemical Ecology
• Impacts of air pollution
• Acid Rain’s impact on wildlife
• The greenhouse effect
• Causes of global warming
• Effects of climate change on nature
• Ways to avoid water pollution

These are interesting topics and also some of the most significant environmental problems. Choose the one you like and practice.

Final Thoughts

This article provides tips that will definitely make your writing process easier and more effective. Adjust these tips while writing your biology paper and structure it as we did in the jellyfish essay example. But if you still prefer a professional to do it for you, contact us by writing ‘ do my research paper ,’ and our experts will handle it.

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Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide

At once sophisticated and practical, Writing in Biology advises students on composing research articles, literature reviews, oral presentations, and other key biology genres.

For sale via Oxford University Press :

At once sophisticated and practical, Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide advises students on composing research articles, literature reviews, oral presentations, and other key biology genres. The book gives careful attention to both the governing priciples of audience, purpose, and argument, and the ground rules for style, visual design, and sourcing. Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide is a part of a series of brief, discipline-specific writing guides from Oxford University Press designed for today’s writing-intensive college courses. The series is edited by Thomas Deans (University of Connecticut) and Mya Poe (Northeastern University).

Leslie Roldan

Leslie Ann Roldan, Ph.D., is a Lecturer II in MIT's Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication (WRAP) program, and co-author of Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide (Oxford University Press, 2016). She holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Biology from MIT, where she trained with Tania Baker. ​Since 2005, she has been teaching communication-intensive courses in the MIT Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Brain & Cognitive Sciences. Her current scholarly research focuses on developing pedagogical tools to help students write literature reviews and understand the logic of their disciplines. Her nonacademic interests include cooking, learning jazz, and enjoying the outdoors.

Mary-Lou Pardue

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How to Write a Biology Essay - Studybay

Introduction

Welcome to The Knowledge Nest's guide on how to write a biology essay! In this comprehensive resource, brought to you in partnership with Studybay, we will explore the key elements of a successful biology essay and provide you with expert tips and guidance to help you excel in your studies. Whether you are a student, an educator, or someone interested in biology, this guide will serve as a valuable reference throughout your academic journey.

Why Biology Essays Matter

Biology essays play a crucial role in understanding and communicating scientific concepts within the field of biology. They allow students to demonstrate their understanding of key biological concepts, improve their critical thinking and analytical skills, and communicate their ideas effectively. Biology essays are not only important for academic assessments but also for fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world and the intricate processes that govern it.

The Structure of a Biology Essay

A well-structured biology essay is essential for effectively conveying your knowledge and ideas. It should follow a clear and logical format, comprising of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

1. Introduction

The introduction serves as the opening paragraph of your biology essay and should provide a clear overview of the topic you will be discussing. It should also include a thesis statement that highlights the main argument or perspective you will be presenting in your essay.

2. Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs form the core of your biology essay and should contain detailed information, evidence, and analysis to support your thesis statement. Consider organizing your body paragraphs around key subtopics or themes related to the main topic of your essay. Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by supporting evidence and analysis.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion summarizes the main points discussed in your essay and restates your thesis statement. It should also provide a broader perspective on the topic and suggest possible areas for further research or exploration.

Tips for Writing a Biology Essay

Here are some expert tips to help you write a compelling and well-structured biology essay:

1. Understand the Essay Prompt

Before you begin writing, carefully read and understand the essay prompt. Identify the key requirements and objectives of the essay to ensure you address them effectively in your writing.

2. Conduct Thorough Research

Research is essential for gathering relevant information and supporting evidence for your biology essay. Make use of reputable sources such as scientific journals, research papers, textbooks, and reliable online databases.

3. Use Clear and Concise Language

When writing your biology essay, strive for clarity and conciseness. Use precise scientific terminology and explain complex concepts in a way that is accessible to your intended audience.

4. Provide Examples and Evidence

To strengthen your arguments and claims, provide specific examples and evidence from credible sources. This will add credibility to your essay and demonstrate your understanding of the topic.

5. Proofread and Edit

After completing your biology essay, thoroughly proofread and edit it for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Additionally, check the overall coherence and flow of your essay to ensure a smooth reading experience.

In conclusion, writing a biology essay requires a solid understanding of the subject matter, effective research skills, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. By following the structure and tips outlined in this guide, you will be well-equipped to tackle biology essays with confidence. Remember to practice regularly and seek feedback from your educators or peers to continuously improve your writing skills. Happy writing!

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How to Write a Biology Essay

A biology essay isn’t just a bunch of words on paper, but it’s a way to combine scientific discovery with solid writing. This makes it an essential skill to have for both students and scholars.

No wonder you are looking for how to write a biology essay like an expert. It means you will be glad to know that this blog post has all the expert tips and tricks you need to know for crafting a masterpiece. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Expert Tips on How to Start a Biology Essay Like a Pro

Crafting a good biology essay involves putting together a structured approach. You must thoroughly understand the topic and be able to organize your ideas clearly. Here’s a comprehensive guide with examples to help you write an outstanding biology essay.

Establish a Good Understanding of the Prompt

Understanding a biology essay prompt is important to ascertain the expected outcome. 

If you have the option to choose a topic, go for a unique one so your essay is interesting to read . 

For example:

Let’s say the topic of your essay is “The Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs.”

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Perform an In-Depth Research

Collect information from reliable sources like books, peer-reviewed journals, or trusted websites. 

Look for facts, numbers, and examples related to the topic you pick. 

As per the essay prompt, you can research coral bleaching due to the increasing ocean temperatures. 

Create an Outline

An outline is a good way of structuring a biology essay. Also, it helps you organize your ideas logically. An example outline for our example topic could be: 

Biology Essay Introduction

Coral Reefs Background 

The Effects of a Climate Change 

Mechanism of Coral Bleaching 

Case Studies and Examples

Conservation and Mitigation Measures

Hook Your Readers with a Good Introduction

Whether a surprising fact or a thought-provoking question, the hook is key to grabbing the reader’s interest from the get-go! Plus, this biology essay introduction must also have background information about coral reefs and their significance in the ecosystem.

For Example :

What if no coral reefs were filled with stunning colors and biodiversity? It’s hard to imagine, right? But unfortunately, this could become a reality if we don’t take steps to protect them.

Develop the Body of the Essay:

The body of your biology essay must have several paragraphs. Each of these will focus on a specific subtopic.

Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence. 

Look to add scientific concepts and terms to improve its readability.

For Example:

Discuss how increased sea surface temperatures lead to stress on coral polyps and subsequent bleaching.

Use Clear Examples

It is better if you support your arguments with real-world examples. 

For the above topic, you can explain some coral reef regions affected by the climate in Australia. 

Look into studies and reports that show how coral bleaching affects ocean wildlife.

Explain Complex Concepts

Make sure to explain any complicated biological ideas you bring up. If you need to use words like “symbiosis” or “photosynthesis” for your essay, make sure to define them so readers can understand what you’re talking about.

Discuss Mitigation and Conservation

Come up with ideas and plans to tackle the problem. Consider marine reserves, responsible fishing methods, and global deals to battle climate change.

Show examples of how coral reef restoration projects have been successful.

Craft a Thoughtful Conclusion

Recap what you’ve talked about in the essay. 

Explain why the topic is important and how it relates to biology and environmental science.

End with a thought-provoking statement or call to action. 

Protecting the coral reefs is not only about caring for all the sea creatures. It’s also a sign of our pledge to keep our planet’s fragile environments safe.

Proofread and Revise

Edit for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

Ensure your essay moves along nicely and has a sensible order of thoughts.

Your biology essay must depict that you have a good understanding of major biology concepts. Remember that your personal viewpoint, knowledge, and evaluation will make your piece unique. Hopefully, this exciting yet to-the-point article answered your query on how to write a biology essay well.

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Review Essays for the Biological sciences

A review essay for the biological sciences serves to discuss and synthesize key findings on a particular subject. Review papers are helpful to the writer and their colleagues in gaining critical awareness in specialized fields that may or may not be their own.

This guide explains what a review essay is and identifies several approaches to writing a review essay. Although much of the information is geared directly to the biological sciences, it is generally applicable to review essays in all fields.

What is a Review Essay?

A review essay is a synthesis of primary sources (mainly research papers presented in academic journals) on a given topic. A biological review essay demonstrates that the writer has thorough understanding of the literature and can formulate a useful analysis. While no new research is presented by the writer, the field benefits from the review by recieving a new perspective. There are several approaches one may take when writing a biological review:

A State of the art review

A state of the art review considers mainly the most current research in a given area. The review may offer new perspectives on an issue or point out an area in need of further research.

A Historical review

A historical review is a survey of the development of a particular field of study. It may examine the early stages of the field, key findings to present, key theoretical models and their evolution, etc.

A Comparison of perspectives review

A comparison of perspectives review contrasts various ways of looking at a certain topic. If in fact there is a debate over some process or idea, a comparison of perspectives review may illustrate the research that supports both sides. A comparison of perspectives review may introduce a new perspective by way of comparing it to another.

A Synthesis of two fields review

Many times researchers in different fields may be working on similar problems. A synthesis of two fields review provides insights into a given topic based on a review of the literature from two or more disciplines.

A Theoretical model building review

A theoretical model building review examines the literature within a given area with the intention of developing new theoretical assumptions.

Key Considerations for Writing a Biological Review Essay

This guide will inform you of certain things not to miss when writing a review essay. It will also give you some information about using and documenting your sources.

Keep your focus narrow.

When writing a review essay it is important to keep the scope of the topic narrow enough so that you can discuss it thoroughly. For example a topic such as air quality in factories could be narrowed significantly to something like carbon dioxide levels in auto manufacturing plants .

A good way to narrow your focus is to start with a broad topic that is of some interest to you, then read some of the literature in the field. Look for a thread of the discussion that points to a more specific topic.

Analyze, synthesize, and interpret.

A review essay is not a pure summary of the information you read for your review. You are required to analyze, synthesize, and interpret the information you read in some meaningful way.

It is not enough to simply present the material you have found, you must go beyond that and explain its relevance and significance to the topic at hand.

Establish a clear thesis from the onset of your writing and examine which pieces of your reading help you in developing and supporting the ideas in your thesis.

Use only academic sources.

A review essay reviews the academic body of literature—articles and research presented in academic journals. Lay periodicals such as, Discover , Scientific America , or Popular Science , are not adequate sources for an academic review essay.

If you are having trouble finding the academic journals in your field, ask one of your professors or a reference librarian.

Document your sources.

The material that you discuss in a review essay is obviously not your own, therefore it is crucial to document your sources properly. Proper documentation is crucial for two reasons: 1. It prevents the writer from being accused of plagiarism and 2. It gives the reader the opportunity to locate the sources the writer has reviewed because they may find them valuable in their own academic pursuits. Proper documentation depends on which style guide you are following.

Quote sparingly and properly.

No one wants to read a paper that is simply a string of quotes; reserve direct quotations for when you want to create a big impact. Often times the way a quote is written will not fit with the language or the style of your paper so paraphrase the authors words carefully and verbage as necessary to create a well formed paragraph.

Choose an informative title.

The title you choose for your review essay should give some indication of what lies ahead for the reader. You might consider the process you took in narrowing your topic to help you with your title—think of the title as something specific rather than a vague representation of your paper's topic. For example the title Wastewater Treatment might be more informative if rewritten as The Removal of Cloroform Bacteria as Practiced by California's Municipal Water Treatment Facilities .

Consider your audience.

More than likely your audience will be your academic peers, therefore you can make a couple assumptions and choose a writing style that suits the audience. Though your audience may lack the detailed knowledge you have about your topic, they do have similar background knowledge to you. You can assume that you audience understands much of the technical language you have to use to write about your topic and you do not have to go into great detail about background information.

Elements of a Review Essay

This guide explains each section of a review essay and gives specific information about what should be included in each.

On the title page include the title, your name, and the date. Your instructor may have additional requirements (such as the course number, etc.) so be sure to follow the guidelines on the assignment sheet. Professional journals may also have more specific requirements for the title page.

An abstract is a brief summary of your review. The abstract should include only the main points of your review. Think of the abstract as a chance for the reader to preview your paper and decide if they want to read on for the details.

Introduction

The introduction of your review should accomplish three things:

• It may sound redundant to "introduce" your topic in the introduction, but often times writer's fail to do so. Let the reader in on background information specific to the topic, define terms that may be unfamiliar to them, explain the scope of the discussion, and your purpose for writing the review.
• Think of your review essay as a statement in the larger conversation of your academic community. Your review is your way of entering into that conversation and it is important to briefly address why your review is relevant to the discussion. You may feel the relevance is obvious because you are so familiar with the topic, but your readers have not yet established that familiarity.
• The thesis is the main idea that you want to get across to your reader. your thesis should be a clear statement of what you intend to prove or illustrate by your review. By revealing your thesis in the introduction the reader knows what to expect in the rest of the paper.

The discussion section is the body of your paper. The discussion section contains information that develops and supports your thesis. While there is no particular form that a discussion section must take there are several considerations that a writer must follow when building a discussion.

• A review essay is not simply a summary of literature you have reviewed. Be careful not to leave out your own analysis of the ideas presented in the literature. Synthesize the material from all the works—what are the connections you see, or the connections you are trying to illustrate, among your readings.

A review essay is not a pure summary of the information you read for your review. You are required to analyze, synthesize, and interpret the information you read in some meaningful way. It is not enough to simply present the material you have found, you must go beyond that and explain its relevance and significance to the topic at hand. Establish a clear thesis from the onset of your writing and examine which pieces of your reading help you in developing and supporting the ideas in your thesis.

• Keep your discussion focused on your topic and more importantly your thesis. Don't let tangents or extraneous material get in the way of a concise, coherent discussion. A well focused paper is crucial in getting your message across to your reader.
• Keeping your points organized makes it easier for the reader to follow along and make sense of your review. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that relates back to your thesis. The headings used for this guide give you some idea of how to organize the overall paper, but as far as the discussion section goes use meaningful subheadings that relate to your content to organize your points.
• Your thesis should illustrate your objectives in writing the review and your discussion should serve to accomplish your objectives. Make sure your keep your discussion related to the thesis in order to meet your objectives. If you find that your discussion does not relate so much to your thesis, don't panic, you might want to revise your thesis instead of reworking the discussion.

Conclusions

Because the conclusions section often gets left for last it is often the weakest part of a student review essay. It is as crucial a part of the paper as any and should be treated as such.

A good conclusion should illustrate the key connections between your major points and your thesis as well as they key connections between your thesis and the broader discussion—what is the significance of your paper in a larger context? Make some conclusions —where have you arrived as a result of writing this paper?

Be careful not to present any new information in the conclusion section.

Here you report all the works you have cited in your paper. The format for a references page varies by discipline as does how you should cite your references within the paper.

Bastek, Neal. (1999). Review Essays for the Biological Sciences. Writing@CSU . Colorado State University. https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=79

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How To Write A Biology Essay

Table of Contents

Content of this article

Topic choice.

• Content page
• Research question
• Introduction
• Investigation

Biology papers give us an opportunity of understanding forms that are complex in life. This, therefore, means you will have the chance to fully understand the plants as well as the animals found in the ecosystem. People are given assignments on biology so that they can fully research and have knowledge concerning the components of nature. An essay on biology also assists people in how to care for and tend to themselves. These biology papers also assist in fully understanding how the world and humanity are related. An essay on biology will, therefore, assist in answering queries and issues related to biology. The tips from our academic essay writing service may help a person to make the work professional without errors and mistakes. A primary element to keep in mind when writing biology papers is always to have a biology essay draft that will assist you all through the writing process. Biology essay topics need to be detailed so that they can be differentiated from other types of papers.

The topics of the biology papers determine the points that will be used in the article. This, therefore, means that the biology essay writing guide is dependent on the topic selected . Ensure that you fully understand what the biology essay writing expects from you and create a biology essay outline that will assist you in preparing an excellent piece. Biology essay outlining assists in the construction of detailed articles. Below are biology essay topics that one can use in biology essay writing.

Biology essay topics

• Are vaccines necessary in our system?
• Omnivore’s plants
• How did the dinosaurs just disappear?
• Did the evolution start from the monkeys?
• Which are the most intelligent animals on the face of the earth?
• Why do the male seahorses often carry the offspring?
• How were the wolves domesticated?
• The genetic mutations in plants and animals.
• How the albino animals are different; is this trait also shared in plants and humans?
• The process of aging in humans.

These are some of the good biology essay topics that you can use to produce an article that is standard.

Biology essay structure

The outline for a biology essay gives you clear guidelines on how to go about writing the article. The biology essay draft should go in line with the topic that the writer has chosen.

The biology essay outlining is as illustrated below:

1. The title

• The title page offers clear indications of the biology essay focus.
• The title should be precisely phrased and at the same time based on the hypothesis.
• Avoid jargon for the title to look professional.
• The title should also give the reader a quick understanding of the topic.

2. The content page

This page is located at the beginning of biology papers after the abstract and the title pages. The page shows the numbers as well as the subsections of the essay on biology.

3. The research question

The topics for a biology essay determine the research questions to be used. The research question shows what the article is trying to establish. Keep in mind that the question is not the same as the title.

• The question in motion should be highlighted in the introduction. The content page will give the reader an understanding of the article.
• The question should introduce new ideas as well.

4. The introduction

The biology essay introduction is the most crucial part of the article, as it will determine whether the readers will want to read more of the piece or not.

• The introduction for a biology essay should illustrate what is being argued in the article.
• For an introduction to be successful, the contents need to be brief and accurate.
• Another professional way how to start a biology essay introduction is by illustrating how you reached the focus of the research.
• The introduction should also contain the references that were accessed.
• What might be revealed in the study should also be highlighted in the opening section.

5. The investigation

The study section gives you the chance of illustrating how the data was selected as well as its reliability.

• You need to clearly explain, describe and justify the choice of collecting primary data.
• Don’t forget to state the sources of the experiments. The method used should be detailed. Someone would want to repeat the same procedure.
• Ensure that the investigations are ethical and not cruel.

6. The analysis

• The body is the meat of the literature essay. The body covers most of the article. A common way how to write a biology essay body is by using at least three paragraphs.
• The biology essay tips need to be relevant to the research question being discussed. The points should also give assertion to the reader.
• Highlight the biology essay prompts as well. Elaborate on how the ideas have been used to support the question in the essay on biology.
• For an effective essay on biology writing, discuss each point in its paragraph. This technique will give you the chance of exhausting the points.

7. The biology essay conclusion

The end of the article should be firm and sum up the whole article. The conclusion is a formal way how to conclude a biology essay. The conclusion restates the points for emphasis and makes the final argument clear. This section also gives you the chance of drawing connections between the points and questions being discussed. The conclusion for a biology essay also gives room for you to show your engagement with the essay on biology on a personal ground. The conclusion should be in a position of reformulating a new hypothesis as well as comparing the content to the secondary sources used. You can finish up the biology essay by stating the significance of the statistical tests done.

8. The references

Making citations is an essential issue in biology papers. There are quite some formatting and citation styles ranging from APA to MLA.  You should, therefore, be keen on the style specified. Referencing styles depends on the academic discipline that one is in. For instance, APA is used in psychology, education, and sciences

Archetti M 2000. The origin of autumn colors by coevolution. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 205: 625–63

9. Sources for essay choice

Sources can either be secondary or primary. The primary source refers to any work that can be accessed originally. The secondary source refers to the works that have been original, but have been produced by another person. Examples of secondary sources include books , encyclopedias, and journals among other recreated works. You can use both the primary and secondary data to make your biology paper a success.

10. Finalizing the Essay

Once the essay on biology has been written, a revision is necessary to ensure the content is in order. A standard method of review is proofreading. Proofreading gives you the chance to analyze your work and correct errors that are avoidable.

How to Write a Biology Essay

In a lot of biology classes in universities, the pupils are expected to learn how to write a biology essay . Writing a particular research paper requires proper arranging and systematic work. This is due to the original kind of assignment writing, The Uni Tutor gives pupils with complete HOW TO GUIDES to be able to help them study the proper way to write an essay about biology.

Getting started

If you choose an appropriate topic, knowing how to write a biology essay is very persuasive. At the onset of a conventional biology essay means that you are convinced about what you want to look for and discover. Initially, it is important to choose a topic or subject that you are interested in. Because biology is a broad subject, our educator essay writers can help you in selecting a topic that you need based on biological subjects like Botany, Genetics & Zoology. While you are in the process of learning how to write a biology essay , you will also clasps on the ideas like formatting, writing the abstract, executing properly the entire structure of the paper.

Professionally written essays about biology must be in Times New Roman font, size 11 with 1.5 line spacing. You are advised to use usual page margins when you format the biology essay. Your last name, student number & the number of the page must be seen on the upper right hand corner of every page. While learning about how to write an essay about biology, the students must highlight the title in size 14, Times New Roman font.  The heading must also be visible on top of the page with your name, department, and school to address.

All of these must be bolded. The Uni Tutor is well skilled in teaching you ways to write an essay about biology with abstracts. This part of the paper is important and this is close to the summary of the essay. This part must be precise and straight to the point. This will provide your readers with all the information about the paper. It must only be in a few sentences with general background about the subject of the research. You must be able to describe the experiments made, the methods you used and the conclusion that are theorized for the results.

Writing your essay

The Uni Tutor offer help when it comes to essay writing. This is to make sure that you will learn how to write your biological essay very well, which should include the introduction, body & conclusion with a citation page too.

Introduction

Basically, the introductory page must be able to introduce the subject to the readers. The introduction must make sure that the readers will fully understand what the essay is all about. To be able to apply efficiently, it must be presented in a step by step format. We highly recommend pupils to limit the content of their introduction to 2 pages only while still in the process of learning how to write an essay about biology.  This is almost enough to give an overview of the topic that you have researched. It will indicate all the important data to fully understand the outcome of the essay. More so, the reader should comprehend the reason behind the results and why they are essential to science as a whole. In finding out how to perfectly write an essay about biology, you need to know that importance of a past research & experiments made about the topic. The final initial concept is about the experimental design, what you want to define with your experiment and the creative theory.

This is quite long to give an overview of the subject that you need to research about. It will indicate all the essential data to fully comprehend the results of the essay. More so, the reader must fully comprehend why the results are substantial to science as a whole. In knowing the ways to write a biological essay, you need to know the essence of indicating the past research & experiments made on the topic. The end result of the introductory ideas points out the experimental scheme, what you are trying to describe with the use of the discovery and the inventive hypothesis.

This part of the essay is where you will unveil your essay subject in a detailed manner.  Becoming knowledgeable about the proper ways to compose an essay about biology will enable you to discuss properly about various plants, animals and life forms. In the body of the essay, you need to further explain some of the experiments, dissections made to prove the theory about life. This kind of writing assignment has more weight when written with diagrams and illustrations, whether you will pick a topic about Botany, Zoology, Genetics and others. For instance, if you pick a topic about botany, you need to be able to discuss a topic related to divisions of cells and cell life forms like mitosis and meiosis. A zoology topic might discuss the hereditary factors of sexual and asexual reproduction.

When a pupil has learned how to compose a biology essay, they sum up all the work that they have done. Our graduate educators can help you in highlighting the most essential part to the end with a very impressive conclusion. Just like the introduction, the conclusion has to leave a big impact on your reader. It is very beneficial to schedule time for proofreading & in editing before having the final copy. It is very essential for the biology paper to be original and it must be properly referenced and well formatted for the readers to be able to enjoy reading it and to get a lot of information that you want to let them know through this writing.

The Uni Tutor will help you get the grade that you want and will guarantee that your paper will be flawless and no grammatical errors and typo mistakes visible in the paper.

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• Thesis Guidelines

A thesis for Distinction in Biology is a wonderful way for you to close the loop on your undergraduate research experience and showcase your scientific scholarship. Your thesis will be evaluated by the Faculty in Biology and answers the following questions: What did you do? Why did you do it? What is the significance of your results? What else would you do, were you to continue the project?

In answering the above questions, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and intellectual ownership of a project; not simply your productivity in the lab. The volume of results or completeness of the study is not critical for a successful thesis. Instead, we will be looking for the following:

• An argument for the significance of your research, contextualized within the scientific literature;
• A review of appropriate literature as evidence in support of claims you make in your argument;
• A statement of your research goals, i.e., a meaningful question of biological importance;
• A description of experimental approaches and methods ;
• Appropriate presentation of results through tables, figures, and images;
• A discussion of the meaning and significance of your results;
• A description of limitations and future directions for the project.

Expanded guidelines can be found in the Biology Thesis Assessment Protocol (BioTAP):

Format of the Thesis

The basic format of the thesis should resemble that of any scientific journal article that is common in your subdiscipline. It generally includes the following sections: Introduction & Background; Methods; Results; Discussion; Acknowledgements; and References. In some instances, it may be useful to sub-divide the Methods & Results section to correspond to multiple aims. However, if you chose to take this route, remember that there should still be a general Introduction and Discussion sections that address the project as a whole. The thesis should not consist of several "mini-papers" that are unconnected.  

Submission Guidelines

The format of the final copy should follow these guidelines:

• Cover Page ( sample ): Title; student's name; supervisor's name; date of submission; 3 signature lines at bottom right (Research Supervisor, DUS, Reader). Please follow the format and language of the sample.
• Abstract Page: single-spaced, roughly 250 words.
• Thesis should be double-spaced
• Pages should be numbered at the top right corner of the page
• It is preferred that figures are embedded within the document instead of all at the end
• There is no minimum page requirement or limit, although most are approximately 25 pages. 

Sample Theses

Examples of Distinction papers from previous years are available for examination in the Undergraduate Studies Office (Rm 135 BioSci).  Several samples are also available below as PDF files.

• Tracing the origins of antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium vivax
• Interaction network optimization improves the antimicrobial efficacy of phage cocktails
• Identifying how ufmylation of RAB1B regulates IFN-β signaling

Additional Resources

• Library Resources for Students Writing Theses
• How to write and publish a scientific paper by Barbara Gastel and Robert A. Day
• Biology 495(S): Scientific Argument in Writing . This course is particularly appropriate for seniors working on an undergraduate thesis or major research paper and is recommended, although not required, for all candidates for Graduation with Distinction in biology. The course is writing intensive and carries a “W” designation and, in the fall semester only, is a seminar and carries an “S” designation.
• Biology Writes  offers writing resources, feedback, one-on-one consultations, and more.  
• Duke Biology’s Mission Statement
• AJED Annual and Semester Reports
• AJED Meeting Notes
• Biology Cultural Association (BCA)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism Committee (IDEA)
• Learning from Baboons: Dr. Susan Alberts
• Extremophiles and Systems Biology: Dr. Amy Schmid
• How Cells Manage Stress: Dr. Gustavo Silva
• Predator-Prey Interactions in a Changing World: Dr. Jean Philippe Gibert
• Exploring the Extracellular Matrix: Dr. David Sherwood
• Cell Division's Missing Link: Dr. Masayuki Onishi
• Listening in to Birdsong: Dr. Steve Nowicki
• Biogeochemistry as Ecosystem Accounting: Dr. Emily Bernhardt
• Building a Dynamic Nervous System: Dr. Pelin Volkan
• Investigating a Key Plant Hormone: Dr. Lucia Strader
• Imagining Visual Ecology: Dr. Sönke Johnsen
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Biology Extended Essay: The Complete Guide for IB Students

by  Antony W

March 13, 2023

Biology Extended Essay is an assignment that requires you to explore biological issue relevant to you and your environment.

Your focus should be on a particular biological emphasis within a broader context of scientific investigation. Given that the focus is on a biological system, you’ll have to make an analytical argument as you write the essay.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know about the IB Biology Extended Essay . Our goal with this lesson is to give you the most important information about the subject so that you can get the assignment done right.

What is Biology in an IB Extended Essay?

Biology in IB Extended Essay is the examination of living organisms and their life processes. The assignment integrates biological theories and examines the nature of the subject.

While you can approach a Biology EE from varying viewpoints, the treatment of the material used in your investigation must be 100% biological.

IB Biology Extended Essay Topics

The topic you choose to explore in your IB Biology Extended Essay shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow. Make sure you choose a focused topic that’s easy to investigate and easy to explain.

Your teacher expects you to explain how you arrived at your research question, and the best way to do that is to outline the aspects you wish to consider in the essay.

You may also have to formulate one or more hypothesis based on the research question.

The EE guide on the subject recommends that you choose your topics carefully, making sure you refrain from inappropriate topics such as those that are likely to inflict pain, involve the use of dangerous substances, or linked to safety concern.

You should avoid topics whose outcome are either obvious or already well known and documented in textbooks.

Doing Research for Your IB Biology Extended Essay

You will need to do primary and secondary research for your Biology Extended Essay.

1. Primary Research

For primary research, you can collect data from fieldwork, surveys, biological drawings, and biological observations.

If you’ve picked topic that requires practical work, you may have to conduct multiple, extensive fieldwork or do lab tests. In such a case, you will have to provide a detailed explanation of the experimental research procedures sued.

2. Secondary Research

When it comes to secondary research, you get data or information from literature.

Some students restate the information they collect from secondary sources, but doing so often adds little or no value to a Biology Extended Essay.

Therefore, the right approach is to analyze the data or information in an original way to add a new dimension and value to your research and to the essay at large.

Whether you do primary research, secondary research, or a combination of both, you need to make sure you have access to enough data or information to answer your research question.

How Do You Write an IB Biology Extended Essay?

The first step to writing a comprehensive, 4,000-word essay in Biology EE is to use the right scientific techniques to analyze the data you collect during research.

You then have to present your argument or evaluation based on the analysis you’ve completed.

You can include graphs, tables, and diagrams, and make sure you point out their significance in the essay so they’re easy to understand.

As with any other EE, your Biology essay should have a good structure and demonstrate a logical progression. Feel free to use headings and subheadings in the essay because it imposes a concise structure.

Your evaluation of the research questions should demonstrate that you not only understand the results from your experiments but also can explain their significance in a wider academic context.

Since you aren’t sure about what to expect from biological experiments, you may have to account for anomalies or unexpected results in your investigation.

In such a case, you have to provide explanations for the expected outcome and give an alternative explanation for such findings.

The subject also allows you to propose slight or major changes to the hypothesis presented in the essay, in which case you will have to suggest relevant approaches to testing the new changes.

Evaluation of Your Biology EE

Writing your EE in Biology also requires that you undertake a critical evaluation of the work that you have already done.

The evaluation helps you to identify and explain the limitation of your research by a number of factors including the reliability and validity of statistics, the precision of experimenting equipment and the reliability of sources.

You also need to consider biological limitations of your research. Such limitations are likely to arise from the inability to generalize based on a single form of an organism or problems of control and repeatability when using living organisms in your research.

Biology Internal Assessment vs Biology Extended Essay

It’s important to keep in mind that a Biology Extended Essay is not an extension of the Internal Assessment in the same subject. There are a few differences that set the two assignments apart, and it’s important to know them before you start working on the essay.

Get Extended Essay Writing Help

Do you need help with your Extended Essay in Biology? Our team of IB experts is here to help you write the 4,000-word essay, even if it’s on a complex topic. You can click here to learn more.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how to write a 'why biology' major essay.

I'm a high school junior applying to college soon, and I'm working on my application essays. One question asks me to explain why I'm interested in majoring in Biology. Can you guys suggest some elements I should include in the essay? How can I make my passion for biology stand out?

When writing a 'Why Biology' major essay, it's essential to focus on your personal experiences, passion, and future goals related to the subject. Here are some elements you can include in the essay to make it stand out:

1. Personal exposure: Highlight any experiences that sparked your interest in biology. Did you have a inspiring biology teacher or an exciting lab experiment? Maybe you joined a biology club or participated in a science fair project? Connect these experiences to your passion for the subject.

2. Academic achievements: Reflect on any notable academic accomplishments you have had in biology, such as high grades, taking AP or advanced level courses, or receiving awards/recognitions for your work in the subject. This shows your dedication and success within the field.

3. Extracurricular activities: Discuss any relevant extracurricular activities showcasing your involvement and commitment to biology, such as internships, volunteering, research projects, or summer programs related to the subject. Elaborate on how these experiences deepened your passion and understanding of biology.

4. Specific topics of interest: Describe the areas within biology that you find particularly fascinating or captivating, such as genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, or ecology. By narrowing the focus, you demonstrate a clear understanding of the discipline and its subfields.

5. How your passion has evolved: Explain how your interest in biology started and the ways it has grown over time. This shows your commitment to understanding the subject on a deeper level, and it will allow the admissions committee to see how you've continued to explore and expand your passion for biology.

6. Future plans and goals: Talk about your long-term career aspirations or academic goals in biology and how majoring in the subject will help you achieve them. For example, you could mention your desire to pursue research, medicine, biotechnology, or conservation. Connecting your major to future plans showcases your motivation and seriousness about studying biology.

7. College-specific resources: Mention specific programs, faculty, research opportunities, or facilities that the college you're applying to offers within the biology department. Explain how these resources will help you reach your academic goals and deepen your passion for the subject.

For more details on writing a "Why This Major?" essay, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/why-this-major-college-essay

In conclusion, make sure to focus on your personal experiences, achievements, and aspirations regarding biology, and convey your genuine enthusiasm and dedication to the subject. By incorporating these various elements into your essay, you'll demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of and passion for biology, which will make your essay stand out.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

AP® Biology

How to answer ap® biology free response questions.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

The free response section can make or break any student’s AP® Biology exam score. If you’re wondering what the best tips and tricks for answering AP® Biology free response questions, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we extensively cover must know tips for writing effective AP® Biology FRQs, common mistakes made by students when analyzing past AP® Biology scoring guidelines, and how to use past AP® Biology free response questions to start practicing for your exam.

Read on to get the complete scoop when it comes to succeeding on your AP® Biology exam review.

What We Review

5 Steps on How to Write Effective AP® Biology Free Responses

In this section, we’ll give you a strategy to start writing AP® Biology free responses that score you points. 

1. Understand how points are awarded by reviewing the AP® Biology rubrics.

The first step to crafting good AP® Biology free responses that score you points is understanding how points are distributed. The easiest way to do this is by going to the College Board’s AP® Central website and navigating to their past released exams . 

From here, you’ll want to open up the scoring guidelines — these will detail what points were awarded for different parts of AP® Biology free response questions. 

Here’s a screenshot from the 2019 released exam: 

Source: College Board

As you can see in this first section 1 (a), students receive two points, one for properly circling the transcription on the template pathway, and another point for properly identifying the molecule.

2. Underline or circle every bolded and capitalized word.

One of the nice parts of the AP® Biology free response section is that the College Board draws attention to what they are asking you to answer. This means you need to make sure you answer it! 

Bolded and capitalized words are often the easiest way to figure out the root of the question. Typically you can break down how much each question is worth from the bolded and capitalized words. 

One of our best test taking tips is to make sure you check off or star next to the word after you’ve answered it in your free response. This serves as a visual checklist for you to make sure you answered all parts of the question. 

3. Understand what the question is asking you and identify common AP® Biology directive words.

One of the easiest ways students get tripped up in their AP® Biology exam review is not actually answering the question that the test makers are asking. It’s a commonly cited piece of advice from the College Board readers. 

Here are nine common AP® Biology question stems (directive words) to make sure you know cold:

• Calculate: This is where you’ll be asked to solve a problem. Two points are typically awarded for these parts, one for the right answer and one for showing your work. 
• Compare: This is where you must outline similarities between two or more things. It’s important you specifically only outline similarities; don’t get this confused with contrast!
• Contrast : This is where you must show the differences between two or more things.
• Discuss: This is where you’ll want to outline pros and cons on a topic, process, theory or technique. 
• Describe: This sort of question assesses your ability to characterize something; for example: the functions of a certain part of a cell. 
• Explain: This is where you need to demonstrate your ability to make something understandable. 
• Identify: This is where you will need to give a direct answer to the question. It’s usually closely related to reading a diagram or graphical representation. 
• Interpret: This is where you need to analyze something critically or explain something that isn’t clear. 
• Justify: This is where you must explain why something may happen. This is testing similar skills to interpret and explain. 

Stems like calculate, explain, and justify are often associated with two-point problems. 

Notice how some of these stems are open-ended. For example, discuss, describe, explain, and interpret are all generally pretty-open ended. Typically, this should clue you in that your answer should be thorough for this part of the problem. For example, if you’re asked to explain why a certain result may occur from an experiment — you would need to exhaustively cover the set up of the experiment, as well as what makes that particular experimental design an effective way to measure the dependent variable. 

Make sure you do not make the mistake of only providing a single sentence answer when so many points are at stake! 

AP® Biology students most often lose 5+ points when it comes to the first and second problems in the free response section. These are points you can’t get back, and can dramatically impact the way you score. 

There are a handful of other common stems — be sure to review the past AP® Biology released exams to familiarize yourself with them. 

4. Be succinct in your AP® Biology free responses.

This isn’t an AP® English Language free response essay. One of the most common mistakes AP® Biology students make when answering free response questions is thinking if they just write a lot, they can score more points. This is not true. 

For example, if the question asked you to identify four properties of something and you list out nine, you will only get points for the first four you stated. 

It is not the responsibility of your AP® reader to figure out what you meant. It is your responsibility as the AP® Biology test taker to communicate clearly through your writing. 

A few principles to remember when writing your AP® Biology free responses:

• Don’t restate the question. This is unnecessary and will not score you points. 
• Write in complete sentences.
• If doing a calculation, make sure you clearly identify your final answer (this is most easily done by boxing your answer), AND show your work. A point is typically awarded for showing your work.
• Once you answer the question, move on. One of the most common mistakes AP® Biology students make is by making a contradicting statement after they stated the right answer. If there is a contradicting statement made, you can lose out on points. 
• Remember the prior tip for graphing as well. If it asks you to plot, put the data points in the graph. If the question asks you to graph, draw a line or curve. Do not extend beyond the provided data unless you’re explicitly asked in the question to predict or extrapolate a result. 
• When graphing, make sure you follow graphing conventions. This means titling your chart, labeling your axes, scaling appropriately, and selecting the right type of graph.
• Be mindful of your handwriting. While it’s not formally part of the grading process, if your AP® Reader cannot decipher your handwriting in the limited amount of time they have grading your exam, you are making it harder for them to give you points. 

A final overarching principle is to make sure you practice completing your thoughts within a prompt. This has been called “closing the loop” and it is one of the most frequent mistakes students make here is when they’re asked for example to state the direction something is changing in the prompt, but then fail to do so. 

5. Practice, practice, and then practice some more.

Mastering the AP® Biology free response section comes down to two things: understanding how the free response is graded, and then learning how to answer questions that fit those expectations. 

Sometimes students do a great job of learning the rubrics, but don’t practice enough on actually writing sample responses or vice versa. When you’re starting your AP® Biology free response review, it’s helpful to first try out a past set of released questions, then grade yourself with the scoring guidelines. 

See how long it took you to answer each question, how effective you were at answering the actual question posed, and where you missed out on points. 

After a few times of doing this, you’ll begin to be more mindful of what the test makers are looking for in your responses.

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25 AP® Biology FRQ Tips to Scoring a 4 or 5

Now that we’ve covered how to write effective AP® Biology free responses, we’ll shift gears to cover some tips and tricks to maximizing your FRQ score. 

• When interpreting data, make sure you provide reasoning to support a claim. In recent years of exams, students have struggled in understanding the two-part nature of questions that ask to explain or justify something.
• Interpreting and constructing models are different skills. It is not enough just to be able to create a phylogenetic tree. A student needs to understand what the model they construct actually says. 
• Practice applying fundamental knowledge of basic biology to giving an explanation for why you chose to present data in a certain way. 
• Be specific but with purpose ! Sometimes students include unnecessary specificity that doesn’t actually answer what the question is asking. Provide your reasoning — don’t just repeat something given in the prompt.
• Use “claim-evidence-reasoning”. This is where you break down an argument into these parts to make your point more clear. 
• When asked to make a comparison, make sure to answer the before and after state of the comparison. 
• When reviewing commonly tested topics such as the modeling of a cell signaling pathway, make sure you are able to describe each step of the pathway and anticipate what might happen if a particular step was activated or inhibited.
• Practice reading multiple types of tables, then make sure you also practice creating your own tables with data. Remember the earlier tip to follow standard graphing conventions. Students have missed points in recent years for mistakes like forgetting to have units in their axes or missing labels.
• Building on the prior tip, practice creating graphs from different sources of information — for example, you may have to draw a diagram from a narrative description. You should feel comfortable with creating different types of graphs like bar, dual Y axes, line, semi-log, etc. 
• Practice incorporating evidence from your own knowledge of biology — this can help in thoroughly answering questions that ask you to justify or interpret something.
• Always be thinking about how to apply prior things you’ve learned to a new situation — the College Board is known for asking AP® Biology questions that cover something you’ve never directly learned before, but they are often questions that require you to apply one or two concepts you have previously had exposure to. This was a common mistake made by students in the 2019 exam on question 1 when students often missed points for not applying changes in molecular processes to ecological relationships. 
• Remember that natural selection has two notions: survival AND reproduction. This was a commonly missed point over the course of the last few years. 
• When answering experimental design questions, make sure you practice being specific in stating the change that may occur in an experiment. It’s not enough just to say that a change will occur. Make direct comparisons to the control group. When you fail to explain the different parts of an experiment and how it is designed, it makes it difficult for the reader to believe that you truly understand how to build a meaningful experiment.
• Questions that test you on experimental design should always have a control, a variable to test in a few ways, a hypothesis, expected results, and clear graphs.
• Know the difference between a dependent variable and an independent variable. There can be several independent variables but there can only be one dependent variable in a well-constructed experiment. 
• Remember that hypotheses (predictions) should compare the experimental group to a control group. It is not enough just to say something like “X will change” — it is better to say “X will change by being more Y” — notice how in this latter response, we’re being intentional and specific with directionality of the change. 
• If you don’t remember the exact name of a concept or how to spell it, try describing it or giving your best shot at spelling it. You can sometimes earn points for defining relevant terms. 
• Answer the AP® Biology free responses questions any way you’d like. All you need to do is make sure you’re making clear which question you are answering. Taking this approach is a common strategy for managing your time effectively. 
• Keep your opinion out of your free response answer. Your AP® Bio free responses should be backed by things you learned in class and actual science.
• Wear a watch when practicing and taking the actual AP® Biology exam. You need to be familiar with how to pace yourself in different parts of the FRQs. It’s common sense, but longer questions deserve more time while shorter questions should take you less time.
• If you’re given a parameter, follow it…when questions ask you to state something in a sentence or two, you should not write four sentences. Follow directions!
• Make sure you explain terms when you use them — assume your grader knows little about AP® Biology. 
• Use a black or blue ink pen. Doing so makes it easier for your AP® Biology exam to be graded.
• Try every question. One of the most common pieces of advice from AP® Biology teachers is to make sure you put something down for every question. You do not lose points for getting things wrong, but you miss out entirely on points for not answering a question at all.
• Know your commonly tested diagrams cold. Concepts that often have related diagrams like cell signaling pathways, or Punnett squares are topics to make sure you understand when given different forms of information. For example, with Punnett squares you should be comfortable describing all outcomes in a variety of ways (such as in percentages and ratios, as phenotypes or genotypes). You should be comfortable creating Punnett squares when given information about the parent generation, or the F1 generation. 

Wrapping Things Up: How to Write AP® Biology FRQs

We’ve covered a lot of ground when it comes to answering AP® Biology free response questions. Here are a few key things to remember: 

• Know how AP® Biology FRQ points are rewarded.
• Build the habit of identifying the sources of points in questions. Circle or underline these to figure out how valuable different parts of a question are. 
• Understand the question being asked — learn the directive words the College Board often uses and what they are asking for.
• Master commonly tested skills such as experimental design and graphing (including interpretation of graphs). 
• Review commonly tested AP® Biology topics. Refer to the curriculum and exam description to see the percentage breakdown of different units. 
• Be specific and succinct in your responses. This is not an AP® English Language essay.
• Try every question and be intentional in the order in which you answer each one. Tackle the questions you feel most confident in first.  

We hope you’ve found this extensive guide helpful for your AP® Biology exam review. If you’d like additional free response or multiple choice practice, check out Albert for hundreds of original standards-aligned practice questions.

If you found this post helpful, you may also like our AP® Biology tips here or check out our AP® Biology score calculator here .

We also have an AP® Biology review guide here .

Need help preparing for your AP® Biology exam?

Albert has hundreds of AP® Biology practice questions, free response, and full-length practice tests to try out.

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Essays About Biology: Top 5 Best Examples and 6 Prompts

Writing essays about biology can be difficult because it’s composed of many subtopics. Check out this article for our top essay examples and writing prompts.

Biology came from the Greek words “bios” (life) and “logos” (study). It’s why biology is the study of life or living organisms. Aside from being a natural science, it also has consolidated themes, such as cells making all organisms. Because it’s a broad topic, biology is divided into specialized fields such as botany, genetics, zoology, microbiology, medicine, and ecology. 

Biologists consider living beings’ origin, evolution, growth, function, structure, and distribution. It’s a comprehensive subject, so there are many things you can write about in your essay. However, at the same time, you might find it challenging to focus on just one area. 

Below are examples to give you an idea of how to write your essays about biology:

1. Essay About Biology by Kelli Wilkins

2. my interests in biology by anonymous on essaywriting.expert, 3. essay on the importance of study of biology by akhila mol, 4. what biology means to me by anonymous on studymode.com, 5. how my biology teacher changed my perspective of learning the subject by sankalan bhattacharya, 1. biology in my everyday life, 2. something i realized because of biology, 3. my memorable biology class experience, 4. genetics’ role in people’s diseases, 5. my experience during the pandemic, 6. biology and health.

“Studying Biology is important for a number of reasons, but in particular because it is used in every field. If we did not have a good understanding of Biology then nobody would be able to understand how bodies work, and how life on earth functions.”

Wilkins shares her desire to study anatomy, a branch of biology, and expounds on what makes biology an essential field. Because biology lets people know more about the world, she digs into why she’s interested in anatomy, specifically to find ways to cure illnesses and develop technologies to discover new treatments. She ends her essay by relating biology to the existence of doctors and hospitals. 

“It is known that education plays an important role in the life of any individual. It gives an opportunity to develop personality and gain specific skills, to get profound knowledge and experience in order to apply them practically in the future. As for me, my major goal is to study Biology in order to get appropriate knowledge and skills required for my future profession.”

The author shares why they want to study biology, referring to the human body as the “perfect machine” and curious about how it performs each of its systems’ functions. The writer also mentions how biology is critical to their future profession. They aim to help people with their health problems and relay their desire to research the brain to find more data on it. 

“The study of biology owes great significance in human life, because man for its day-to-day requirements is dependent on plants and animals either directly or indirectly.”

Mol lists seven reasons why humans need biology in their daily lives. Her list includes health, diseases, agriculture, horticulture, food, animal breeding, and entertainment. She expounds on each point and how they affect a man during his time on Earth. She explains each relationship in a simple manner that’s easy to understand for the readers.

“Without biology, we would have no idea about an organism’s makeup, or the most basic unit of life, a cell… Biology influences me in many ways. Biology influences me by teaching me why to take care of the environment, why I am to take care of my body, and by giving me a better overall view of all scientific areas of study.”

In this short essay, the writer lists down reasons why biology is essential. These reasons include taking care of the environment, one’s body, and others. The author also expounds on their reasons by presenting facts supporting biology’s importance to the world and human lives.

“He told that the syllabus may be a good way to prepare for an exam but our knowledge should not be limited to any syllabus and the questions that were asked in the examination were related to the topic only. He told that if we try to know things in detail and understand them properly then the interest in the subject will develop, otherwise, students will not treat the subject as a subject of their choice. 

Bhattacharya shares his experience with a teacher with a unique teaching style. His Biology teacher from Class 7, before the era of the internet, don’t just carry one book to get all his lessons from. Instead, he has a notebook with the collated information from many books to teach his class. 

Bhattacharya’s teacher taught them things that were not in the curriculum, even if following the curriculum would give him higher points in his evaluation. He only wanted his students to learn more and share with them why learning differs from just knowing. 

Do you want to be sure you have an excellent essay? See our round-up of the best essay writing apps to help you check your output.

6 Prompts for Essays About Biology

You don’t have to be a biology student to write an essay about the subject. If you’re looking for easy prompts to write about, here are some to get you started:

If mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, who is the powerhouse of your classroom? Your home? Relate a biology topic to a similar structure in your life, then explain why you think they are the same. 

For instance, you can compare your mother to mitochondria which generate the energy needed to power a cell. The cell being you. You can say that she gives you energy every day by being there and supporting you in whatever way she can. This prompt bodes for a creative and intriguing essay.

Relay a lesson you learned from biology and how it perfectly explained something you were once hesitant about. Such as being insecure about your big ears – only to know from a biology trivia that ears never stop growing. You can then share how this help lessen your insecurity because you now know large ears are normal. 

Do you have a memory you won’t forget that happened during biology class? Narrate this story and explain why it’s something that left an impression on you. To give you an idea, you can talk about the first time you dissected an animal, where you first realized how complex organisms are and that they are made of many systems to function, no matter how small.

Gene action and heredity are evolving. If you have a genetic illness or know someone who has it, you can share your experience. Then explain what your genes have to do with the disease. Is it something you got from your parents? Did they inherit it from your grandparents? Finally, you can add what your parents’ and grandparents’ lives were like because of the disease.

Virology, another branch of biology, studies viruses and viral diseases. A recent example is the coronavirus pandemic, where more people realized the importance of knowing a virus’ origin, structure, and how they work. Write an essay where you explain how the pandemic operates, such as why people should wear masks, social distance, etc.

For this essay, you can write about how biology helps you care for your health. For example, you can include how biology helped doctors give you the appropriate diagnosis, how you had the opportunity to have the proper treatment, etc. 

If you want to write on a related topic, here are essay topics about nature you can consider for your next essay. 

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

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How formal should the tone of your college essay be?

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Taking your college essay to the next level

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Student Stories

Student Story: Admissions essay about a formative experience

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Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identity

Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org.

A look into medical writing

If you’ve ever looked at the websites for companies that provide medical writing and consultancy services, you probably haven’t come away with much useful information about what they really do.

You might find words like “deliverables,” “products” or “clients” without a lot of information about what any of those things mean. What does the company “deliver” and to whom? That’s partially because there is a wide range of things these consultancy and writing companies do.

There are many types of medical writers at these companies, each with a different focus and audience, such as writing study designs, working on regulatory questions, writing scientific articles for publications, or doing promotional writing, among many other specialties.

This week, I spoke with Ashlea A. Morgan, an associate scientific director at Chameleon Communications International , to get a sense of one type of work a medical writer can do. Chameleon provides communication services for a range of pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Morgan’s work focuses on medical education, which means her writing is promotional in nature, largely aimed at physicians, with the goal of educating them about new drugs so that they accurately understand them as well as the diseases they treat.

“Ultimately it’s to help them prescribe it to the right patient at the right time,” she said.

Accurate information for prescribers

Each physician has a different background, and the drug landscape changes constantly.

Some doctors associated with big academic medical centers have an easier time staying updated on clinical trial data and the newest information about diseases and therapeutic options; they, or their patients, might even have clinical trial involvement. Other physicians might be more isolated, relying mostly on information about drugs and diseases they learned when they were in medical school or their own continuing studies.

“We have to meet physicians where they are,” Morgan said.

Morgan creates slide decks for presentations at meetings. This could be a big national meeting or at a more regional or smaller meeting. And the work is tailored accordingly for the audience.

Drug companies are paying for the writing Morgan does, and they do want doctors to prescribe their drugs after all. But the end goal, Morgan said, is not exactly “sell more drugs.” She said she aims to share accurate, research-based information to help doctors make well-informed decisions.

That’s not just a lofty moral, it is financially beneficial to the drug companies too: If a drug gets prescribed unnecessarily or at the wrong time or to the wrong patient, that can lead to a bad outcome, which in turn is bad for the company. Think about the lawsuits that have come about after opioids were pushed and overprescribed, for example.

In addition, conference organizers often state that the presentations can’t simply advertise a product. They must be truly educational, sharing information about the disease, data-based guidelines for when to use a drug, and balanced safety and efficacy data.

The Food and Drug Administration also has rules about what data must underlie statements of efficacy or safety, so Morgan’s work must be meticulous and accurate.

From bench work to medical writer

Morgan, like most medical writers on her track, earned her Ph.D. in a biomedical field. She studied serotonin circuitry at Columbia University and notes that, while she’s not using the specific knowledge of her field currently, she draws regularly on things she learned during her graduate studies, including how to drill down and become a subject matter expert relatively quickly.

She said another thing that sets apart medical writers with Ph.D.s is the ability to accept criticism, not take it personally and use it to make your work better.

The translatable skills notwithstanding, the world of medical writing is quite different from academia. The biggest difference Morgan noted was the self-driven aspect of academia versus the client-driven aspect of medical writing. “If a client says it has to be done by midnight and it’s 5 p.m., you have to get it done,” she said. And if a project gets canceled, you’re left with more time on your hands.

Since a writer’s time is billable by the hour, periods with less work can be stressful. Morgan says she keeps the projects she works on diversified; that way, if one falls through, she can shift her focus to another. She also keeps good relationships with others in her company to share the workload. “They’ll think of you when they are overwhelmed with work and you are waiting for work, and vice versa,” she said. 

Morgan points out that in academia you’re often the whole team: a liaison, a data analyst, a budget manager, a researcher, a writer. As a medical writer, you work with many other specialists to get the project done, so you can focus on your specific work.

While every Ph.D. student has discussed their work with various audiences by the time they graduate, one difference Morgan has found in how she approaches writing and talking about science in her current job is how much context and big-picture background is needed.

“When you’re talking to your PI, you can immediately talk about the details. But with a client, you have to ease into the details. You have to back into things. Say, ‘OK, this is our overarching idea for this deck’ and explain ‘It’s supposed to do this; these are the targets.’  And then you can talk about the data.”

Is medical writing for you?

One way to think about how good a fit a job might be for you is to look at what is being selected for in the hiring process. Morgan said that during job interviews there’s a practical component that involves scientific writing, which may be writing an abstract, creating slides, finding errors in a document or something similar. If you like that kind of thing and can do it quickly, “then this is the right career for you,” Morgan said.

Other aspects of the job, such as working with clients or budgeting, can be learned on the job, “but if you don’t know how to do a literature search or make a PowerPoint then it’s not the right place for you.”

In addition, collaborating well and keeping a friendly professional environment are essential.

Trying out writing in other ways can help you decide if this might be a career for you. Morgan kept her own science blog and worked as a science writer for the New York Academy of Sciences during her doctoral program.

You might also seek out opportunities to feel out what the commercial side of science is like. Morgan worked at the technology transfer office at Columbia, which helped give her insight into processes other than benchwork.

There are a few parts of the job Morgan especially enjoys. At the top of her list is her colleagues, she said. 

She’s also happy to have found her niche in science. She said she had been dreaming of a career in science and medicine since she was a young kid, but she found during grad school that benchwork just wasn’t exactly right for her: The planning of detailed experiments was draining. Now, she likes her position. “I’m definitely still in the science without having to do the benchwork,” she said.

She also likes the puzzle-like aspects of making the right presentation for the right audience with the right information. “There are many ways to tell the story,” Morgan said. Figuring out how to do it accurately in an eye-catching and informative way is a challenge she enjoys.

Not every drug is going to be a life changing drug, but some have real potential to seriously help people. Morgan described the feeling of excitement when you look at the efficacy chart for a drug and realize this is one that could change someone’s life for the better. “When I'm working on a drug where the efficacy is there and the safety is there, it feels good! Like, maybe a physician will prescribe it and it'll help someone, and I can play a part in that.”

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Elizabeth Stivison is a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University studying inositol signaling and a careers columnist for ASBMB Today.

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Writing Resource Center all-campus workshop: “Revision and Reflection”

The Writing Resource Center will host an all-campus workshop for students on the topic of “Revision and Reflection” Friday, April 12, from 12:45 to 2 p.m. in Bellflower Hall.

Students will learn effective strategies for reflecting on and revising their own writing. This workshop is recommended for Academic Inquiry Seminar students working on their final reflective essay.

Register to attend.