Popular science papers

This requires a completely different layout and style than a scientific paper. Write it like a newspaper article: a powerful title with a central message and an introduction that develops the title and tells you what makes it interesting. Start with the most interesting and tangible.

Your paper is competing with other articles for the reader’s attention. If you fail to spark their interest with the title (primarily) and introduction (secondarily), the battle is lost. So put some effort into the title and introduction.

Avoid technical language. Write in a simple, everyday way with short sentences. Use metaphors, simple figures and illustrations. Write personally and in the first person. Strive at all times to keep the reader’s interest. Details, methods and complicated reasoning can conclude the paper. However, you may want to save a small tidbit or a forward-looking thought as a final conclusion so the reader feels “satisfied” after reading.