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BIOD25: Genomics

Writing Style

When writing your blog post, keep in mind that your goal isn't to document the entire journal article you're reporting on -- instead, you're trying to tell a story about the research that's been conducted. Brainstorm key takeaways/implications (i.e. the "so what?" of the research) and don't be afraid to personalize it with your own thoughts, opinions, anecdotes, etc.

Blog-writing best practices:

  • Keep it short (about 700-1000 words); remember, blog posts should be readable within a few minutes!
     
  • Use plain language aimed at the undergraduate level; avoid jargon and explain any acronyms
     
  • Write in 1st person/active voice rather than 3rd person/passive voice
  • "Chunk" information into digestible pieces to make writing scannable; avoid giant blocks of text and use section headings as appropriate
     
  • Directly link to references within the body of your post, rather than in a bibliography at the end

 

See the "Blog Resources" section for additional tips and examples to help you get started!

Structure

Using the "inverted pyramid" approach can be a great way to grab readers' attention by placing the most important information at the start of a post, followed by additional (but non-essential) information to supplement key points/takeaways. Keep in mind that people can stop reading at any time, so it's important to front-load when prioritizing your blog content!

Tips to consider:

  • Title: should be catchy and engaging; acts as the "hook" that prompts people to read more
    • Brainstorm different keyword combinations and try Googling them to see what sort of results come up. Using keywords that tap into current buzzwords or popular topics of debate can be a great way to get higher engagement with your blog.
       
  • Key Information: details that readers need to know; focus on main outcomes and conclusions
     
  • Supporting Materials: expand on key details to help readers better understand the main takeaways; remember to be personal and tell a story!
     
  • Background Details: things that are nice (but not crucial) to know; is a useful place to point to additional/related information
     
  • Conclusion: reinforce the context of the work and provide actionable insights, i.e. a "call to action"

 

inverted pyramid structure for blogging

Borchman, R. (n.d.). [JPEG image of an inverted pyramid]. Retrieved March 12, 2020, from https://www.theegg.com/seo/apac/blogging-best-practices-for-seo/