Last time, you learned how to research and gather information.
You've got your 5Ws and H answered. Your sources are reliable. Your planning sheet is done.
Now it's time to write.
And the first thing you write is the most important part of your entire article. It's called the lead.
Get it right and your reader stays. Get it wrong and they're gone before the second sentence.
No pressure. Let's figure it out together.
A strong lead does three things.
Here are the five types of leads you need to know.
The summary lead is the most common type in science writing. It gives your reader the most important facts — who, what, when, where — in one or two sentences. Think of it as the short version of your entire story.
"Filipino scientists have developed a low-cost water purifier using coconut shells that can remove harmful chemicals from drinking water, the Department of Science and Technology announced Monday." One sentence. Most important facts. Clear and specific.
"Water is very important for human life. People need clean water to survive. Scientists have been studying water for many years." The reader learns nothing new in three sentences.
The question lead opens with a question that your article will answer. It works best when the question is something your reader is already wondering about.
"What if the solution to dirty drinking water in your community was already growing in your backyard?" Unexpected, makes the reader curious, connects directly to the story.
"Do you know what water purification is?" Too basic and doesn't create curiosity. The question lead only works when the question is genuinely interesting.
The quotation lead opens with a powerful direct quote from someone in your story. It works best when the quote is surprising, emotional, or says something your reader wouldn't expect.
"'We didn't expect a twelve-year-old to solve a problem engineers have been working on for years,' said Dr. Reyes, head of DOST's innovation program..." Surprising, specific, credible.
"'Science is very important,' said the teacher." Doesn't tell us anything specific about the story. A quotation lead needs a quote that actually means something.
The anecdotal lead — an anecdote is a short, real-life story or scene — opens your article with a brief moment involving a real person. It pulls the reader into the human side of your science story before the facts arrive.
"Every morning before school, Daisy checks the small solar panel on her family's roof. She built it herself from scrap materials..." We're in the story immediately — and we already care.
"A student did a science project. It was about solar energy. Solar energy is a type of renewable energy." Nothing vivid or personal — an anecdotal lead needs a real moment.
The descriptive lead opens with a vivid description of a place, situation, or scene connected to your story. It uses sensory details — what you see, hear, or feel — to put the reader right in the middle of the story.
"The river behind Barangay San Isidro used to run clear. Now it carries a faint gray color and a sharp chemical smell..." You can picture it. You can almost smell it.
"The river has pollution. This is a problem for many people in the community." A descriptive lead needs specific, vivid details — not general statements.
Here are two science leads. One hooks the reader. One doesn't. Let's see why.
Apply what you learned. Work through the activities below step by step.
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| My lead has the most important fact from the story | ☐ | ☐ |
| My lead is three sentences or less | ☐ | ☐ |
| I can identify which lead type I used | ☐ | ☐ |
| My lead makes a reader want to continue reading | ☐ | ☐ |
| I did not start with background or a definition | ☐ | ☐ |
Answers for writing activities will be different for each student. Use the rubric above or ask your teacher for help.
Each sentence has a missing word or phrase. Choose the correct answer from the options given.