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226 Hot Public Health Thesis Topics For Top Grades
Are you stuck trying to get the best current public health research topics for thesis and writing it? If yes, know you are not alone. A lot of students find the tasks challenging, but we are here to help. Keep reading our informative guide that demonstrates how to prepare an engaging public health paper.
We will also highlight hot 226 health policy topics for paper and other public health ideas for dissertation that you can use for top grades. Why settle for less when we can help you select the best college or university papers?
What Is Public Health?
Before looking at the top public health statistics undergraduate thesis topics or other public health research ideas, let’s start with the definition. So, what is public health?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), public health is “the art and science of preventing diseases, helping to prolong life and promote health using organized efforts. Good examples of public health efforts include preventing outbreaks, educating the public on health choices, promoting fitness, preparing for emergencies, and avoiding the spread of infectious diseases. Public health
How To Write A Great Public Health Dissertation
If you are a graduate or masters student, one of the most comprehensive documents that you need to prepare is the dissertation. It is an expansive paper and comes at the end of your course. Remember that you need to ensure it is prepared well because a team of professors will ultimately evaluate it. So, here are the main steps that you need to follow to prepare a high quality dissertation:
Identify the topic of study Comprehensively research the topic and identify the main points to support it Develop the thesis statement for the dissertation (this thesis will ultimately be tested after gathering your data) Develop an outline for the dissertation. This guide should tell you what to write at what specific instance. Here is a sample outline: Topic of the study Introduction. Start with the thesis statement, followed by the objectives of the study. Then, the rest of the introduction should be used to set the background for the study. Literature review: Review relevant resources about the topic. Methodology: Explain the methodology that was used during the study. Is Results and analysis: Provide the results gathered during the study. Discussion and conclusion: Here, you should discuss the study results and demonstrate whether they approve or disapprove the thesis statement. If you found any gaps in the previous studies, highlight them too and call for further studies. Bibliography: This is a list of all the resources you used to prepare the paper. Write the first draft following the outline we have just listed above. Write the final copy by refining the first draft, proofreading, and editing it.
Awesome Public Health Thesis Topics
Here are the leading thesis topics in public health for top grades. You can use them as they are or tweak a little to suit your preference.
Public Health Thesis Topics In Mental Issues
- What is the role of public health in addressing mental issues in society?
- Seasonal affective disorder: A review of the disorder’s prevalence rates.
- Society should always listen to the needs of mentally ill persons.
- Eating disorders in adults: A review of the treatment strategies used for adults in the UK.
- What is the relation between climate change and emerging public health issues?
- Comparing depression prevalence rates in the UK to those of the US.
- What are the main causes of anxiety disorders in society?
- A review of the connection between HIV/AIDS and mental health issues in society.
- Running a public health facility: What is the most important equipment?
- Emerging public health issues in developing countries.
- Analyzing the psychological problems of breast cancer.
- What strategies should people use to prevent their mental health from social media dangers?
- A review of the public health benefits associated with active lifestyles.
- Stress: Why is it a major risk factor for mental health in many communities?
- What are the most common mental health issues in society today?
- Comparing the rates of depression and stress in China and the UK.
- Addressing anxiety-related disorders: Is cognitive-behavior therapy the best treatment method?
- A review of the economic burden of living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders.
- How does depression impact the quality of life?
- Comparing training of public health officers in the US to India.
Unique Research Topics In Public Health
- Surrogacy: A review of associated ethical issues.
- Prevalence of medical errors in hospitals: A review of the policies used to prevent the problem in the United States.
- Blood transfusion: What are the side effects?
- A review of doctors’ roles in promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Maintaining healthy body weight: Comparing the effectiveness of the recommended methods.
- A review of organ donation trends in Europe and Asia.
- Analyzing the ethical factors around cloning: When should it be allowed?
- The ethics of human experimentation.
- Comparing the rates of heart attacks in women to men in the United States.
- What are the main causes of heart attacks? Can it be prevented?
- Progress in diabetes studies and treatment: Is it possible to get a cure in the future?
- Biological weapons and their impacts on society: A review of the Leukemia rates in Japan.
- Pre-diabetes in children: What are the main symptoms, and how can it be addressed?
Public Health Paper Topics On COVID-19
- How will COVID-19 change life?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of self-isolation?
- Life lessons that you learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- What challenges has your community faced during COVID-19 pandemic?
- School life during COVID-19 pandemic.
- A review of mass media operations during pandemic.
- What projects did you undertake during the pandemic?
- A review of projects that your community undertook during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A closer look at the backlash against Asians in Europe at the start COVID-19 pandemic period.
- Preparing for the next pandemic: What lessons did the world learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?
- The best strategies for staying healthy during a pandemic.
- Is there anything that we could have done to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Comparing the effectiveness of Europe and American healthcare preparedness for tackling disasters.
- A review of mental health status in a community of your choice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A review of COVID-19 emergence theories: Which one do you think is more credible?
- Comparing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to Ebola.
- Vaccines development for viral infections: What made the development of the COVID-19 vaccine possible so fast, whereas that of HIV/AIDS has taken so long?
- A review of the vaccine development process.
- Time for review: How effectively do you think your government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Rethinking public health on a global scale: Demonstrating why effective healthcare is only possible when looked at globally.
Interesting Public Health Research Topic Ideas
- What is the importance of learning public health in school?
- Identify and review a common public health issue in your community.
- The history of human health: Comparing what was considered healthy in ancient times to what is referred to as healthy today.
- Going vegan: How can it impact your health?
- Excessive weight: Is it the new threat to human civilization?
- Is bodybuilding healthy?
- Body positive: Is it a new health standard or ignorance of body issues?
- Things to consider when selecting healthy food to eat.
- Why psychological health should be part of every community in society.
- The health of newborns: What is the difference between their healthcare and that of adults?
- Emerging trends in the healthcare industry: How can the latest trends benefit society?
- Comparing depression and anxiety in two countries of your choice.
- Physical wellness must include healthy behavioral patterns and nutrition.
- A sense of belonging is paramount to personal and community health.
- What is the relationship between spirituality and public health?
- A review of stigmatization of mental health issues in a community of your choice.
- Is it possible to prevent depression?
- At what point should children start learning sex-related education?
- Comparing the two main public health issues in two cities: London and New York.
- What is the relationship between poverty and public health?
Hot Researchable Topics In Public Health
- The resurgence of measles in society: The best guidance for clinicians.
- Tackling the growing national drug problem.
- Bioterrorism preparedness for global disasters.
- A review of recent vitamin D recommendations for older adults.
- Strategies for maintaining maternal mortality at low levels across the globe.
- Efforts by Asian governments to reduce infections from using unsafe water.
- Over-the-counter drug abuse in Europe: Compare two countries of your choice.
- Health care providers’ roles in preventing bullying in society.
- Knowledge management in the UK healthcare organizations.
- The health benefits of good healthcare waste management.
- Characteristics of dental wastes in hospitals.
- Comparing the most prevalent public health issues in developed and developing nations.
- Latest trends in financing public health.
- The relevance of clinical epidemiology in public health.
- Evidence based public health.
- Epidemiological burden of HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
- Addressing cervical cancer in developing countries: Is it possible to eliminate it completely?
- Ethics in public health clinical research.
- Comparing the strategies used in teaching and motivating public health professionals in developing and developed countries.
Research Topics In Public Health For Masters
- Advertising and impacts on food choices in the community.
- The use of stem cell technologies for cancer treatment: What are the latest trends?
- Bio-printing: Is it the future of organ transplants?
- Nutrition education: How does it promote healthy diets?
- Exercising: What role does it play in promoting strength and balance in the elderly?
- Weight loss surgery: What are the key advantages and disadvantages?
- Heart disease is a major public health issue in society.
- Alternative strategies for treating depression in society: Are they effective?
- Healthcare leadership and its importance in public health.
- Legal aspects of public health care in the society.
- Mental disabilities in patients: A review of the emerging trends in the UK.
- How does the United States promote the development of public health?
- Inequalities in medicine: What impact does it have in public health?
- The most controversial issues in public health in the UK.
- What are the most preferred storage systems for medical supplies in the UK public health facilities?
- Reimagining the public health systems on the globe: Where do you see the UK health system in the next 20 years?
Top Thesis Topics In Dental Public Health
- Common oral health issues in Ireland.
- A review of common problems of endodontically treated teeth.
- The role of good leadership skills in dental education.
- Child management techniques between male and female practitioners.
- What role does ergonomics play in dentistry?
- Dental material and bio-engineering: What are the latest trends?
- A review of the relationship between diabetes and oral health in the society.
- The role of electronic health care record systems used in public health.
- Comparing dental health issues in the developing and developed countries.
- A review of public awareness of dental health issues in a community of choice.
- How can you ensure that all the food you buy is safe and healthy?
- What strategies are used by your local health community to promote dental awareness?
- Dental health management in California: What do you think should be done differently?
- Are you satisfied with the strategies used to address dental issues?
Hot Thesis Topics Public Health
- Mandatory overtime work for medical staff: How does it impact their commitment to their job?
- Nursing shortage and its impact in public health.
- Strategies for improving public health in the EU.
- Mental health issues among asylum seekers in the United States.
- Common mental issues among veterans returning from war: A case study of the United States.
- What functions does management play in healthcare settings when handling key public health issues?
- How poor relationships between nurses and doctors can impact public health services delivery.
- Third-party players in public health and their roles.
- Financial reporting standards in public health facilities.
- What is the correlation between revenue collection in society and the quality of patient services?
- Reviewing the coordination of public health officials during disasters.
- The importance of staff training on quality of health services.
- Comparing the differences between alternative medicine and conventional medicine in addressing public health issues in society.
- Obesity: What are the main causes in child-going age?
- A review of health consequences of caffeine.
- Medical marijuana: What are the main pros and cons?
- A review of the US Farm Bill Amendments that legalized use of cannabis in the US.
- Doing sports: Is it always healthy?
- Low-fat or low-carb diet: Which one is better in addressing overweight and diabetes issues?
- Preventing communicable diseases: Evaluating the prevention strategies used in Asia.
- What is the estimated cost of treating heart problems?
Controversial Public Health Dissertation Topics
- Smoking and impacts of current efforts to address cancer in the society.
- A review of the main causes of heart attacks in society today.
- Tobacco ads: Evaluating their impacts and the relationship to the current cancer trends in the society.
- Sleep disorders: Explain why they should be considered a public health issue.
- Staffing shortage and the impacts in fighting COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.
- Analyzing risk management of treating different diseases in the community.
- COVID-19 pandemic in numbers: Comparing the infection rates in the developed and developing countries.
- Reviewing strategies used in the US public health system to achieve equity: How effective are they?
- Analyzing the main challenges in the UK medical care system.
- Rising cases of suicides in the society: What are the main causes?
- A comprehensive review of strategies used to prevent suicides in the 21st century in the US.
- Use of vaccines to prevent diseases: Do adults still need the vaccines?
- Heat-related deaths: What strategies should be adopted?
- Chronic-diseases prevention: Comparing the strategies used in developing and developed countries.
- Are we becoming too dependent on antibiotics in fighting diseases?
- Opioid crisis: Are the doctors to blame for it?
- Use of blockchain in growing accuracy of clinical trials in medicine.
- What dangers are posed by nuclear wastes in society?
- Assessing US industrial facilities compliance rates to cut down emissions.
- Using clean energy as a strategy of improving public health: What are the expectations?
- What is the healthiest country?
- Evaluating the correlation between gaming and deviant behavior among children in society.
- COVID-19 could have been prevented if WHO was more vigilant?
Public Health Research Questions
- Is the high cost of medical healthcare in the United States justified?
- What is the correlation between poverty and poor health in society?
- Should health care for homeless people be free?
- Unconventional medicine: Should it be part of the UK healthcare system?
- Should doctors be responsible for medical errors?
- Should medical officers or health facilities be allowed to promote selective medical products?
- Should all healthcare facilities in the UK be required to have translators for non-English speaking clients?
- Mental health issues associated with domestic violence: A case study of France.
- Is it a good idea to legalize euthanasia?
- What are the benefits of using surgical masks in public?
- What are the most important lessons from the different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic reported on the globe?
- Who is more responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Ebola or COVID-19 pandemic: Which is worse?
- What are the main causes of epidemics on the globe?
- Public health planning: What are the most important things to think about?
- Should governments pay the cost of rehabilitating drug addicts in society?
- Teaching children healthy lifestyles: What are the best strategies?
- What problems do people with autism face in society?
- What are the leading causes of child mortality in your community?
- Gun violence in the United States: Should it be considered a public health issue?
- What illnesses are considered foodborne?
Easy Topics In Public Health
- All workplaces should support breastfeeding.
- What are the best strategies to reduce pollution in society?
- Public health benefits of recycling waste in society.
- Reviewing the causes of poor water quality in the developing world.
- Comparing water quality standards policies in the UK and US.
- Health impacts of the rapid depletion of o-zone depletion.
- Better planning of infrastructural development is important for healthier societies: Discuss.
- The US is better prepared to handle pandemics that might arise after the COVID-19 pandemic. Discuss.
- A review of common diseases spread by vectors.
- A review of key policies installed to protect employee health.
- Legal age for consuming energy drinks should be set by the government to address the problem of diabetes.
- Smoking: Should it be banned in public?
- What are the best strategies for raising awareness in public?
- Can reducing the workload of employees in manufacturing facilities improve their health?
- Sunbathing should be restricted to prevent the risk of cancer: Discuss.
- Should abortion be banned in society?
- School-related stress: How can it be prevented?
- Should birth control be made available and free for all teenagers?
- What should be categorized as a bad health habit?
- Compare and contrast two common treatment methods for treating behavioral disorders.
- Internet addiction: What are the main dangers of internet addiction?
Other Public Health Topics For Research
- How to stay healthy and safe during a pandemic.
- Using a bicycle instead of driving is healthier.
- Common mental disorders in India.
- What is the biggest health issue among young people?
- The impact of exercising in teenagers.
- Why do teenagers experiment with drugs?
- What impact does dispositional violence have on mental disorders?
- Is telemedicine helpful in promoting better healthcare?
- Unproven alternative medicine: What are the associated risks?
- What alternatives do we have for antibiotics?
- What is the difference between private and public healthcare?
- A review of the main health issues associated with puberty.
- What is the most dangerous disease of the 21st century?
- Why are some people still afraid of vaccines?
- Experimental treatment: Why do people agree to undergo it?
- How can we improve the health of people living with chronic illnesses?
- The best strategies to make people aware of the basics of healthcare.
- A review of the growing awareness about reproductive health in the society.
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Writing Guide
Writing serves as a useful skill for anyone in the field of public health — students and professionals alike. Public health students must enroll in writing-intensive courses that require essays and research papers. Once students graduate, they put their skills to use writing reports on community health. They may compose presentations, research studies, or press releases, depending on their jobs. Those who stay in academia continue to write research papers throughout their careers.
Students should begin cultivating a clear and concise writing style long before they graduate.
They should also learn how to use standardized citations. Understanding how to properly cite sources will help students as they conduct research and publish their findings. Citations also help students and researchers avoid plagiarism.
This guide explains how to write a public health report, a research paper, and an exam essay. The page also advises students on how to conduct research online and find trustworthy sources. Students can review citation style guides and public health writing samples.
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Types of writing public health students will do in school, personal statements.
When applying to a public health program, schools often require students to submit personal statements. Schools may either ask students to write a general personal essay answer a certain prompt. Usually, prompts center around applicants’ interest in public health or about the public health field in general. Students might come across a prompt similar to this one: “Identify a public health issue in the U.S., and how you would work to rectify it as a public health professional.” Alternately, students may encounter this common topic: “What drove you to pursue a career in public health?”
Schools look for essays that are honest, well-written, and well-organized. Students should get the reader’s attention with an anecdote illustrating their commitment to public health. Was it an experience with adversity or discrimination that prompted you to pursue this career? Did you learn about the importance of public health while volunteering or traveling? Include those details in the story.
Students should also demonstrate their current knowledge of public health. They may write about their career goals as well. However, students should avoid writing exaggerations, falsehoods, or superlatives. People who read admissions essays can typically sense when applicants are stretching the truth. If the school makes the personal statement optional, students should still consider writing one. A personal statement demonstrates commitment and hard work, and may help make up for flawed or weak admissions materials.
In some public health courses, professors require students to answer essay questions during exams. This can be intimidating since students do not usually know the prompt until they actually start the exam. Students have a limited amount of time to write the essay, typically one or two hours. Students should allot their time accordingly. Some students do not plan their work before they begin writing; this can lead to sloppy essays with weak supporting points, disorganized information, and tangents unrelated to the prompt.
For a 60-minute time frame, students may give themselves 10 minutes to brainstorm, plan, and outline.
During the brainstorming process, students should write their thesis statement.
Then they should jot down three points that support the thesis. These ideas will serve as the three body paragraphs. Students may give themselves five minutes to write the introduction, 30 minutes to write the body, and then five minutes to write the conclusion. They then have 10 minutes to proofread. Students often inadvertently miss this step, but proofreading may make or break the essay.
Students should begin planning long before the day of the essay. Students ought to review the material well enough to be prepared for any prompt. They should carefully look over their lecture notes to determine which points the professor emphasized during classes. These points will likely prove significant when it comes time for the exam. Students should also make sure that they actually answer the prompt instead of rushing and jumping to assumptions.
Research Papers
In a research paper, students examine the existing research, theories, case studies, and ideas about a particular topic. Students have several weeks to write research papers, which may seem like a huge amount of time. However, research papers demand a lot of work, so students should start early. Professors rarely assign strict, narrow prompts for research papers. Instead, they usually give students a topic or range of topics, and students choose their focus. Public health topics may include how poverty or race affects access to healthcare; opioid abuse; the social consequences of HIV/AIDS; childhood obesity; or maternal mortality in third world countries.
Students should start by brainstorming a list of points and ideas they will investigate. Then comes the most time-intensive and significant part of a research paper: the research itself. Students ought to use multiple different resources to help them craft their arguments. Options include online databases, academic journals, and their college library. Make sure you keep track of citations and sources as you go.
Students should also make sure their essays are well-structured. A well-written thesis unites the main points of the paper. Unlike essays, research papers usually include more than five paragraphs. Students may break down their arguments into different sections. A research paper must include a works cited or bibliography that credits all sources. The exact length of the paper and number of sources depends on the professor’s expectations.
Over the course of their academic careers, public health students write many kinds of essays. Professors often assign persuasive essays, in which the student must make a convincing argument; expository essays, in which the student explores and explains an idea; narrative essays, in which the student tells a story; comparative essays, in which the students analyzes two different viewpoints; and cause and effect essays, in which the student must explain the logic behind why certain events or phenomena occur.
- Narrative: In a narrative essay, the author tells a meaningful story. Studying public health, you probably won’t write many narratives. However, narrative essays can support an argument or prove a point. For instance, if you argue that every community should have a free clinic, you might tell a personal story about your experience growing up in a low-income neighborhood with no access to healthcare. Make sure your essay demonstrates a clear plot, follows an organized structure, and includes many details.
- Expository: When professors assign expository essays, they expect students to explain or describe a concept. These essays help professors evaluate whether students have a firm grasp on a topic. Expository essay often include five paragraphs: an introduction with a thesis statement, three main points backing that thesis statement, and a conclusion. Students should do plenty of planning and research before writing to ensure they adequately address the prompt and include enough evidence.
- Persuasive: Persuasive essays appear commonly in academic assignments. Students first develop an argument as a thesis statement. Then, they generate a cogent defense of that argument by researching supporting evidence. Students should be able to anticipate arguments against their thesis statement and include counterpoints. In persuasive essays, students not only demonstrate their knowledge of the course material, but also prove their critical thinking skills by developing their case.
- Comparative: A comparative essay requires students to compare and contrast two ideas, viewpoints, or things. For example, public health students may compare two texts, theories, public health systems, or positions on an issue. First of all, students should create a list of similarities and differences between the two items. After that, they can develop a thesis statement on whether the similarities outweigh the differences or vice versa. Finally, they should organize the essay. They can either defend their thesis statement by listing each point of comparison, or they can split the essay in half by discussing subject one and then subject two.
- Cause and Effect: These essays require students to explain how one event or theory leads to a specific consequence. For instance, a public health student might argue that abstinence-only education in public schools leads to a higher rate of teenage pregnancies. Students should remember that just because one event follows another, those two events do not necessarily influence one another. In other words, correlation does not equal causation. In the analysis portion of the essay, students must explain specific reasons why they think the two events are connected using data and other evidence.
Citations Guide for Public Health Students
In public health writing, just as any other discipline, students must cite their sources. If students use ideas, theories, or research without crediting the original source — even unintentionally — then they have plagiarised. An accusation of plagiarism could follow the student throughout their education and professional career. Professors may fail students who plagiarise, sinking their GPA. Plagiarism accusations can also ruin a student’s credibility. Fortunately, students can avoid plagiarism by properly giving credit for their data and ideas. Common citation styles include those listed below.
American Psychological Association (APA) Style
Students in the social sciences use APA style when writing their essays and research papers. Business and nursing students also commonly use APA style. APA prefers active voice over passive voice, as well as concise language over flowery words. Research papers written in APA style should include a title page, abstract, and a reference page. In-text citations list the author’s name, year of publication, and page number if applicable. Below is an example of how to cite a source using APA style.
In-text citation:
In Milwaukee, poor neighbourhoods were segregated by design (Desmond, 2017, p. 249).
On the works cited page:
Desmond, M. (2017). Evicted: Poverty and profit in the American city . London: Penguin Books.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)
History students and students of the natural sciences typically use Chicago, or Turabian, style in their research. Papers written in Chicago style include three sections: the title page, the main body, and a references page. This style also uses footnotes to source information and provide more context. In-text citations list the author’s name, the date of publication, and the page where the student found the data. Unlike APA style, though, the in-text citation does not use a “p.” before the page number. See the example below:
In Milwaukee, poor neighbourhoods were segregated by design (Desmond 2017, 249).
Desmond, Matthew. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City . London: Penguin Books, 2017.
Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
Students of the humanities — including literature, foreign languages, and cultural studies — use MLA style in their research papers. Unlike APA and Chicago style, MLA style does not require students to add a title page. MLA papers also do not include an abstract. Students only need to include the paper itself and a works cited page that corresponds with in-text citations. When adding citations in the body of the text, MLA includes the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses. This style does not list the publication year. You can find an example of MLA citation below:
In Milwaukee, poor neighbourhoods were segregated by design (Desmond 249).
Associated Press (AP) Style
Journalists use Associated Press, or AP style, in their work. AP style standardizes grammar and spelling usage across news media and mass communications. Students rarely use AP style, unless they are writing an article in their subject area for a newspaper or magazine. AP style prioritizes brevity and conciseness above all else. Therefore, it includes several rules that differ from other writing styles. For instance, AP style eliminates the last comma in a list of items (for example: “She dressed in capris, a tank top and sandals”). Since students and professors do not use AP style for academic papers, AP style does not include a reference page like other style guides. Instead, AP style simply uses non-parenthetical in-text citations.
“People who live in low-income communities lack opportunities to exercise,” said Lydia Homerton, professor of public health at Hero College.
The Best Writing Style for Public Health Majors
Professionals in the public health field use APA, the most common style in the social sciences. Professors expect students to use APA style as well. Public health research follows a standardized system of citing sources, making it easier for students and professionals in the field to conduct further research. Students should add a title page and abstract before the essay, as well as a list of references in the back.
Common Writing Mistakes Students Make
Active vs. passive voice.
When writing essays and research papers, students should use active voice and avoid passive voice. Learning the difference between passive and active constructions can be tricky. First of all, students should be able to identify the subject in a sentence. The subject is the noun performing an action. Take this sentence: “The woman catches the keys.” In this case, the woman is the subject of the sentence because she is the one performing the action, catching. The sentence “The woman catches the keys” is active because it focuses on the subject and the action. You can identify an active sentence by checking if the first noun is a subject performing an action.
By contrast, examine this sentence: “The keys were caught by the woman.” The first noun, “keys,” is not performing an action. Instead, it is being acted upon. The subject performing the action — the woman — is at the end of the sentence and not the beginning. This sentence uses passive voice instead of active voice. Some passive sentences do not include a subject at all. For example, “The keys were caught.”
Active voice makes writing more concise and easy to understand. Active sentences often include more information, especially about the subject performing an action. In research papers, students should use active voice whenever possible. However, sometimes it is clear that the author is the one performing the action, so active voice is not necessary. For instance, a researcher might write “the experiment was conducted Friday” instead of “I conducted the experiment Friday.”
Punctuation
Incorrect punctuation confuses readers. The wrong punctuation can change or obfuscate the meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or the entire essay. Publishers, professors, and other researchers often look down on papers with incorrect grammar, even if the content includes important or accurate research. Consequently, students should always use proper grammar in their essays.
The wrong punctuation can change or obfuscate the meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or the entire essay.
While students make many different errors with punctuation, most common errors revolve around colons and commas. Understand the difference between colons and semicolons. Both punctuation marks separate two parts of a sentence. Students should use colons when introducing a list. (“He ate lots of meat: pork, chicken, steak, veal, and duck.”) Colons can also introduce an appositive or new idea. (“She finally gave him the gift: a new computer.”) Semicolons, on the other hand, connect two complete, independent sentences. These sentences should be separate but related. (“He ate a lot of meat; he was ravenous.”)
Students should also take care to avoid comma splices. A comma splice occurs when writers connect two independent sentences using a comma. The following sentence includes a comma splice: “She danced with her boyfriend, he was very clumsy.” Instead, students could add an “and” to connect the two sentences. (“She danced with her boyfriend, and he was very clumsy.”) Alternately, writers could connect the sentences with a semicolon. (“She danced with her boyfriend; he was very clumsy.”) Lastly, writers could separate the two sentences with a period.
Proper grammar helps readers understand your essays. Proper grammar also gives your essay credibility. If you have a perfectly-argued essay, but your paper includes multiple grammar mistakes, the reader will likely be skeptical of the entire argument.
Understand the difference between there/their/they’re. “There” refers to a place. (“The dog is over there.”) Their shows possession. (“This is their house.”) “They’re” is a contraction for “they are.” (“They’re eating at the diner.”)
Also learn the difference between it’s and its. “It’s” is the contraction for “it is.” (“It’s hot outside.”) “Its” shows possession. (“The bird eats in its cage.”)
Make sure your sentences include proper subject-verb agreement. In other words, if the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb should also be plural. For example, use “The boy and his sisters are eating breakfast” instead of “The boy and his sisters is eating breakfast.”
Writing Resources for Public Health Students
- Guide to Improving Scientific Writing in Public Health : This guide from the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization teaches students how to write about complicated scientific material in a way that’s easy for readers to understand. The guide includes tips on vocabulary and format.
- Argument, Structure, and Credibility in Public Health Writing : Written by a professor at Harvard’s School of Public Health, this essay breaks down how to make effective arguments in public health writing. The page includes flow charts and figures to help illustrate exactly how public health essays should be organized.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab APA Style Guide : Purdue’s Online Writing Lab includes style guides for all writing and citation styles, including APA. The style guides help students understand how to format papers, use in-text citations, and create reference pages.
- Award-Winning Health Articles : One of the best ways to improve your writing is to read good examples. This page lists nine award-winning public health writing samples.
- The Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center Writing Skills Guide : This website links to several modules on writing public health documents. Lessons include policy briefs and memos.
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