Writing a Medicine Essay: Guide, Types, Tips, and Topics

brandon-l Written by Brandon L.
July 26, 202410 min read
medicine-essay-guide

A medical essay is a written paper that is focused on a medical topic. It is mostly an essay written by medical students. Your instructor may assign this type of paper to gauge your understanding of a particular health issue. While it might seem simple, writing these essays is challenging, especially for first-timers. This is because they require scientific accuracy, clear undressing of the given topic, and clinical insights. In the essay, you are required to demonstrate your knowledge and skills of the various medical concepts and their application in the real world. This means that every claim and argument you make must be supported with scientific evidence.

If you are wondering how to write a medical essay, we will provide you with all the tips and steps you need to write a high-quality essay.

Different Types of Medical Essays

There are many types of medical essays you will come across in school that vary based on the purpose, subject matter, and formatting style. These are:

Argumentative Essays

These types of medical essays take a stance on medical issues and require the support of well-researched, accurate, and current information. An argumentative essay is usually assigned as a capstone project in your final years and requires lengthy and detailed research to establish your position on a topic.

When writing an argumentative medical essay, your goal should be to convince the readers to agree with your point of view by presenting a strong argument. Some of the topics you may cover include the impact of technology, the effectiveness of particular medical treatments, etc.

Compare and Contrast Essays

These types of essays deal with two or more subjects in a particular category of the medical field and compare their similarities and contrast their differences. Your instructor will assign a compare and contrast essay to challenge your analytical and comparative skills and see whether you can make meaningful arguments about a given topic.

Compare and contrast essays rely on factual analysis, so you must support all your arguments with sufficient scientific evidence. Additionally, it would be best if you used special transition words and phrases such as in comparison, by contrast, likewise, similarly, the same as, both, also, etc.

Expository Essays

Expository means intended to explain. This type of medical essay aims to explain a particular medical topic clearly and consciously. Expository essays require you to investigate a particular topic, evaluate the available evidence, expound on the claims, and explain a focused idea clearly.

Use accurate and current information from reliable sources when writing expository essays to ensure you provide well-structured, logical, and clear arguments.

Descriptive Medical Essays

This type of literature helps in communicating a particular information, for instance, a specific medical condition, treatment, theory or procedure, in a descriptive manner. Descriptive essays provide a comprehensive and effective description in a way that readers will feel like they are experiencing the subject firsthand.

To write descriptive essays, you must use words and phrases that pique curiosity to bring your narrative to life. Ensure you also integrate thoughts, feelings, smells, tastes and sounds into your essay.

Overall, descriptive medical essays help to provide an objective portrayal of a medical subject to help readers better and understand the complex topics in the medical world.

Overall, no matter which type of essay you are writing, there should be a clear and logical flow of information from one part of an essay to another.

Outline of a Medical Essay

Are you asking what are the parts of a medical essay?—the answer is simple. An essay on medicine must include the following parts: introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.

Introduction

An introduction of a medical essay introduces your topic and provides some background information about the subject being discussed.

It also includes the reason for writing the essay and provides brief points of what you will cover in the body of the paper. An introduction should also include your thesis statement which offers a concise summary of your essay and state the claim you will be making in your paper.

Your introduction should be concise and quickly hook the readers to ensure they read the rest of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

The body section of your medical essay is where you delve into the main claim of your paper. It could have two supporting paragraphs or five. There is no limit to how many numbers of paragraphs you can write unless your professor provides a specific number.

When supporting your thesis statement with multiple sources, the best thing to do is to have only one paragraph per idea and source cited. For instance, if you are writing an argumentative medical essay, one paragraph should provide a single aspect of your arguments supported by credible evidence.

Conclusion

The conclusion of your medical essay should provide a summary of what you have discussed in the body of your paper. It contains three sections:

Avoid bringing in any new information in the conclusion section of your paper. The goal here is to provide readers with a closure.

Use the following format to organize your essay:

1. Introduction

2. Body Paragraphs

1. First point

2. Second point

3. Third point

3. Conclusion

This is just a basic outline you can follow when writing your medical essay. Depending on the type of essay you are writing, you may need to include some information.

Steps for Writing a Great Medical Essay

Follow these steps when writing your medical essay. Remember, there are no right or wrong ways to write an essay. It can be a messy process as long as you ensure that there is a good flow of information.

Read the Assignment Prompt

Writing a high-quality health and medicine essay requires that you first understand your instructors' expectations. Therefore, begin by reading the prompt given, which will have all the information about the rules, guidelines and instructions that you must follow.

How well you write an essay can differentiate a high-quality medical essay from a low-quality paper. Your instructor will expect you incorporate relevant scientific evidence in your essay and demonstrate an understanding of it to show that you possess the right knowledge about the medical field.

Your instructor will also want to see whether you can accurately dissect the chosen topic into different components and explain it well to the readers.

So, by reading and understanding what is expected, you can clearly articulate your facts and express your ideas.

Chose a Great Medical Essay Topic

To write a great medical essay topic, you must choose an interesting topic that will be easy to write about. There are various interesting topics for medical essays that you can choose from, which range from various subjects in medicine.

Choose a topic that you are familiar with or one you will be able to write about. There are various interesting topics for a medical essay which you can choose from for your paper.

In addition to choosing an interesting topic, ensure you keep the following in mind:

Once you have chosen a topic, research to locate information about it, begin by writing down what you already know about the topic, and then use that to develop probing questions such as why, what if, etc.

Identify keywords that are related to your topic, as they will help in locating specific information. At this point, it’s important to do background research about the topic to ensure that there is enough to write about it. Doing this will help you achieve a basic understanding of the chosen topic before delving deeper, which means you can formulate the topic and broaden or narrow it.

Conduct Research

Doing thorough research lays the foundation for a high-quality essay, as you will have sufficient information to take a critical approach to the chosen topic. So, go through the different types of scientific literature, such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, to find scientific articles. These resources are credible and will give you the information needed to write a high-quality essay.

Remember, a medical essay seeks to understand your understanding of scientific knowledge and evidence acquired both in theory and practice. So, to be able to demonstrate this knowledge, you must have relevant, accurate information from a variety of credible sources.

Please note that there are two types of research you can conduct depending on the topic. Primary and secondary research. Primary research is where you collect information firsthand through methods such as interviews, questionaries etc. Secondary research, on the other hand, is where you obtain information from information collected by other researchers, such as books, journals, etc. This is the most common form of research because it saves you time, money, and energy, unlike primary research.

Create an Outline

Like other types of essays, your medical essay should have an outline that organizes your thoughts and ideas before writing. Your outline should tell readers what your essay will cover and ensure you prevent a clear and well-structured argument. In other words, your outline is a roadmap. When you get stuck during the writing process, it will help you get right back on track.

As mentioned, your medical essay outline has three main parts: Introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Some of the tips that can help you create a good outline for your essay on medicine.

Begin Drafting

Now that you have prepared adequately for the topic at hand, you can start writing. Start by writing your introduction, which begins with a hook to capture the reader's attention, followed by some background information about the topic, and then a thesis presentation.

However, if you want to capture all ideas and ensure you write an engaging introduction, write it after. There is no right or wrong way to do this, as long as your introduction achieves its intended purpose.

When writing the body paragraphs, ensure you support your ideas with accurate information from reliable sources. Include both in-text citations and a reference list or bibliographic section at the end of the paper.

For every piece of evidence you provide, ensure you expound on it and connect it to your ideas under the paragraph and to the overall argument. Do this by explaining, interpreting and expanding on your evidence. If you are providing a counterargument, debunk the evidence provided.

Ensure you have included as much information as possible to ensure the readers get a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Revise and Edit Your Draft

Revising refers to looking at the essay from a fresh perspective. It is an ongoing process involving reviewing the arguments, evidence and presentations. Learning how to revise an essay will ensure that your essay meets all the criteria for medical paper writing and that it has addressed all the necessary points. Based on the revisions, you could alter or rewrite the ideas or arguments of your essay.

Editing, on the other hand, refers to improving the appearance of your essay by correcting grammar, spelling and function errors. The goal is to make your essay as clear and effective as possible.

When revising and editing, pretend to be one of your readers. Ask yourself whether you are satisfied with what you are reading.

Read your medical essay out loud to pick out any problems with unity and coherence. As you read, check for clarity and a good flow of your ideas. Check for areas that are confusing and redundant and ensure you correct them.

Medical Essay Topics

Here is a list of medical essay topics you can borrow to write your essay.

Argumentative Medical Essay Topics

  1. Is universal healthcare a fundamental right or a financial burden?
  2. The Gender Bias in Medical Research and Treatment: How It Affects Women’s Health
  3. Should people be compelled to donate their organs after death?
  4. Are Vaccines necessary for public health or an infringement on personal freedoms?
  5. Is medical marijuana a viable treatment option or a gateway drug?
  6. How can society break the barriers to seeking mental health treatment?
  7. Is obesity a result of personal choices or environmental factors?
  8. What can be done to combat this growing threat of antibiotic resistance
  9. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) foods: Are they safe?
  10. Euthanasia: Is it compassionate or a violation of human dignity?
  11. Alternative medicine vs. conventional medicine: Which is more effective in overall health?
  12. Is low-fat better than low-carb?
  13. Negative Effects of Total Isolation on Physical and Mental Health.
  14. Mental Health Benefits Associated with Physical Activity.

Expository Medical Essay Topics

  1. Risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients receiving red blood cell transfusion.
  2. What causes HIV/AIDS stereotypes?
  3. Challenges of precision medicine
  4. What are the ethics of genetics testing?
  5. The need for government intervention in negotiating drug prices
  6. Addressing health disparities among the African community.
  7. Mental health stigma is the barrier to seeking treatment.
  8. Implications of fast food joints.
  9. Role of education in promoting healthy eating habits among teenagers.
  10. Use of stem cells for cancer treatment.
  11. Incorporating alternative medicine into modern medicine.
  12. Controversy in the American healthcare system.

Descriptive Medical Essay Topics

  1. The importance of preventative medicine in maintaining good health.
  2. Importance of genetics in influencing the development of diseases.
  3. The impact of lifestyle choices on overall health and well-being.
  4. What's the link between mental health and physical health?
  5. The benefits of integrative medicine in treating chronic health conditions.
  6. The role of proper nutrition in preventing and treating illnesses.
  7. The effects of stress on the body and strategies for managing stress.
  8. The use of technology in healthcare delivery and an improving patient outcome.
  9. What are the challenges of healthcare access for low-income populations?
  10. Ethical considerations in end-of-life care and decision making.
  11. Benefits and drawbacks of health technology.

Compare and Contrast Medical Essays

  1. Western medicine vs traditional Chinese medicine.
  2. Conventional medicine vs. Alternative medicine.
  3. A holistic approach to health and wellness compared to allopathic medicine.
  4. Examine the benefits and drawbacks of prescription medications versus natural remedies for chronic health conditions.
  5. Preventive medicine vs. Reactive medicine.
  6. Health insurance: public vs. private.
  7. Generic drugs vs. brand name drugs.
  8. Assisted living vs. nursing homes.
  9. Telemedicine vs. in-person appointments.
  10. Change in lifestyle vs mental health medication.
  11. UK vs Us: Mental health treatment.
  12. Hospital patient care vs at-home patient care.

Tips for Writing a Good Medical Essay

Vary the length of the sentences!

Long sentences can be monotonous and lull readers to sleep. It is important to mix your essay with short sentences to make the readers feel like they are reading natural speech. This will persuade readers to stay invested in your essay's message.

Use Active Voice

The active voice is more direct and makes your health and medical essay easier to read, especially if you are writing about a complex topic. It creates a stronger and more direct tone that captures and maintains the reader's interest, which is important, especially when trying to convince readers about a particular topic.

Use Vivid Verbs

Use vivid verbs instead of weak verbs, which will just clutter your essay and make it difficult for readers to understand the messages. Vivid verbs help paint a clear picture of the topic, thus making your arguments more persuasive.

Final Word on Writing Medical Essays

It could be an essay about healthcare policy, the pathophysiology of a certain disorder (autism, genetic disorders, or chronic disorders), medical processes, or healthcare issues. Once you are assigned to write an essay on medicine topics, you need to take the steps we have outlined above. Go through the pre-writing, writing, and post-writing steps above and see for yourself your capabilities.

Remember, a great medical essay involves following a clear structure and incorporating clear arguments supported by information from reliable sources. By following the above steps and tips, you can write a great medical essay that communicates your ideas and provides insights into complex subjects in medicine.

If you are stuck and need a professional writer to handle your paper, you can trust our medicine writers. These astute writers are experienced in research writing and have a background in medicine. Sign up, place an order, and get everything done within the shortest turnaround time.

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