Three simple story structures to supercharge your science communication [with examples]

When you think of the word “story”, your mind instantly wanders. Not so much when you think of the word “structure”. Although a research paper is necessarily chock-full of structure (following an accepted formula, from introduction to conclusion), it often doesn’t contain a lot of story. That is where science communication should come in. But often, it doesn’t. Randy Olson says it well: Scientists are often stuck in structure and “never get out of exposition mode”. It’s hypothesis AND stats AND figures AND graphs AND analysis AND conclusions. It’s not very sexy, is it? Simply put, facts and figures alone rarely move audiences. Slot those facts into a clear narrative spine, however, and suddenly your work sticks like Velcro. Story structure is exactly where science and story come together. It is literally the science of stories: The beats you need to hit to turn information into (engaging) narration. And it is just as true for science communication. In other words, story structure allows you to use the science of stories to better tell the stories of science. It’s a mouthful, but it tracks. Let us show you how. Below, we’ll road-test three crowd-pleasing story structures - ABT, the Pixar Story Spine, and Freytag’s Pyramid - to make your science stories that much more impactful (and possibly even viral).

To illustrate our chosen story structures, we’ll be using two headline-grabbing examples from the fields of medicine and climate science that you’ll probably remember seeing in the news over the last few years:

• Health: The lightning-fast race to create the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (with a 95% efficacy rate), which was approved in record time during the pandemic.

• Climate Science: The “Doomsday” Thwaites Glacier mission, where a robot named Icefin swam under Antarctic ice to reveal previously hidden melt and rising sea-level risk.

1. ABT: And – But – Therefore

ABT is the haiku of story craft. One sentence, three beats. Perfect for elevator pitches, slide titles, even tweets (are we calling it X’s now?). The popular framework was inspired by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, and popularised by Randy Olson, a scientist turned filmmaker. It is based on the common storytelling pattern of setting a context (And), introducing a problem or conflict (But), and then providing a solution or resolution (Therefore). Let’s see how that works using our examples:

Beat	Vaccine example	Glacier example
And	In 2020, the world faced a deadly pandemic and desperately needed a vaccine, and the viral genome (the DNA) for the COVID-19 virus had just been published in January…	Scientists were aware that Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier already contributes to sea-level rise and its stability affects coasts worldwide…
But	…but traditional vaccine development (and clinical trials) take many years.	…but no one knew exactly how fast warm seawater was eating away at the ice from below the ocean’s surface.
Therefore	Therefore, BioNTech used nimble mRNA technology, partnered with Pfizer and delivered a 95%-effective jab within an unprecedented 11 months - likely saving countless lives.	Therefore, an international team drilled through 600 m of ice, deployed the Icefin robot and found patchy yet worrying basal melt, dramatically sharpening sea-level forecasts (and raising awareness as a result of the global publicity).

Why use ABT?

The word here is ‘simplicity’. ABT is quick, sticky, and as a result, brilliant for posters, abstracts and funding pitches. The only downside is that nuance (and context) is often sacrificed; you generally only have one twist. But, you can of course expand out from what you initially got when you’ve applied ABT. It is the simplest structure to start with. Nevertheless, the next two story structures are great if you feel you need something a little more nuanced and complex.

2. Pixar Story Spine: seven friendly beats

A previous blog post already explained the origins and usefulness of Pixar’s Story Spine and the 22 rules it forms a part of (worth checking out!). In truth, Pixar’s Story Spine is a more expanded version of ABT, following a similar structure but adding some breathing room for context and additional ‘plot points’. It reads as follows:

Once upon a time there was__.

Every day__.

One day__.

Because of that__.

Because of that__.

Until finally__.”

As you can see, Pixar’s template gives you a bit more runway for characters, stakes and pay-off. Let’s see how that applies to the examples.

Example A: mRNA Vaccine

1. Once upon a time, there was a global pandemic that sent a new virus (COVID-19) spreading around the world.

2. Every day, scientists worked tirelessly to develop a vaccine, knowing it could take years.

3. Until one day, the full genome sequence for SARS-CoV-2 was published.

4. Because of that, Drs Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci saw their chance, and dusted off their mRNA tech.

5. Because of that, they were able to sprint-test a prototype in record time.

6. Because of that, regulators desperate to curb the pandemic granted emergency use.

7. Until finally, it worked! The first arms were jabbed, hospital beds emptied, and hope returned. Ever since, mRNA platforms have opened doors for new vaccines.

   
   

Example B: Thwaites Glacier

1. Once upon a time, Antarctic glaciers seemed remote and steady.

2. Every day, more and more computer-simulated ocean models hinted at trouble.

3. Until one day, scientists decide to drill a borehole in the Thwaites Glacier and to launch the Icefin robot to see for themselves.

4. Because of that, cameras showed how warm water was gnawing at the ice.

5. Because of that, projections for collapse sped up.

6. Because of that, “Doomsday Glacier” headlines rocked public discourse globally.

7. Until finally, policymakers demanded sharper climate action. Ever since, the Thwaites Glacier has become the poster child for sea-level urgency.

   
   

Why use the Spine?

These seven beats give room for personality and emotion without bogging readers in detail. Bear in mind, you can add as many “because of that’s” as you need (taking care not to force it). This structure is an excellent way to help you shape your research into the story you want to tell. The main risk for the Spine is that if any beat is dull, momentum quickly sags. So, make sure you plot out the right beats for every section. The trick is to find what has a logical and emotive flow. The next story structure has fewer beats (five versus seven), but is actually a more complex, classic example that allows for even more breadth of interpretation.

3. Freytag’s Pyramid: The classic five-act drama

Developed by German novelist and playwright Gustav Freytag in the 19th century after analysing the structure of Greek tragedies and Shakespearean plays, Freytag’s Pyramid has become a foundational concept in dramatic structure. He identified a recurring pattern in stories, which he visualised as a pyramid built out of five dramatic beats:

Image: Writers.com

The ‘inciting incident’, which separates exposition and rising action, is generally not considered its own “part” of the pyramid (hence five parts and not six) - instead, it’s the trigger or turning point that launches the rising action. As such, it is quite important. It is the point of no return for the main character(s). Think Neo choosing to take the red pill.

Freytag’s Pyramid suits longer pieces of science communication - like magazine features, documentaries or keynote talks. Let’s see how you might interpret our two examples using Freytag’s approach.

Stage	Vaccine example	Glacier example
Exposition	It’s early 2020: the world is seeing rapidly rising case numbers of COVID-19 and increasingly frail healthcare systems. The hunt for a vaccine is on.	Scientists are worried about Antarctic ice sheets, fearing global sea-level rise and resulting climate collapse. Many uncertainties remain.
(Inciting Incident)	The SARS-CoV-2 genome is published.	Computer modelling keeps showing worrying trends. As a result, an international expedition team is finally assembled to investigate firsthand.
Rising Action	As a result, BioNTech flips to researching mRNA vaccines; Phase I–III trials race ahead; supply chains buckle.	Drilling gear is shipped; storms threaten the Antarctic research season.
Climax	Phase III results are published. The vaccine works! A 95% efficacy rate is announced.	The Icefin robot is launched, and fears are confirmed! Footage reveals active, hidden, under-ice melt zones.
Falling Action	Regulatory approvals are given, production scaling occurs, vaccine batches ship out, the first injections are administered.	Papers are published, sea-level models are updated, and a global media frenzy begins.
Resolution	Billions are vaccinated; the pandemic curve bends.	Thwaites is branded the “Doomsday Glacier”, creating thousands of headlines and a huge boost in global awareness; funding pours into further research.

Why use Freytag?

This one is great for mapping your science story onto a narrative template that has stood the test of time. It is also good for building suspense: Readers climb along to a single dramatic peak. The drawback of the Freytag approach is that if your research lacks a clear “climax”, forcing the pyramid can feel melodramatic or artificial. If this is the case (for instance, if your research yields unclear or nuanced results that point to the need for further study), it might make sense to rather use ABT to capitalise on the “Therefore” aspect, rather than a specific climatic point. So, how do you know when to use which story structure? Let’s summarise.

Structure	Strengths	Weaknesses	Best for
ABT	Fast, punchy, memorable	Minimal nuance	Titles, posters, cold-email hooks
Pixar Spine	Adds emotion, clear beats	Slightly longer	Blog posts, short videos, press releases
Freytag	Deep suspense, polished arc	Needs a strong climax	Feature articles, keynote talks, documentaries

In each case, choose the framework that best fits your communication goal, your audience, the data you have to work with - and of course, your own personal style. Rarely does a story perfectly fit any of these structures. They are more like guidelines.

For me personally, they have meshed into a hybrid abstraction over the years. I am a journalist at heart, so I need to start with a great ‘hook’ to grab people’s attention (think of all the brilliant opening scenes in stories like Lost, Newsroom or The Dark Knight). I also believe in Pixar’s rule about endings being hard, so I need to know where I’m going to end up. Finally, I love inciting incidents! They’re what make you go “woah!” So I think about those up front as well. For everything else between beginning and end, I let the story itself - and the characters (because they really do come alive) - dictate all of the needed “but’s” and “therefore’s”.

Feel free to experiment and see what works for you. Testing each on sticky-notes first is a low-risk way to see which flow lands hardest on the heart (or softest, however you want to see it).

Story structures shouldn’t feel like writing handcuffs; they are scaffolding. If you use them correctly, they should liberate the story that is stuck in your data. Pick one, slot in your research bricks and if it fits, decorate it with your own flair.

Keen to practice? Try rewriting your latest abstract in all three formats, then ask a friend which version sticks. Let us know how it goes in the comments - or tag @AnimateYourScience on LinkedIn and share your favourite science-story reshape. We’d love to see it. Happy storytelling!