The Argumentation Toolkit
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  • About

How do you support students writing a scientific argument after a science seminar?


Session Goal:

  • Teachers will learn how to evaluate student written arguments based upon the quality of the organization of the argument, the quality of connections across ideas, and accuracy.
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Agenda:

* Extension Discussion: Try it with your students!
  1. Video: Writing for a Hypothetical Audience
  2. Presentation: Roles and Expectations for the Science Seminar
  3. Guided Practice: Analyzing a Student Argument
  4. Presentation: Introduction to the Argumentation Rubric
  5. Activity: Analyzing Student Arguments Using the Rubric
  6. Takeaways

Materials:

  1. Detailed agenda for facilitator
  2. Peer Feedback Checklist: Scientific Argument Handout
  3. Rubric for Writing a Scientific Argument
  4. Sample Student Arguments Handout
Presentation View

* Extension discussion -  Try it with your students!

Discussion questions:
  • What went well?
  • What strategies did you implement?
  • What was challenging?
  • What additional support do you need to run the science seminar successfully in your classroom?

1. Video: Writing for a Hypothetical Audience

Watch the video below, which introduces the “hypothetical audience” as a tool to support student writing of scientific arguments.
Discussion Questions:
  • In what ways could the science seminar support students in writing convincing arguments?
  • What are some strategies from the video or your own experience to support student writing of arguments?
  • What do you see as key characteristics you would like to see in your students’ written arguments?

2. Guided Practice: Analyze a Student Argument

  • Introduce the guidelines for writing a scientific argument.Emphasize these are the elements students should include in their written argument.
  • Project an exemplar student argument and use the peer feedback checklist to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this argument.

3. Presentation: Introduction to the Argumentation Rubric

  • Project the Rubric for Writing a Scientific Argument.
  • Explain this rubric can be used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of student arguments.
  • The rubric includes and expands upon the categories discussed in the peer feedback checklist. This can be used to provide targeted feedback to students in their writing.
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4. Activity: Analyzing Student Arguments Using the Rubric

The task:
  • In pairs or small groups,  rate the strengths and weaknesses of each of the four sample student arguments using the rubric.
Discussion Questions:
  • Which argument was the strongest? Why?
  • Which argument was the weakest? Why?
  • How could you use this rubric in your classroom to provide feedback to your students?

5. Session takeaways

  • Engaging students in a science seminar can support students in writing stronger arguments.
  • Teachers can use a variety of strategies to support student writing, such as encouraging students to consider an audience and giving them opportunities for peer critique.
  • Tools such as the argument rubric and peer feedback checklist can be used to help students write stronger arguments.
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This project was supported by National Science Foundation Grant DRL-1119584. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
All content and materials © 2015 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.