Sellers Science

Apr

2014

Argument on Policy

Model Paragraph

There are known errors in this paragraph.

You must write this paragraph in your own words. Use the Critical Thinking Questions on the back of this page to help you in the process of forming your own thoughts (voice) in your writing of the paragraph.

Monroe Middle School handbook states that “gum” is prohibited on the school campus. According to the administration, this prohibition must remain in place because cleaning the gum from desks is expensive and because parents complain about the gum on students’ clothing and gum in students’ hair. We did the study to find out if gum was a significant problem as the administration stated in their note to the class.

I. Introduction-Describe the nature of the problem to be investigated and explain the major and related questions. (Be sure to include your thesis and hook)

II. Research Design and Methods- explain how you went about investigating the problem and related questions.

For example on the “No Chewing Gum Policy” you would explain how you selected the classes and how many, how you counted the wads of gum in classrooms, how you gave out the questionnaire to classes and their tallies and finally you would explain the procedures for estimating time and cost of cleaning desks.

III. Results/Findings- Explain what you found relative to each area above as a result of the methods you used.

IV. Interpretation of Results and Findings- Explain what the results mean and why the interpretations are valid.

V. Conclusions and Recommendations-Explain what might reasonably be done in light of the research findings

Critical Thinking Questions:

What did the administration (principals) say were their reasons for the “no gum chewing policy”?

What is printed in the school handbook about chewing/having gum at school?

How did you find evidence to either support the reasons stated by the administration?

Write the paragraph in your own words:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Model Paragraph

There are known errors in this paragraph.

We administered a questionnaire to four classes, one class for each grade level from fifth through eighth. One of the questions asked the students how often they chewed gum at school; always, often, sometimes, rarely or never. _____ percent of the students said they never chewed gum; _____ percent said they chewed gum sometimes; and only _____ percent said they chewed gum always at school. We talked with the custodians to find out how much they were paid per hour and how long it took them to clean the gum. Our class also sent out students to count the wads of gum in the classrooms that were under desks and chairs.

I. Introduction-Describe the nature of the problem to be investigated and explain the major and related questions. (Be sure to include your thesis and hook)

II. Research Design and Methods- Explain how you went about investigating the problem and related questions.

III. Results/Findings- Explain what you found relative to each area above as a result of the methods you used.

IV. Interpretation of Results and Findings- Explain what the results mean and why the interpretations are valid.

V. Conclusions and Recommendations-Explain what might reasonably be done in light of the research findings.

Critical Thinking Questions:

How did you find evidence to either support the reasons stated by the administration?

How did you find evidence to disprove the reasons stated by the administration?

What kinds of questions are needed to find evidence (data) to support or disprove the reasons stated by the administration?

What methods were used to find the answers to the questions needed to find the evidence?

The class collected what kinds of data for evidence to prove or disprove the administration reasons for the “no gum chewing” policy?

Write the paragraph in your own words:

Model Paragraph

There are known errors in this paragraph.

One question asked students how they disposed of gum when they had finished chewing it. The question provided several options and asked students to circle the frequency with which they used it. The first option was, “I stick it to the bottom of my seat or desk.” _____________ percent said they never did that; _______ percent said they did it occasionally; ______ percent said they usually did; and none said they all ways did. The second option was, “I wrap it up in the wrapper and put it in the wastebasket.” _____________ percent said they always did that; _______ percent said they did it occasionally; ______ percent said they usually did; but no one said they never did. The third option for question 1 was, “I throw it on the floor.” No one said they always or usually did, only _______ percent said they did it occasionally; ______ percent said they never did. The fourth option was “I throw it in the wastebasket without wrapping it.” Again no one said they always or usually did, ____ percent said occasionally, and ___ percent said never.

I. Introduction-Describe the nature of the problem to be investigated and explain the major and related questions. (Be sure to include your thesis and hook)

II. Research Design and Methods- Explain how you went about investigating the problem and related questions.

For example on the “No Chewing Gum Policy” you would exlain how you selected the classes and how many, how you counted the wwads of gum in classrooms, how you gave out the questionnaire to classes and their tallies and finally you would explain the procedures for estimating time and cost of cleaning desks.

III. Results/Findings- Explain what you found relative to each area above as a result of the methods you used.

IV. Interpretation of Results and Findings- Explain what the results mean and why the interpretations are valid.

V. Conclusions and Recommendations-Explain what might reasonably be done in light of the research findings.

Critical Thinking Questions:

The class collected what kinds of data for evidence to prove or disprove the administration reasons for the “no gum chewing” policy?

Write the paragraph in your own words:

Model Paragraph

There are known errors in this paragraph.

Our class discussed these results because it was strange. Nearly everyone thought kids put gum under the desks and chairs because they were afraid of being caught, but ____ percent said they never did that themselves. But if they did not do it themselves, why would they think that other kids did? We think they were covering up their own behavior a little bit. Probably because they really do it themselves. They say other kids do it. So we believe that the main reason they put the gum under the desks is because they don’t want to get caught. That is the main thing the questionnaire told us.

I. Introduction-Describe the nature of the problem to be investigated and explain the major and related questions. (Be sure to include your thesis and hook)

II. Research Design and Methods- Explain how you went about investigating the problem and related questions.

III. Results/Findings- Explain what you found relative to each area above as a result of the methods you used.

IV. Interpretation of Results and Findings- Explain what the results mean and why the interpretations are valid.

V. Conclusions and Recommendations-Explain what might reasonably be done in light of the research findings.

Critical Thinking Questions:

What the results mean (interpretation of the data)?

Why the interpretations (results) are valid?

Write the paragraph in your own words:

Model Paragraph

There are known errors in this paragraph.

Our research shows there is an average of _______ pieces of gum on every set of seats and desks we examined. Based on this evidence, we concede your point that chewing gum creates a problem in this school in terms of health and cleaning up.

Even though we agree with your point that there is a problem, we cannot agree with your solution. Our research indicates that there is a very strong possibility that the ban may be the reason that students are putting gum under desks and chairs. In response to our questionnaire item about why students put gum under desks and chairs, _____ percent indicated they did it because they are afraid of being caught chewing gum. When _____percent agree, it is very probably because each knows what and why he or she does it. Then they attribute similar motives to others. It may just be common knowledge among students that one does that to avoid being caught in the act. It is also evident from the research reported above that the ban does not have the desired effect. In view of this failure, we respectfully submit the following proposals…

I. Introduction-Describe the nature of the problem to be investigated and explain the major and related questions. (Be sure to include your thesis and hook)

II. Research Design and Methods- Explain how you went about investigating the problem and related questions.

III. Results/Findings- Explain what you found relative to each area above as a result of the methods you used.

IV. Interpretation of Results and Findings- Explain what the results mean and why the interpretations are valid.

V. Conclusions and Recommendations-Explain what might reasonably be done in light of the research findings

Critical Thinking Questions:

What can you conclude from these findings? Do they support the administration reasons? Or do they disprove the administrations reasons?

Can you agree with their reasons but not the rule of “no gum chewing”? if so what would be a better solution to the gum chewing problems?

What might reasonably be done in light of the research findings?

Write the paragraph in your own words:

Comments (0)

May

2012

IB Science Essay- Due May 16, 2012

Uncategorized

Step 1:

(1) pick an illness/health issue, (2) research its cause, (3) the consequences and (4) how we can get rid of it, (5) Is this a problem in other parts of the world? Where? Is this health issue/disease more or less of a problem in other parts of the world?

Some Suggested Issues: obesity, diabetes, cancer, smoking, malnutrition, drug addiction, high blood pressure

Ex: (1) diabetes, (2) caused by too much sugar (type 2) or by the body stopping making insulin; (3) the consequences are higher medical costs, vision problems, nerve problems; (4) by eating healthier foods and getting more exercise fewer people will develop type 2

Ex. (1) obesity, (2) caused by genetics, contributing factors eating too much and exercising too little, (3) many health problems (cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke ,(4) Use Cause / Consequence / Get Rid Of Sheet

Step 2: Writing

Layout:

1. Cover Sheet title, written by, submitted to, date and number of words)

2. Paper: double-spaced, three to five paragrapsh

3. Last page: list of references

You must a minimum of two brief quotations. Sometimes an article has a sentence or phrase that expressed exactly the thought you want to include in your paper. You must use quotation marks and cite the reference on the last page.
You must include one to two graphs, charts or tables.

Citations

Super simple option: Use EasyBib.com

just provide website address/url (copy and paste from the address bar)

example:

“Type 2 Diabetes Is Increasing Among Children All Over The World.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 May 2005. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050511071749.htm>.

Rules for MLA citations:

article name in quotation marks

Name of publication in italics

Name of publication, date/month/year. Web. Today’s Date

Url in triangle brackets.

The high school option: Follow MLA rules, which are

* Author and/or editor names (if available)

* Article name in quotation marks (if applicable)

* Title of the Website, project, or book in italics. (Remember that some Print publications have Web publications with slightly different names. They may, for example, include the additional information or otherwise modified information, like domain names [e.g. .com or .net].)

* Any version numbers available, including revisions, posting dates, volumes, or issue numbers.

* Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.

* Take note of any page numbers (if available).

* Medium of publication.

* Date you accessed the material.

* URL (if required, or for your own personal reference; MLA does not require a URL).

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May

2010