Observation, Description, and Interpretation in Science Argumentation

There are six figures shown, each representing ones you might use in a scientific paper. They are labeled Figure 1, 2, 3, etc.  Suppose that you have done a study of the Tonga/Fiji trench region and have created the four figures from your data. You have also sketched the two models, one of which fits the data. The purpose of this exercise is for you to quickly write an argument that will convince the reader that one or the other of the model sketches (figures 5 or 6) is the correct one.  Use scientific style.

The point of this is to make a good scientific argument, and to choose the correct model. Do not mention the model that you feel is the wrong one. Concentrate on the best argument for the model you agree with.

 

middle profile elevations

 

middle profile quake cross-section

 

In building your argument, be sure you do the following:

1) Describe the data:

• Be sure to use figure 1 to tell the reader where the study area is located
• Describe the kinds of data that are shown in the data figures
• Be quantitative: use numbers where possible

2) Name features identified using the data

• Is it a trench, a mountain chain, an island chain?

3) Describe features observed in the data

• Do they trend North-South?
• How deep, how long?

4) Describe relationships between observed features. Note that a scientific finding is always stronger when several kinds of data are available to support the result.

• Are quakes aligned with volcanoes?
• Do islands follow near a trench?
• How do earthquakes relate to other features?

5) Describe your model or theory

• What does the model imply about topography, volcanoes, quakes?

6) Describe relationships between your model and the observations

• Explicitly state how the observed data corresponds to the predictions of the model or theory.

Be sure to remember what you learned from this activity when you write both your Plate Tectonics paper and Earth Summit position paper. Note also that the figures are examples of good annotation practice for when you refer to them from a text artument.

Begin your writing here.  Please write clearly (ink, not light, hard to read pencil).

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