Constructing an Argument: Energy

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• Directions
• Objectives
• Preparation
• Background & Vocabulary

• Tell students that Activity 1 (Constructing an Argument) of the lesson What are our Energy Choices? introduces the structure of the scientific argumentation they will be asked to do in the rest of the lesson. Tell students that Activity 1 will give them practice with analyzing a data set and making a good scientific argument from the evidence. Encourage students to review the questions and example best answers provided in Activity 1 before starting on the current activity.

• Subjects & Disciplines

  • Science
    • General science

  Learning Objectives

  Students will:

  • create a good scientific argument in the context of energy

  Teaching Approach

  • Inquiry-based learning

  Teaching Methods

  • Self-directed learning
  • Self-paced learning
  • Writing

  Skills Summary

  This activity targets the following skills:

  • Critical Thinking Skills
    • Creating

• What You’ll Need

  Materials You Provide

  • Computers with Internet connection

  Resources Provided

  The resources are also available at the top of the page.

  Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Required

• Background Information

  ---

  Prior Knowledge

  • None

  Recommended Prior Activities

  • None

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  Vocabulary

  Term	Part of Speech	Definition	Encyclopedic Entry
  claim	Verb	to state as the truth.
  coal	Noun	dark, solid fossil fuel mined from the earth.
  electricity	Noun	set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and flow of electric charge.
  energy	Noun	capacity to do work.
  evidence	Noun	data that can be measured, observed, examined, and analyzed to support a conclusion.
  hydroelectricity	Noun	power generated by moving water converted to electricity. Also called hydroelectric energy or hydroelectric power.
  megawatt hour	Noun	equal to 1,000 kilowatt hours (Kwh), or 1,000 kilowatts of electricity used continuously for one hour. One megawatt-hour equals one million (1,000,000) watt-hours or 3,600,000,000 joules.
  renewable energy	Noun	energy obtained from sources that are virtually inexhaustible and replenish naturally over small time scales relative to the human life span.