Preparing for Scientific Essay: Unit Assessment

1. NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR: If the lab was not complete during yesterday’s lesson finish it. Today’s material starts preparing students for the final assessment and is at least a two – three day process. The final assessment will involve students writing up their findings on Ecosystem Interactions in a scientific essay format. In the Day 18 folder there two “How to” articles that will help prepare you (if necessary) and your students. Keep in mind these articles are general and you will have to adjust them for your class and writing preferences.

2. Description: Goals: Assess students’ ability to complete the unit goals . Preparing for final assessment: This will start the first of at least three days needed to prepare and complete the unit assessment. Final assessment is a scientific essay.

3. Objectives: Day 18 Review unit goals and how they have been met. Plan essay structure and parts.

4. Warm – Up Question: • What are the different parts of an essay? Answer: • Introduction, Body, Conclusion

5. What is a Scientific Essay? We’ve all written an essay before and know about the basic structure (Intro., body, conclusion). A scientific essay (also called an Academic Essay) is a more detailed and specific structured essay that attempts to provide straight-forward and clear facts to the readers. According to J. Marlow’s article in College Life: “Being able to write an academic essay well is an important skill. Though the style may take some getting used to, this guide aims to explain the correct structure you should employ, and help guide you through the process. After a little practice, you will quickly become adept at writing academic essays, and be more skilled to experiment with the style.“

6. Preparing to write for a scientific essay Equally as important as being able to write a scientific essay is the ability to plan and design your writing. TODAY’S OBJECTIVE: • Review unit goals and ways they have been met. • Plan essay structure and parts. To meet these objectives we will look at the parts of an academic essay and your rubric for this unit’s final assessment.

7. Today’s Outline: • Read “How to Write a Scientific Essay”. • Review Unit goals and determine ways these goals have been met. • Discuss tomorrow’s plans and go over the rubric for you essay.

8. “How to Write a Scientific Essay” While reading feel free to mark on the articles. Using the following symbols is a helpful reading technique: • ! = Key concept or Important point • ? = Part of the reading doesn’t make sense. Seek help on these after reading.

9. “How to Write a Scientific Essay” When finished: Working in pairs fill in the “Brief section description” in your “Planning for a Scientific Essay” for each section of an essay. Before asking the teacher use the article, your partner, or a close neighbor.

10. Review Unit goals On page one of your “Planning for a Scientific Essay” packet you will see a list of this units goal. Work in your Pairs to complete this 1st part of the packet. Having out material from this unit may be helpful: Warm-Ups, Labs, Class work, Notes, etc…

11. Tomorrow: Tomorrow we will complete the packet by using stations around the classroom. Each station will focus on a part of the rubric/essay section. Your goal will be to use these stations and the rubric to finish planning your essay.

12. Materials you should now have: “How to Write a Scientific Essay” Article “Planning for a Scientific Essay” Packet “Unit Assessment Rubric” Tomorrow you will needs these as well as other materials such as labs, notes, and worksheets from this unit.

13. Objectives: Day 18 Review unit goals and how they have been met. Plan essay structure and parts.