Journal Writing
An ongoing part of your assessment in science will be through regular journal writing. The purpose of writing in a science journal is to allow you to reflect on your science learning, express your opinions about the topics and issues we will examine and consider how your science understanding has changed. Your writing allows me to assess: how you are thinking about science, your understanding of what we are learning and that you are actively engaged in thinking about your own learning.
Journal responses will consist of three parts and you will need to respond to all three in order to write a complete journal entry.
1. You will have a question(s) to answer or a statement to address. You will be expected to use the information from your textbook or class notes to answer. You may also choose to find other sources of information, but you will need to tell me where your information came from.
Examples: Scientists should not be wasting money to investigate Mars. Do you agree?
Is cloning organs a good way to address the shortage of human organs available for transplants?
2. You will need to include a personal reflection on the question or statement. This could be your own personal feelings about the topic, your personal experiences or how the topic connects to your life/world. Your reflection should also include questions that you have as a result of our science learning or your research into the journal question.
Example: I think that cloning organs would be a good way to make sure that everyone who needs a transplant can have one. I have a cousin who has been waiting for 6 months for a heart transplant, if he doesn’t get a new heart soon, he will probably die. It is really sad because he is only 9 years old. If scientists could clone organs then many people wouldn’t have to go through the pain of losing a family member. . . . I have a lot of questions about cloning, how do they do it? How do they make sure the organs turn out right?
3. You will have to describe how your understanding of the topic has changed because of our science learning and your journal writing. You should use examples and compare what you knew before and what you know now.
Example: As a result of our studies about Mars and the other planets, I now understand why scientists believe there may be water on Mars.
Before we studied Mars I thought that it had an atmosphere just like Earth and people could breathe there just like here. I would like to learn more about how the atmosphere on other planets is important for the development of life.
An ongoing part of your assessment in science will be through regular journal writing. The purpose of writing in a science journal is to allow you to reflect on your science learning, express your opinions about the topics and issues we will examine and consider how your science understanding has changed. Your writing allows me to assess: how you are thinking about science, your understanding of what we are learning and that you are actively engaged in thinking about your own learning.
Journal responses will consist of three parts and you will need to respond to all three in order to write a complete journal entry.
1. You will have a question(s) to answer or a statement to address. You will be expected to use the information from your textbook or class notes to answer. You may also choose to find other sources of information, but you will need to tell me where your information came from.
Examples: Scientists should not be wasting money to investigate Mars. Do you agree?
Is cloning organs a good way to address the shortage of human organs available for transplants?
2. You will need to include a personal reflection on the question or statement. This could be your own personal feelings about the topic, your personal experiences or how the topic connects to your life/world. Your reflection should also include questions that you have as a result of our science learning or your research into the journal question.
Example: I think that cloning organs would be a good way to make sure that everyone who needs a transplant can have one. I have a cousin who has been waiting for 6 months for a heart transplant, if he doesn’t get a new heart soon, he will probably die. It is really sad because he is only 9 years old. If scientists could clone organs then many people wouldn’t have to go through the pain of losing a family member. . . . I have a lot of questions about cloning, how do they do it? How do they make sure the organs turn out right?
3. You will have to describe how your understanding of the topic has changed because of our science learning and your journal writing. You should use examples and compare what you knew before and what you know now.
Example: As a result of our studies about Mars and the other planets, I now understand why scientists believe there may be water on Mars.
Before we studied Mars I thought that it had an atmosphere just like Earth and people could breathe there just like here. I would like to learn more about how the atmosphere on other planets is important for the development of life.
science_journal_writing_rubric.docx | |
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