Download Science Argumentative Writing Prompt Problem: Scientists have

Science Argumentative Writing Prompt
Problem: Scientists have recently discovered a new solar system. There are billions of objects in this solar system. These objects
range in size from a huge star to tiny particles of dust. Somewhere between these two extremes are planets. You need to decide
what characteristics it takes to be classified as a planet in this solar system. The chart below shows information about several
possible planets. Using your criteria, how many planets are there in this newly discovered solar system? Your essay should explain
what characteristics a planet will exhibit. For example, what does it need to orbit? What shape should it be? Does it need to have
moons? Does it need to have cleared the path it travels along its orbit? Once you define what it takes to be considered a planet,
determine how many of the objects qualify as a planet. Make sure you have good evidence and reasoning to support your
explanation. Include at least 3 supporting details and 1 counter-argument in your writing. The essay should be approximately 4-5
paragraphs.
Object
Orbits
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
Star
Star
Star
Object C
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
Object J
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
Distance from
Star (au)
0.4
0.7
1.0
1.0
1.6
2.6
2.9
3.0
3.4
5.4
5.4
10.1
20.1
30.4
49.3
51.3
97.5
975.6
Shape
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Irregular
Sphere
Irregular
Irregular
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Sphere
Diameter
(km)
4,879
12,100
12,700
3,474
6,800
580
950
54
570
149,984
5,262
120,536
51,118
49,528
2,390
946
2,697
1,800
Moons
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
63
0
60
27
13
3
1
1
0
Orbital zone clear of other
similar sized objects?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Relevant information about this problem
It is not known with certainty how planets are formed. The most popular theory is that they are formed during the collapse of a
nebula into a thin disk of gas and dust. A proto-star (proto = early) forms at the core, surrounded by a rotating proto-planetary disk.
Through a process called accretion (i.e., sticky collision) dust particles in the disk steadily accumulate mass to form ever-larger
bodies. Local concentrations of mass known as planetesimals begin to form, and these accelerate the accretion process by drawing
in additional material by their gravitational attraction. These concentrations become ever denser until they collapse inward under
gravity to form proto-planets.
When the proto-star has grown big enough to ignite and form a star, the rest of the disk is removed from the inside outward by solar
wind and other similar effects. After that there still may be many proto-planets orbiting the star or each other, but over time many
will collide—either to form a single larger planet or release material for other larger proto-planets or planets to absorb.
Some objects in space are a spherical shape because of the nature of gravity. The shapes of small objects (e.g., people, houses,
mountains, and asteroids) are determined by their physical properties. You can take a rock and cut it into a particular shape, and it
will pretty much stay that way because it is small. However, if something is really big, the force of gravity is great enough to actually
change the shape of an object. You can think of gravity as a force that points inward toward the center of a large object so that every
part of the surface is pulled evenly toward the center, resulting in a spherical shape.
The basic reason why the planets revolve around or orbit the Sun is that the gravity of the Sun keeps them in their orbits. (Note:
“Rotate” is used to describe the spin of planet; for example, Earth completes one rotation about its axis every 24 hours, but it
completes one revolution around the Sun every 365 days.) Just as the Moon orbits Earth because of the pull of Earth’s gravity, Earth
orbits the Sun because of the pull of the Sun’s gravity.
Science Argumentative Essay Rubric
Category
1-Below Standards
Focus of
The topic sentence
topic
does not name the
sentence
topic AND does not
preview what will be
discussed
Accuracy
Most supportive facts
were inaccurately
reported
Evidence
Evidence and
and
examples are NOT
Examples
relevant AND/OR are
not explained
2-Approaching Standards
The topic sentence
outlines some or all of the
main points to be
discussed but does not
name the topic
Most supportive facts are
reported accurately
At least one of the pieces
of evidence and examples
is relevant and has an
explanation that shows
how that piece of evidence
supports your position
Support
for
Position
Includes 0 pieces of
evidence (facts,
statistics, examples,
real-life experiences)
Includes 1 piece of
evidence (facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences) that support
the position statement
Grammar
& Spelling
More than 6 errors in
grammar or spelling
4-6 errors in grammar or
spelling
Science Argumentative Essay Rubric
Category
1-Below Standards
Focus of
The topic sentence
topic
does not name the
sentence
topic AND does not
preview what will be
discussed
Accuracy
Most supportive facts
were inaccurately
reported
Evidence
Evidence and
and
examples are NOT
Examples
relevant AND/OR are
not explained
2-Approaching Standards
The topic sentence
outlines some or all of the
main points to be
discussed but does not
name the topic
Most supportive facts are
reported accurately
At least one of the pieces
of evidence and examples
is relevant and has an
explanation that shows
how that piece of evidence
supports your position
Support
for
Position
Includes 0 pieces of
evidence (facts,
statistics, examples,
real-life experiences)
Includes 1 piece of
evidence (facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences) that support
the position statement
Grammar
& Spelling
More than 6 errors in
grammar or spelling
4-6 errors in grammar or
spelling
Name:______________________
3-Meets Standards
4-Above Standards
The topic sentence names The topic sentence names
the topic of the essay
the topic of the essay and
outlines the three main
points to be discussed
Almost all supportive
facts are reported
accurately
Most of the pieces of
evidence and examples
are specific, relevant, and
explanations are given
that show how each piece
of evidence supports your
position
Includes 2 or more pieces
of evidence (facts,
statistics, examples, reallife experiences) that
support the position
statement
1-3 errors in grammar or
spelling
All supportive facts are
reported accurately
All of the evidence and
examples are specific,
relevant, and explanations
are given that show how
each piece of evidence
supports your position
Includes 1 piece of evidence
(facts, statistics, examples,
real-life experiences) that
support the position
statement. The writer
anticipates the reader’s
concerns, biases, or
arguments and has provided
at least 1 counter-argument
no errors in grammar or
spelling
Name:______________________
3-Meets Standards
4-Above Standards
The topic sentence names The topic sentence names
the topic of the essay
the topic of the essay and
outlines the three main
points to be discussed
Almost all supportive
facts are reported
accurately
Most of the pieces of
evidence and examples
are specific, relevant, and
explanations are given
that show how each piece
of evidence supports your
position
Includes 2 or more pieces
of evidence (facts,
statistics, examples, reallife experiences) that
support the position
statement
1-3 errors in grammar or
spelling
Score
All supportive facts are
reported accurately
All of the evidence and
examples are specific,
relevant, and explanations
are given that show how
each piece of evidence
supports your position
Includes 1 piece of evidence
(facts, statistics, examples,
real-life experiences) that
support the position
statement. The writer
anticipates the reader’s
concerns, biases, or
arguments and has provided
at least 1 counter-argument
no errors in grammar or
spelling
Score
Revising Checklist
Peer Reviewer’s Name: ____________________________
Essay Writer’s Name: ______________________________
YES
Are there paragraph breaks?
Is the writing easy to follow?
Are there any parts you had to slow down and re-read?
Are there grammar or spelling errors?
Is there a topic sentence?
How would you describe the beginning?
______ Present and it outlines the 3 main points
______ Present
______ Extremely undeveloped
Does the author have 3 specific pieces of evidence and examples?
How would you describe evidence/examples
______ They are specific, relevant, and explain support
______ They are somewhat specific, relevant, and show support
______ They do not relate
Have they included a counter-argument?
Are there transitions between paragraphs?
How would you describe the paragraph transitions?
______ They work very well and are very smooth
______ They are present and work
______ They sometimes work. They are repetitive
______ They are missing mostly
Is there a conclusion?
How would you describe the ending?
______ Satisfying (a sense of closure and resolution)
______ Present, but not really satisfying
______ Extremely undeveloped
Somewhat
NO
Argumentative Writing Prewriting
Evidence
Detail
Thesis
Counterclaim development
Claim
Ex. School should start later in the day
Opposing Viewpoints
-Starting later will allow more sleep for students. Rested
students are good students.
-Starting later will take time away from after-school activities
-