Science Essay Writing/Project Introduction
Writing an Argumentative Science Essay
These resources have been designed to help teach students how to write a well-structured argumentative science essay (approximately 1,250 words) over the course of a term. They will take part in four interactive in-class activity sessions (intended to last 50 – 60 min each) that each focus on a different, critical theme in writing essays, and which are designed to supplement pre-class homework readings and short activities.
Student essays can be written to address any brief. An example is:
Identify a current controversy in science that interests you. State your opinion, and present the evidence that justifies your position.
The four in-class activity sessions will help students develop their essays (see Table 1).
Table 1: The four topics that will be covered in in-class activity sessions will help students develop their essays over the term. ‘PRE’ classes refer to readings and very short activities that must be completed before they come to the in-class sessions.
| Class | Topic |
|---|---|
| PRE 1 | (thesis and development statements, main body, conclusion) |
| IN 1 | |
| PRE 2 | (primary, secondary and tertiary sources, citing/referencing) |
| IN 2 | |
| PRE 3 | (paragraph structure, topic sentences, transitions) |
| IN 3 | |
| PRE 4 | (giving and using feedback to improve written work) |
| IN 4 |
Figure 1. Essay Writing Framework