Standard: 11-12.RST.8 – Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.
Grade level: Grade 11-12
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Science & Technical Subjects
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on developing students’ ability to critically evaluate scientific and technical texts. It emphasizes the importance of verifying data and challenging conclusions, which are essential skills for academic and real-world applications. Students should be familiar with the scientific method, basic principles of data analysis, and have experience reading complex texts.
Mastering this standard will prepare students for advanced research tasks and enhance their critical thinking skills, making them better equipped for higher education and professional careers.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that all published scientific data is inherently accurate. This is incorrect because data can be flawed due to various biases, errors in methodology, or misinterpretation.
Intervention 1
To address this, provide students with examples of flawed data and guide them through the process of identifying and understanding these flaws.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that challenging conclusions is disrespectful or unnecessary. In reality, questioning and verifying conclusions is a crucial part of the scientific method.
Intervention 2
Promote a classroom culture that values critical thinking and encourages students to respectfully question and verify information.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a foundational understanding of scientific methods, basic data analysis, and the ability to read and comprehend complex texts.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to critically evaluate scientific literature, enhance their research skills, and apply critical thinking to real-world scientific and technical problems.
Instructional Activities
- Analyze a scientific journal article and identify its hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions.
- Cross-reference data from multiple sources to verify accuracy.
- Conduct a peer review session where students challenge each other’s conclusions based on evidence.
- Create a presentation that corroborates or challenges the findings of a given scientific text.
