The Science Of Scientific Writing    Set 7     Set 7-AssessingSecond pageThird pageFourth pageExampleExercise 1Exercise 2Exercise 3Exercise 4Exercise 5Exercise 6Final Page Set 7.

Course Home

OVERVIEW: The way to well-written science

How to do the Course

 

PART I: Paragraphs and Sentences

SET A: Paragraphs: The Maps Behind Them

SET B: Paragraphs: Using Maps to Meet Readers' Expectations

SET C: Paragraphs with Something Extra: Points and Tails

SET D: The Generic Section: Expectations and Maps as Blueprints

SET E: Scientific Sections: The Methods and Results

SET F: Scientific Sections: The Discussion

SET G : Scientific Sections: The Introduction

SET H : Sentences

SET I : The Paper as a Whole

 

 

PART II: The Paper and its Sections

Introduction

SET 1: Argument Parts

SET 2: Indicator Words

SET 3: Refining Claims

SET 4: Locating Arguments in Prose

SET 5: Rationale's Essay Planner

SET 6: Evidence in Arguments: Basis Boxes

SET 7: Assessing

SET 8: More on Assessing

SET 9: Analysis Maps

SET 10: Assessing Again

Synthesis 1: Position-Early Paragraphs

Synthesis 2: Position-Final Paragraphs

Synthesis 3: Writing a Discussion I

Synthesis 4: Writing a Discussion II


Exercise 4

1. Drag this map onto your workspace and evaluate it.

Drag this onto the workspace

Drag this image onto the workspace to proceed.  You must be using the inbuilt browser in Rationale 1.3 or later.

Hints

  • First evaluate the basis box.  Ask yourself: what support does this basis give the reason?  Stephen Hawking is a respected expert speaking in his field of study: is it reasonable to trust him?
  • Now evaluate the reason. Ask yourself: What confidence should I have in this reason, given my assessment of its basis?
    • If you think the basis is reliable, ask yourself: how strong a reason is this for the position above it? How good a reason is it - strong or weak?
    • If you think the basis is a poor source of information ask yourself: could I still reasonably accept this claim on other grounds?
  • Click on the reason, go to the go to the 'Evaluate' section of the ribbon and click the box that reflects your assessment
  • Finally evaluate the position: what confidence do you have in it, given the degree of support the reason provides?
  • Make sure you've put evaluation icons in all boxes

2. Check your work against the model.

 

 

Content of this page drawn in whole or part from the Austhink Rationale Exercises with permission from Austhink.