The Science Of Scientific Writing    Set 10     Set 10-Assessing again • Exercise 1 • Exercise 2 • Larger maps • Exercise 3 • Exercise 4 • Final.

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

Here's a fun challenge.  Time travel is supposed to be possible in the Harry Potter books, and some fans have suggested that Dumbledore is really a future version of Ron Weasley.  Let's evaluate that argument:

1. Evaluate this Analysis map:

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

  • Evaluate the map in this order:

  • When evaluating basis boxes ask yourself: What support does this basis provide for the claim above it?
  • When evaluating premises ask yourself: Is this true?
  • Make sure you evaluate all the premises in a reason or objection before evaluating the reason or objection itself.
  • When evaluating reasons or objections ask yourself: Given my assessment of the premises, should I accept this? Is it relevant to the claim above it?
  • Finally evaluate the position: what confidence do you have in this given your assessment of the reasons and objection bearing upon it?
  • Make sure you've put evaluation icons in all claim boxes, as well as coloring the body of reasons and objections

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.