Warm up
Name: ________________________________________________. Date: _______________________________
Directions: I am going to assign to every pair of students one of the terms used in the first Unit, you have to write the word assigned
to you in the center; for example: Horse then write your own definition (Living thing), in the characteristic section write something
that describe the term ( four legs, run) ; finally an example of the term ( Pony) and an Non example for example ( Cow). I am going to
model the exercise in the smartboard before you complete your assigned term.
You are going to work with the following terms: Geologic process, landform, System, evidence, Claim.
DEFINITION
EXAMPLES/MODELS
CHARACTERISTICS
NON-EXAMPLES
Classwork Directions: this in-class assignment worth 25 % of your final grade. You are going to work today and
tomorrow on your essays, on the first day; you are going to receive an instant grade for completion of the
introductory paragraph with the three reasons supporting your claim and at least one or two paragraphs with the
supporting evidence learned in class. On the second day you have to finalize your Argument essay. I am going to
grade your papers and write suggestions; you can make corrections based on my suggestions to submit your final
essay Monday October 28.
Task: You have to write a five-paragraph essay, in this essay you have to make a scientific argument on the
formation of the channel of Mars. You have to argue in your essay if the Channel of mars was formed by flowing
water or Volcanic activity.
In your argument you have to include:
Introduction: The introduction must contain a clear statement of your position for example: I believed that the
channel was formed by flowing water because …in this paragraph you also have to include three reasons why
flowing water created the channel.
Body of the essay: You need to write three paragraphs using evidence to support your claim in your
introductory paragraph, for example if one of the reasons in your introductory paragraph states that the features
formed in our planet when water flows on the surface are similar to the satellite images from the surface of Mars.
Conclusion: here you have to include the counterclaim or opposite position, for example: Some people
believed that flowing lava create the Channel when its solidified over the surface of Mars because the different
composition of the rocks surrounding the channel, but I have proven that is water because…
Resources: You are going to use the articles read in class and the evidence presented on the evidence cards. You
can do your own research online and bring the information to add in your essay, I am going to approve the use of
external information.
Argument Essay
Scientific Argument
Question: What geologic process could have formed the channel on Mars?
Introductory paragraph: complete the sentence and write three reasons you believe What geologic process
could have formed the channel of Mars
I believe the channel of Mars was formed by ………
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Here, you need to write the evidence that support your claim in the introductory paragraph, for example:
Claim: “The Channel of mars was formed by flowing water.” Evidence: A satellite image from the surface
of Mars shows the presence of conglomerate rocks only formed in a water environment.
Paragraph 1:
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Paragraph 2
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Paragraph 3
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Conclusion: you have here to include the counterclaim or opposite view, for example “Some people believed that the channel of
mars was formed by volcanic activity, but I have proven with my reasoning and evidence that water formed the channel
because ………...
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