Claim-Evidence-Reasoning and The Scientific Method
Lesson 2: T
​ he Make
Student Guide
Directions
Now that you have determined how evidence can be used to test a claim made in a
commercial, it is time to put your investigative skills to the test! Today, you’ll view a
commercial that states a specific claim about a product. It’s your turn to determine if
this company’s claim is supported by evidence!
Your M
​ ake​ task today is to:
1. Analyze and test the claim made in a TV commercial.
2. Complete the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning guide to analyze the stated claim.
3. Use the Scientific Method to design and conduct a test to investigate the
claim.
4. Present your findings.
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I. Analyzing the Commercial: Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
View the ​Bounty Paper Towel​ commercial, then complete the table to identify the
claim​ it makes, the ​evidence​ it presents, and the r​ easoning​ it provides.
Claim: A
​ n assertion;
a statement
believed to be true.
What claim, if any,
is the commercial
making?
Evidence: S
​ cientific
data used to
support the claim.
What evidence, if
any, was presented
in the commercial
to support the
claim?
Reasoning: A
​
statement or
statements that
connect the
evidence to the
claim.
How does the
evidence support
the claim? Was
any reasoning
provided?
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II. Testing the Claim Using the Scientific Method
Let's investigate whether the product claim is accurate by assessing the evidence
presented in the commercial in your own scientific experiment! Complete the
Planning Organizer below. If you need additional space at any point, use an
additional piece of paper.
The Scientific Method
1. Key Question to Test
2. Hypothesis​ (If-Then Statement):
3. Experiment Design
Brainstorm how you could test your key question. What qualitative and
quantitative data will you be collecting?
4. Materials Required
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5. Variables
A. Variables to Consider
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B. Things to keep the same (​control
variables​) during the experiment in
order to make this a “fair test”
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C. Independent and Dependent Variables
What is an independent variable?
Write the independent variable in your experiment here.
_________________________________________________________
What is a dependent variable?
Write the dependent variable here.
________________________________________________________
6. Procedure
Write a step-by-step procedure for how you will conduct your experiment.
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7. Conduct the Test
8. Data and Observations (Your Evidence)
Quantitative Data: Create a data table to record your information. Graph your
results. (If you require additional space you may use an additional piece of paper to
design your data table and collect and record your data.)
Qualitative Data:
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9. Conclusion and Reasoning
Did your scientific test support or refute the original claim? Use evidence collected
from your experiment to support your reasoning.
III. Reflect
Why was it important to use the Scientific Method to investigate the claim made
in the commercial?
IV. Present your information
Now that you have conducted your experiment, it is time to present your findings.
Here you will be supporting or refuting the Bounty Select-A-Size paper towel claim
that one sheet is 50% more absorbent than a sheet of the leading competitor brand.
Use one of the following formats to present your information:
● Written document
● PowerPoint or Google Slide presentation
● Poster presentation
Include this information in your presentation:
● Outline of commercial claim
● Summary of experiment (How did you test the claim?)
● Scientific evidence collected through experimentation
● Your data table
● Pictures/additional key observations where applicable
● Your conclusion
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Name: ______________________
Date: ______________________
Exit Ticket: Connection to T
​ he Engineer
1.
Why is it important to change only the independent variable and control as
many other variables as possible?
2. Why do you think it is important to write very ​specific​ procedures? What
happens when you don’t write specific procedures?
3. How is reasoning different from evidence?
4. Why do you think it is important to conduct experiments with all of these
steps and reports instead of just testing them out in your head?
5. What is an independent variable vs. a dependent variable?
6. Why is the Scientific Method a good structure to use to t​ est​ a claim?
7. How do you know if a fair test was conducted?
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The M
​ ake​ Assessment
Use the checklist and cognitive skills rubric to ensure you have addressed all aspects
of T
​ he Make​ with quality work.
Scientific Method ​The Make​ Checklist: Content Concepts and Practices
Your Challenge: Follow a procedure that uses the Scientific Method to come to valid
conclusions
Project Completeness:
❏ Accurately completes Claim-Evidence-Reasoning section
❏ Completes all sections of the Scientific Method Planning Organizer in the Student
Guide
Presentation
❏ Successfully prepares a presentation supporting or refuting the Bounty Select-A-Size
paper towel claim that one sheet is 50% more absorbent than a sheet of the leading
competitor brand.
❏ Presentation includes:
❏ Outline of commercial claim
❏ Summary of experiment (How did students test the claim?)
❏ Scientific evidence collected through experimentation
❏ Data table
❏ Pictures/additional key observations where applicable
❏ Your conclusion
DCI Standards Checklist:
❏ Makes a hypothesis that is related to the claim and based on observations
❏ Correctly differentiates independent and dependent variables
❏ Accurately identifies at least two controlled variables
❏ Controls these variables during the actual experiment
❏ Analysis is complete and accurate
❏ Restates claim and answers question
❏ Cites numerical data in the evidence
❏ Uses reasoning to explain results
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Cognitive Skills Assessed
Emerging (1)
Developing (2)
Proficient (3)
Advanced (4)
Asking
Questions and
Defining
Problems
Question or
problem statement
relates but does not
specifically apply to
the problem/
investigation.
Question or
problem statement
applies to the
problem/
investigation but is
too broad to
realistically
investigate.
Question or
problem statement
looks at
relationships
between variables
or adequately aligns
to the problem.
Question or
problem statement
looks at
relationships
between variables
and examines its
testability or
completely aligns to
the problem.
Planning and
Carrying Out
Investigations
Investigation does
not produce the
relevant data to
align with the
research question.
Or no procedure is
detailed.
Investigation
minimally produces
the relevant data to
align with the
research question.
Procedure is lacking
the necessary detail
to be carried out.
Investigation
identifies
dependent and
independent
variables, and will
produce the
relevant data to
align with the
research question.
Procedure is
detailed enough to
be carried out, but
has some clarity
issues.
Investigation
identifies
dependent and
independent
variables, as well as
controls and will
produce the
relevant data to
align with the
research question.
Procedure is
concise.
Analyzing and
Interpreting
Data
Constructs data
tables or graphs
that do not display
all data. Analyzes
data with major
misconceptions or
omissions.
Constructs data
tables or graphs
that display all data,
but does not
analyze
relationships.
Analyzes data with
minor
misconceptions.
Constructs data
tables or graphs
that display all data
and makes simple
connections
between variables.
Analyzes data to
provide evidence for
phenomena.
Constructs data
tables or graphs
that displays all data
and makes complex
connections
between variables.
Analyzes data to
provide evidence for
phenomena and
acknowledges
limitations.
Constructing
Explanations or
Arguments From
Evidence
Constructs an
explanation with no
clear sources of
evidence.
Uses scientific
principles and/or
data from at least
one source to
construct or
evaluate an
explanation, but
explanation
contains minor
misconceptions.
Uses accurate but
incomplete
scientific principles
and/or data from
multiple sources to
construct or
evaluate an
explanation.
Uses accurate and
complete scientific
principles and/or
data from multiple
sources to construct
or evaluate an
explanation.
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