Unit 3: Heat and Heat Transfer
Topic
Thermal Equilibrium
Scaffold Skill Making a strong Argument
EBA Activity Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise
Claims and/
or warrants
____________________ (mass or initial temperature) is the most influential in
the process of a more comfortable thermal equilibrium being reached when a
bucket of cold water is dumped into a bathtub of hot water.
Procedure
[5 minutes] DO NOW: A man is pouring cold milk into his hot coffee. What
determines the final temperature of the coffee and milk?
[2 minutes] Pair share
[3 minutes] Share out
[20 minutes] Experimentally assess final temperature of 2 liquids mixed
[10 minutes] Graph Results
[15 minutes] Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise
[3 minutes] Share out
[2 minutes] Ticket To Leave
Timing/
Pacing
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Notes
Follow Up
Text
Text
This lesson can be taught in conjunction with the Laws of
Thermodynamics or as a lead in to the concept. Students should know
how to record temperature and graph data.
This activity will take 15 minutes.
This activity takes place after the lab activity and graphing of data.
After this lesson students will learn how to mathematically calculate
final temperature.
For this activity students, in pairs, will first have to determine the claim for
which they will write 3 warrants for. Once they have 3 warrant, they must
decide which one is the best for this writing exercise.
To add an oral component, a Choosing the Best Warrant Mini Debate to add an
oral component could follow this activity.
Standard Physics Text
Boston Debate League © 2012
Name:_____________________________________ Class:__________________Date:______________
Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise
Background Information: Complete the Thermal Equilibrium Experiment and Graph
Claim: ____________________ (mass or initial temperature) is the most influential in the
process of a more comfortable thermal equilibrium being reached when a bucket of cold water is
dumped into a bathtub of hot water.
Warrants:
1)
2)
3)
Preparing to Write
Step 1 – Select the strongest warrant. Warrant #___.
Step 2 – Provide 2 reasons why the warrant you choose is the strongest
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Step 3 – Provide 2 reasons, 1 for each of the 2 weaker warrants why they are not as strong of an
argument.
Warrant #__ is weaker because…
Warrant #__ is also weaker because…
Boston Debate League © 2012
Paragraph Set-up
The strongest reason for believing [claim] is true is the fact that [the warrant you chose]. One
reason why this warrant is best is [reason why the warrant is best]. Additionally, [2nd reason
why the warrant is best]. Some would argue that [1st opposing warrant] is a better reason to
believe [claim], but that is not the case. Specifically, [reason why 1st opposing warrant is
weaker]. In addition, others would argue that [2nd opposing warrant] is a better reason to
believe [claim], but that is not the case. In fact, [reason why 2nd opposing warrant is weaker].
Thus, [the chosen best warrant] is clearly the best reason to believe [claim].
Paragraph
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Boston Debate League © 2012