SCIENCE MYP ESSAY GUIDE Criterion D Reflecting on

SCIENCE MYP ESSAY GUIDE Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science

1. TOPIC GIVEN BY THE TEACHER You will be assigned an essay topic by your teacher. This topic will be about a problem that can be solved through the use of science For example: a) How to stop pollution by using new sources of energy b) How to reduce the number of people who dies in earthquakes

CRITERION D: REFLECTING ON THE IMPACTS OF SCIENCE MYP Essays are assessed using criterion D. According to criterion D, at the end of year 1, you should be able to: summarize how science is used to solve a problem ii. describe and summarize the implications of using science to solve that problem iii. Use scientific language iv. document sources of information used. i.

HOW TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL FOR CRITERION D To obtain the maximum achievement level (7 -8) you must… 7 -8 The student is able to: i. summarize how science is used to solve ii. describe and summarize the implications of using science and its application to solve that problem. They can be social, environmental, economic, cultural or ethical implications. iii. consistently use scientific language to communicate clearly and precisely iv. document sources completely by following the instructions you will be given

2. RESEARCH FOR YOUR ESSAY Find reliable sources of information and read them carefully. Remember to write the sources you use, so that you can document them later.

3. ORGANIZE YOUR INFORMATION USING THIS ORGANIZER OR OUTLINE PROBLEM Fossil fuels are not renewable sources of energy because it takes them thousands of years to form. Pollution is a problema because it affects ecosystems and health. The way science gives a solution to the problem Renewable sources of energy such as bioethanol can be used instead of fossil fuels (Explain how it works…. ) Implications of the solution science gives to that problem Related to a factor which can be: ECONOMICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, ETHICAL, POLITICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIAL Advantages Enviromental: Renewable sources are cleaner…. Evidence Disadvantages Renewable sources are more expensive. . Jobs are created in some countries Evidence Conclusion Your ideas

FACTORS Factors the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor Economical Production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and commodities Environmental Circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded Ethical Process of rational inquiry to decide on issues as right or wrong, as applied to the people and their actions Cultural Political Social Moral Patterns of knowledge, behaviour, beliefs, shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that characterize groups of people Relates to government or public affairs Interactions between groups of people involving issues such as welfare, safety, rights, justice or class Principles of right or wrong behaviour derived from a particular society

4. WRITE YOUR ESSAY You must use the following structure: 1. Introduction • • Introduce the topic you will write about Hint to your main idea of a solution and mention how you will structure your essay. 2. Main body • • • Define the problem Explain how science tries to solve the problem (solution) Advantages and disadvantages of the solution that science gives to this problem. These can be economical, environmental, ethical, political, cultural, social (one of the factors). • 3. Conclusion • • Review and summarize the main points of your essay. Give you final opinion on the matter.

MAIN BODY Define the problem The problem is important because ….

MAIN BODY How can science solve the problem Some ways in which science can be used/is used to solve this problem are. . .

MAIN BODY Explain the solution in depth

MAIN BODY Advantages and disadvantages of the solution to the problem • • The advantage of using science in this way is. . . The disadvantage of this/these applications is/are. . . ç o Give evidence and examples

MAIN BODY Implications of using science to solve the problem, related to one factor given by your teacher: economical, environmental, ethical, political, cultural, social • Social- defined as “of or pertaining to the life, welfare, and relations of human beings in a community. ” eg. Hazardous chemicals, death rates, preventions, social health • • • Economical- defined as “pertaining to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and commodities. ” eg. Jobs created, cost, production. Environmental- is defined as “of, relating to, or associated with the environment. ” eg. Living environments, ecosystems, water bodies, pollution

When science is used in the way, the effects on our. . However, failing to use this application can/might result in. . . If we don’t. . . On the other hand it’s possible that. . .

Examples of EVIDENCE advantages and disadvantages §Advantage §Disadvantage

CONCLUSION Summarize the main points Give your own opinion • • • Ø Ø Ø Use your own thoughts Is it a good solution? Could we do something about the disadvantages? From this discussion/evaluation, we can see that. . . Although it might seem that. . . It is clear that the solutions aren’t as simple as one might think because. . .

SIDE NOTES ON WRITING AN ESSAY Essays are written in third-person perspective. - No I, Me, My. Use pictures, tables and charts. You have to keep within the word limit! Find a title for your essay, it must be original and interesting. Never copy, rewrite the information in your own words

5. DOCUMENT SOURCES : REFERENCE LIST Write a list of the sources used. Use reliable sources. Not wikipedia, wikianswers, yahoo answers or similar. When you include information from somewhere else (videos, webs, …) you have to say where it comes from. This is called referencing, to cite your sources. If you don’t use references, it is the same as pretending that you didn’t get this information from another source and that you generated it yourself. Whether you do it on purpose or not, if you don’t say where your information comes from, thisis a form of cheating, called plagiarism.

CITING AND REFERENCING INSIDE YOUR ESSAY You must cite sources you use within the body of your assignment and then write again details about this sources at the end of your essay, in the reference list. Citing a source in the body of the text: Quotations (copying the exact words) If you copy the exact words from another source, you will need to write these words in “quotation marks”, insert a footnote number at the end of the quotation, and provide full details of the source in the footnote at the bottom of the page. Example: “Noise is sometimes described as a form of pollution. ” 1 1. Avison, John. The World of Physics. Nashville: Nelson Thornes Ltd, 1989. Print.

PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS o Images If use pictures, or diagrams (you must), insert a footnote at the end and provide details of the source in the footnote at the bottom of the page and in the reference list. How to add a footnote in Microsoft Word. References >> Insert footnote. (nota al pie)

REFERENCE LIST Your references section at the end of the essay should provide full details of all your sources used. BOOKS SURNAME (S), Name. (year of publication). Title of book. Publisher, year of publication. Examples: BOBBIO, Norberto. (1988) Autobiografía. Taurus WEBS Surname, Name. (Year of publication). Title. Date when you read it. URL Address. • Cisneros, F. (2008). Water and energy. October 15 th, 2010. http: //www. monografias. com/trabajos-pdf 4/agua-y-energia. pdf If some of these are not available… • CELLS ALIVE. October 15, 2010. http: //www. cellsalive. com/cells/plntcell. htm

FORMAT Use a word processor, do not handwrite it Use a font which is easy to read. Its size will be between 10 and 12 points.

FORMAT Spaces will be between 1 and 1, 5.

FORMAT Text justified on both margins

FORMAT Numbered pages (the cover is not numbered) Use the template provided FRONT PAGE The essay will take a cover page indicating: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Title (ORIGINAL, suggestive, clear, brief, understandable and representative of the essay) Name of school Author's name, course and group Subject Name of teacher Date of submission Word Count