SCIENCE Part 1 Dissecting the ACT Vocabulary Words

SCIENCE – Part 1 Dissecting the ACT

Vocabulary Words � Tome › Noun › One of the books in a work of several volumes. � Toothsome › Adjective › Pleasing to the taste.

Sentence Examples � Tome › Eclipse is just one of the tomes in the Twilight series. › Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final tome in Harry Potter. � Toothsome › Chocolate is always a toothsome treat! › I sometimes crave milk and cookies as a toothsome midnight snack.

Agenda � Vocabulary– (7 minutes) � Discuss the basics of Science – (35 minutes) � Practice the scientific method analyzing science questions - (20 minutes)

Breaking Down Science SCIENCE TEST Time allowed Number of passages Data Representation Research Summary Conflicting Viewpoints Number of questions Data Representation Research Summary Conflicting Viewpoints Scoring 35 minutes 7 3 3 1 40 15 18 7 1 -36

Breaking Down – Smart. Points Point Value Science 12 11 7 6 36 1 Figure Interpretation Pattern Analysis Scientific Method Scientific Reasoning Total Writer’s View

What is on the Science Test? � 3 Data Representation passages, each with 5 questions (data) � 3 Research Summary passages, each with 6 questions (several experiments) � 1 Conflict Viewpoints passage, with 7 questions (two or more with differing passages)

What type of questions will their be on the Science test? � Figure Interpretation › Find information � Pattern Analysis › Find trends � Scientific Method › Plan experiments � Scientific Reasoning › Make conclusions

What is on the Science Test? � You will read 7 Passages about… › � Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Space Sciences, and Physics Each passage with contain 5 -7 questions.

What does the Science exam determine? � This portion of the ACT tests how well you can: › Understand a description of an experiment › Interpret graphs, charts, and other diagrams › Apply the scientific method

What does the Science exam NOT test? ! � The Science exam does NOT test your knowledge of: › › Biology facts Chemistry facts Physics facts Any other branch of science

Data in ACT Science takes many forms… � Diagrams � One conflicting viewpoints passage � Table � Graphs

How to succeed on Date Representation and Research Summary passages: � Read the passage taking BRIEF notes as you go. � Examine each figure, marking key information � Attack the questions, identifying where in the passage you’ll find the answer.

The Scientific Method For the ACT, you can think of the scientific method as having three parts: The Purpose The Method The Results

The Purpose � The purpose of an experiment is “the big idea” What are researchers testing? What are they trying to find out? - Applies to Scientific Method & Scientific Reasoning Questions

The Method � The method is “how the researchers set up the experiment” What have they kept constant? What have they changed? -Applies to Scientific Method questions

The Result � The results are “what the researchers find out” They are usually presented in the form of a graph or chart. -Applies to Figure Interpretation & Pattern Analysis questions

Practice: Read the passage for experiment 1 and fill in the questions below on a scrap sheet of paper: Purpose: Method: Results:

Practice � Read the passage for experiment 2 and fill in the questions below: Purpose: Method: Results:

By identifying the elements of the scientific method during practice, you will train yourself to identify them automatically on test day!