1. Argumentation & Evaluation Guide
Topic: What makes a good insulator?
Title: Baggie Mittens
Source: Go! Vernier labs, 2005
Name: Stephanie Louis
Class:
Date: July 2008 1
What is the Claim, including any Qualifiers? (underline qualifiers)
Cotton is the better insulator because the temperature changed less over a certain time period due to the longer time it takes for the heat to be conducted through the Insulator.
What chain of reasoning (warrant) connects the evidence to the claim? In column 6, identify type of reasoning with the letter(s):
for AUTHORITY (A), THEORY (T), or type of LOGIC: Analogy (AN), Correlation (C), Cause-Effect (CE), Generalization (G) 2
What Evidence is presented? In column 3, identify the type of evidence with the letter: Data (D), Fact (F), Opinion (O), Theory (T). 3 5 6 -
Different materials were used and
Measured the same way with similar
results
When measuring temperature change,
Cotton balls showed the least amount
Of temperature change
Cotton sweaters are really warm
Good insulators maintain temp by
Resisting heat flow CE G D O T
--multiple experiments testing the change in temperature using different insulating materials showed that cotton provided the least amount of change, resisting heat flow the best. This shows that cotton is the best insulator of the materials tested. 4
Evaluate the quality of the evidence as poor, average or good. Explain your evaluation. 7
Evaluate the quality of the chain of reasoning as poor, average or good. Explain your evaluation.
Strength of Authority
Application of Theory
Type of Logic
Reliability
Good—not much variance in measurement in multiple trials
Good—all measured temp change same way
Good—results were reliable, repeatable
Good—results based on data
Good-trusted our results
Good-insulators keep heat from flowing
Good—see 5 and 6
Validity
Controlled Experiment
Objectivity/bias
What are your concerns about the believability of the claim? (your counterarguments, rebuttals or new questions)Not all materials were tested by each group. Some data had varied results. 8 9
Accept, reject, or withhold judgment about the claim. Explain your judgment.
The data we found through a controlled experiment supported our claim that cotton would be the best insulator. The cotton provided the least amount of temperature change in experiments, making it the best insulator of the materials tested.
C Bulgren revised 6/17./2008