Scientific Inquiry Work Sample
Reaction Rates

PART 1   Introduction, Forming the Question

Write the question below that you are trying to test.  

Background
Based on your work during the last two weeks describe:  
•	what you already know about reaction rates,
•	what you predict (hypothesize) will be the result of your experiment and why. 

As you write think about the criteria for a good background section.
Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Provide background knowledge that is not complete or not important. 
•	Write a hypothesis that can be investigated, but cannot be directly tested	•	Provide background knowledge that is thorough and important.
•	Write a hypothesis that you can test by doing a scientific investigation and gathering data	•	Provide a good reason for doing the experiment that is based on important background knowledge.
•	Write a hypothesis that focuses on scientific relationships 	

 

(Use the back of this sheet if more space is needed.)
PART 2   Designing the Investigation 

List the variables that are important in this investigation:

Independent (manipulated) Variable:

	Dependent (responding) Variable:	
Explain how you will measure your dependent variable:

	

Controlled Variables

Other variables which could also affect the dependent variable:

	How you will control for those variables:

	

Make a plan for collecting the data you need.  Think about the characteristics of a good design before continuing.
Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Make a design with scientific errors in it (e.g., fail to control for important variables)
•	Plan to collect some data, but not enough of the right kind to really test your hypothesis	•	Make sure your plan is scientifically logical, safe, and ethical
•	Make sure your plan will give you enough of the right kind of data to test your hypothesis	•	Make sure your plan is precise (exactly right on) – use accepted scientific procedures if possible
•	Make sure your data will give you enough of the right kind of data to look for (or test) relationships	

Write out some of the key points in your plan in this space.  

PART 3  Collecting and Presenting Data
Design a data table for your experiment.  While designing the table, consider how it will be scored:

Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Be unorganized, inaccurate, incomplete, or illogical in your presentation of data; leave out the units of measurement	•	Create a data table (including units) which is logical and organized	•	Make your data table precise (just right) and thorough (complete)	
Write your data table here.  Remember that your experiment has two parts.

 (As you record data, consider the characteristics of good data collection)

Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Allow error into your data (e.g., use equipment incorrectly, be careless, fail to control for important variables)	•	Record your measurements and observations carefully and correctly	•	Record data and observations and note anything unusual (e.g., data that you suspect are in error)	

Scientific Inquiry Work Sample
Reaction Rates

Wrapping up  Parts 2 and 3

Transform your data (by doing calculations, reorganizing, making graphs, etc.) to help you look for and display patterns and trends.  

Consider the characteristics of good data transformation and presentation:
Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Transform your data into displays that do not help your analysis (e.g., make errors or choose inappropriate displays)	•	Transform your data into displays that clarify the results and help you analyze them	•	Transform your data in ways that highlight patterns and relationships  that you wish to explain	

Describe the steps in your procedure:
In the space below, describe the steps you followed to collect your data.  Describe precisely what you did – write it in the past tense (do not write a set of directions).  Consider the characteristics of a well-written procedure:

Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Write out a general plan and some procedures which can be followed.
	•	Describe how you did the investigation in an organized and logical way with enough detail for another person to repeat what you did	•	Explain your procedures in detail so another person could repeat your experiment and get the same results	

(Use the back of this sheet if more space is needed.)

Scientific Inquiry Work Sample
Reaction Rates

PART 4

Write a conclusion for your investigation.  Write the conclusion in paragraph form.  Use the standard six-part format for your conclusion.

Not There Yet	Meets	Exceeds	
•	Use scientific knowledge incorrectly in your explanations, or explain your results without using any scientific knowledge
•	State conclusions without using your results for support
•	Summarize the investigation but deal with errors and limitations in a trivial or illogical manner	•	Report results, identify patterns, and propose explanations – use your scientific knowledge in your reporting & explaining
•	Link your conclusions to your hypothesis and support them using your data
•	Review the design, procedures, and results; identify some obvious limitations or sources of error	•	Report results and use your scientific knowledge to correctly discuss and explain relationships
•	Support your conclusions using the patterns or relationships that you found in your data
•	Critique the design, procedures, and results; identify important limitations and sources of error	
Attach your conclusion to the back of the packet.