5.1 ASSIGNMENT: What is Good Science? (Due September 28)

What is Good Science? (10 points)

In today's world there is so much information available to us on the internet.  How do you decide if the information presented is based on evidence or opinion?  Good science is based on evidence.  Scientists gather facts to provide evidence for scientific explanations (theories).  A theory in science is based on evidence, not opinions.  Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between facts and opinions. Scientists use evidence to develop inferences.  Inferences are predictions based on evidence.

• Facts can be all or some of the following:  proven, real for all people and places, can be duplicated, can be observed, historical, or 100 percent true. 
  
• Opinions refer to a particular person's feeling, thought, judgment, belief, estimate, and/or anything that is not 100 percent true and can't be proven.
  
• Inference refers to reasonable conclusions or possible hypotheses drawn from observations. An inference is the interpretation of the facts.
• Here is a link with more detailed explanation of fact, inference, opinion.

Watch the video on global warming and see if you can determine which statements are facts, opinions, or inferences.

Instructions for Assignment:

1. Read this article on Actively Learn: Climate Change Confirmed

2.  As you read through the article, highlight any fact/evidence, inferences, and opinions.  You may want to add a note stating whether you highlighted a fact, inference, or an opinion.

3.  In Moodle, Click Add Submission.

4.  Assignments Requirements:

• List 3 facts from the article and explain why they are facts.
  
• List one inference from the article and explain why it is an inference.
• List one opinion from the article and explain why it is an opinion.

5.  Click Save Changes to submit your assignment.

After you have completed this assignment, it will be marked as complete with a checkmark after it has been graded by the instructor.