Last Step on the Water Quality Project Pathway
After all you have investigated, researched, engineered, and accomplished, you know much more about water quality now than when you first observed the phenomenon. Re-read your Initial Explanation of the video (on the Observe page of your Portfolio) and your Claim with evidence about water quality of the stream or pond you investigated (on the Reason page). Revise your claim, if necessary. Compare your data to that expected for a healthy stream, according to water quality standards (linked on the Reason page of this web site). Revise your explanation in the following format:
Sample Language for Revised Explanation (Claim /Evidence /Reasoning)
Claim:
My claim about the water quality of (identify the creek or stream) is ___________________________________.
Evidence:
The evidence for this claim is _____________________________________________________ (don't just list your data here - explain how your data compares to the data you would expect for a clean stream, one factor at a time, citing the scoring system to which you compared your data).
Other evidence that supports my claim is ___________________________ (describe any evidence other than your water quality test data). Despite ______________________, __________________ (acknowledge and account for any evidence that conflicts with or tempers your claim). Although ____________________, _____________________ (anticipate and refute possible misconceptions or misinterpretations of your evidence).
Reasoning:
Therefore ______________________________ (compare your data: the stream's total water quality score, to the scientific standard (an ideal water quality score). Cite the scientific principle (or the scoring system you used) and identify any caveats (any critically important evidence that overrides the total water quality score).
Revised Claim (optional):
If the evidence does not fit the claim, revise the claim in this section.
What's Next?
You made a difference with your water quality project! And there is much more you can do to make the earth a better place. Why not tackle another water quality project with your class? Keep testing and monitoring your stream every month? Or return to the GREAT Project Pathways Home Page and find another problem to tackle?
Even if your class is moving on to other subjects, you can draw on your creativity, resourcefulness and energy to take action individually or with a few friends. This Handprinter app will help you compare the impact of different things you could do.
