Now that you have collected data, it's time make sense of it. Compare your data to the average values for other schools and areas near you. Make a claim about whether the energy consumption you investigated is sustainable or not, using your data as evidence and standards for sustainable energy consumption as the basis for your REASONing.
MAKING SENSE OF YOUR DATA
Based on an analysis of the data you collected in the GATHER stage, does your initial explanation of the phenomenon make sense in relation to the location you investigated? Have you learned anything that could help you revise or refine your explanation to be more accurate and complete? For instance:
- If you looked at how long electrical items were left on for, you could calculate exactly how much energy was expended Using a Multimeter to Measure Current.
- If you investiagted the different power sources used in your location, you could Compare efficiency rate of generating power by fuel source.
- If you gathered other data, display it in a graph to make it easier to spot patterns or trends and analyze their significance. Try this online graph-maker: Create A Graph. Think about how you could compare your data to a standard. What would be your authoritative source? What conclusions about water quality can you draw from your data and findings?
MAKING A CLAIM ABOUT ENERGY CONSUMPTION, BASED ON THE DATA
Convert your explanation to a claim about the water quality of the stream you tested. Note this C-E-R form and scoring rubric you can use to make your argument.
- Make a Claim that answers the question: What proportion of the energy used in the location comes from renewable sources?
- Support the claim with Evidence (test results and other data you gathered).
- Connect the evidence to the claim with scientific Reasoning by comparing your data to the ideal level (the standard). Explain the significance of your findings, according to a a scientific principle or an authoritative source.
- Revise the claim to be consistent with the evidence, if necessary.
IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM AND FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO IT
Based on your claim, evidence (data), and reasoning, what problems are being caused by your chosen location's energy consumption? (Hint: Were there there any parameters for which the data was not in an acceptable range? How could you find out more about those parameters?)
Select one of the energy-related problems and focus on its causes, its consequences or effects, and and their significance. Identify and write about this problem in the Reason section of your Portfolio. Identify factors that cause or contribute to the problem. Consider what happens as a result of this problem. Why does it matter?