Application of Literacy in Science

Literacy in Science...Really? Communicating science Spelling technical terms Describing & explaining ideas Posing a coherent argument to a controversial topic Reading science and interpreting meaning Tables & graphs – extracting data Exam questions – what are they asking? Research topics – what have others already found out before you?

Scientific terminology Difficult to spell words -Temperature  Tempriter -Photosynthesis  Photosinthesus -Hydrochloric acid  Hydraulic acid Easy to spell words with different meanings in our everyday language e.g. cell, force, energy

New GCSE Science Specification (as of Sept 2011) 75% exam 3 x 60 mark exam papers (bio, chem & phys) 6 marks out of 60 are primarily dependent on a good standard of literacy. That is 10% of each paper! 25% coursework 9 marks out of 50 of the coursework element is also dependent on the student’s literacy.

Writing Exam Answers To obtain full marks candidates must... ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so that the meaning is clear select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to the purpose and to complex subject matter organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate.

What are we doing about it? Raising the importance of a good standard of literacy in science lessons: – Literacy based homework during KS3. – Marking for literacy using a school wide marking code for consistency. – Bringing literacy based activities into science lessons.

Example GCSE Science Question In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate. There are millions of plastic bags in use. After use most of these plastic bags are buried in landfill sites. The amount sent to landfill could be reduced if the plastic bags: could be reused could be recycled by melting & making them into new plastic products could be burned to release energy. Use the information above and your knowledge and understanding to give the positive and negative environmental impacts of using these methods to reduce the amount of plastic bags sent to landfill. (6 marks)

1.There is very little in this answer, although an attempt has been made and an advantage and a disadvantage have been given. 2.There is no structure to the answer. 3.Spelling, punctuation and grammar are weak. 4.There is practically no use of specialist terms. 5.The candidate has referred to very few of the scientific points in the mark scheme. Answer 1

Answer 2 1.Some knowledge of the subject, and has referred to two of the processes, giving positive and negative points for both. 2.Some structure to the answer – positive effects and negative effects are given and separated out. 3.However, the information is rather muddled, with the candidate going between reuse and recycling. 4.There are a number of errors in spelling. 5.Some technical terms are used (such as oil, global warming, carbon dioxide, pollution), and are referred to correctly.

Answer 3

1.It is clear that they have sound knowledge and understanding of the subject area, covering a wide range of the points. 2.The information is presented coherently and logically (eg. subtitles) 3.The spelling, punctuation and grammar are exemplary. 4.The answer contains a wide range of specialist science terms correctly used, such as raw materials, fuel, carbon dioxide, atmosphere, combustion, greenhouse effect, toxic, generate. 5.The candidate has referred clearly to all three methods, and to both positive and negative effects on the environment.