Progress Monitoring Short Response

Rubric for a score of 2 Indicates a thorough understanding of the scientific concept Completed the task correctly Explanations are clear and complete Only has minor flaws that dont detract from showing understanding

Rubric for a score of 1 Partially correct May have some misunderstanding Faulty interpretation of incorrect conclusion

Rubric for a score of 0 Does not demonstrate an understanding of the scientific concept Explanation is not clear or may contain clear misunderstandings Does not answer the question

Question: Dana writes a detailed plan for a scientific investigation. First, she shows her lab partner. He advises that she should only use 1 independent variable instead of 2. She then rewrites her plan to incorporate his comments, and she conducts the experiment. Why do you think Danas lab partner advised against 2 independent variables in her experiment?

Top Score Response Danas lab partner advised her in using 2 independent variables because a valid conclusion cannot be reached. If she changed 2 variables, she would be unable to determine which variable affected the data leading to an invalid conclusion.

Sample: Score 2 I think he does this because if she has 2 independent variables, it will put question into the validity of what caused the change in results.

Sample: Score 2 Danas lab partner advised against 2 independent variables because once she done the experiment, it would be hard to tell if her results were because of one variable or the other. This would make her data inaccurate and inconclusive.

Sample: Score 1 If there are 2 independent variables, it will be hard, if not impossible to figure out why that happened because there would be 2 independent variables instead of 1.

Sample: Score 1 Because she didnt need to change too many things or she wouldnt have an accurate experiment.

Sample: Score 1 Danas lab partner advises against it because the more you change, the less chance you have of knowing why something happens if it happens. So you might not have to repeat a very long process over and over again. You also have a better chance at being correct. The scientists also would be more successful and complete it in a shorter amount of time.

Sample: Score 0 I think he didnt want to have two independent variables because one might react wrong.

Sample: Score 0 I think Danas lab partner did that because he doesnt want her to get a bad grade. He also probably mentioned it because she thought she was right.

Sample: Score 0 He advises against 2 independent variables because it would be easier because you wouldnt have to run as many tests and it would make the experiment more interesting. It would change the experiment.

You try! Score the following essays Use a 0, 1 or 2

Essay 1 I think Danas partner opposes the independent variables in the experiment because if you have 2 independent variables.

Essay 2 I believer Danas lab partner advises against 2 independent variables because 2 independent variables might change the experiment too much and would not give reliable data.

Essay 3 So that in the experiment it would be much easier to track the effect of one independent variable, not two.

Essay 4 1 independent variable is easier and better for a few reasons. First, your experiment will be easier to record and keep track of if you only have on thing you are changing. 1 independent variable if also better because when you conduct an experiment, it is important to focus on one main variable. The last reason is that you can answer your question going step by step and not going out of your way.

Essay 5 I think he advises against 2 because it would make the experiment more simple. If they only choose 1 independent variable then they could lay out the experiment better and it would be easier to perform. Also, it might be that she had chosen an experiment that only needed one independent variable.

Essay 6 Because she didnt need to change too many things or she wouldnt have an accurate experiment.

Essay 7 Because if you have 2 independent variables, the dependent variables could be changed by only one of the independent variables. It makes it likely for your data to be invalid.

Essay 8 The results would be more accurate without the extra variable to change it.

Essay 9 Because they might get a completely different result.

Essay 10 Dana is advised not to use 2 because it is not scientifically accurate because they dont know which one caused the outcome.