• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.286-301
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of argumentation for elementary students' scientific writing. Using nine subjects that were comprised of scientific situations and social scientific situations, this study was applied to four 5th grade students utilizing argumentation and scientific writing. The students' scientific writing and argumentation were collected and analyzed based on three domains of scientific writing: scientific thinking, logic, and creativity. The results from this study are as follows. First, the various contents of argumentation positively affected all of the scientific writing domains in post-argumentation scientific writing. Second, the contents of argumentation appeared in the post-argumentation scientific writing as three different forms: 1) Each individual's scientific concepts, claims, and ideas, which were newly mentioned in the process of argumentation, were expressed, 2) Their classmates' claims, grounds and ideas, which were discussed in the process of argumentation, were expressed through internalization, and 3) Expanded ideas, new claims and inferences based on the argumentation were expressed.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.492-512
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to investigate the change of science writing ability between pre and post-science writing which was written before and after argumentation activity and to show how argumentation influences the science writing ability. To fulfill this aim, eight 5th grade students were chosen from an elementary school. They were involved in the nine science writing themes which was compose of scientific contexts and social scientific contexts. Students' science works in argumentation and writing activity were collected and analysed based on four domains of framework for science writing ability: scientific thinking, logic, creativity and expression ability. The result of this study showed that the affirmative change of four domains of science writing ability on post-science writing written after argumentation was observed. Also, an affirmative change was observed in all of the scientific and social scientific themes. A lot of changes of the scientific writing ability were observed especially when the themes were familar to student. The degree of change depended on the level of the student, but overall it influenced all participating students with a positive improvement for their scientific writing ability. Students with high grade of academic achievement showed high improvement in science writing ability, but students who had low grade of academic achievement also showed a positive improvement in science writing ability.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1109-1123
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of small group discussion on elementary students' science writing. In this study, four 6th grade students were chosen from an elementary school in Seoul. Students were involved in eight science writing classes and the contents of a small group discussion and interactions were recorded and observed. Students' science works were collected and analysed based on three domains: scientific thinking, logic and originality. The result of this study showed that the contents of a small group discussion greatly affected the scientific thinking domain. A low-achieving student received lots of help from a high-achieving student. It was easy to improve in the logic domain through the science writing classes. Average students got good grades in an originality domain when the subject was related to their real life. A small group discussion would have an effect on science writing ability positively if the students acquired proper guidance on the procedure and manner of discussion. The science writing lesson would be more effective if the learning group was organized homogeneously in the aspects of intelligence achievement and interpersonal relationships.