Time to showcase what you learned this semester . . .
There are TWO major parts to our wrap up for the semester:
A FINAL INVESTIGATION research activity, and
A fall semester FINAL EXAM
You will complete the Final Investigation the week before Finals Week.
Additionally, for your final exam, there are several things you CAN do ahead of time to be properly prepared on exam day.
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Identify the scientific phenomenon you would like to investigate. The scientific phenomenon must be within a topic/unit that we covered during the fall semester:
What is Science?
Measuring Distances in Space
Hiding in the Light
Make a copy of the ESS: Final Investigation document and complete your write-up as you go.
Using the CCC’s (page 7 of your notebook) as a guide, explain EVERYTHING that you think you currently KNOW and UNDERSTAND about the stated topic. Additionally, explain EXACTLY what it is that you want to understand better about the topic.
Don’t skimp on the details. This section should clearly indicate what we expect to see in the rest of the write-up
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Explain exactly how you plan to find the information you seek. Again, don’t skimp on the details.
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This section will be big. Make sure you understand the details before you begin.
In this section you need to list all the resources you used to educate yourself on your topic. In your investigation document you will find TWO tables: one to keep track of the resources (Resource Table) you used and one to identify the evidence/new information you discovered (Evidence / Data Table).
Read the in-document comments carefully and complete this table as you do your research.
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Explain what you found out through your research. Offer up how certain you are of your understanding of this topic. Talk about some of the hurdles/problems you faced while attempting this investigation. Offer up some solutions that could help you with this kind of investigation in the future. Explain how this new information increases your understanding of this particular scientific phenomenon.
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Before you submit your work, check the following:
Check and make sure the sharing settings are correct. The document should be PRIVATE but your teacher has COMMENTING rights.
Check to make sure that you have correctly completed all the sections.
If any images were used, check to make sure that all are clear, easy to read, and are well organized on your document.
If you are certain your document is ready for submission, use the form below to submit your work and use the spreadsheet to check to make sure that your work was submitted properly.
Investigation Write-up: Submission Form
Submission Form Spreadsheet
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On the last day of the semester, on our block period during finals week, we will have our culminating exam. It will cover our three main units of the Fall Semester:
The "Final Exam" will consist of FOUR parts (the first three are mandatory and Part 4 is extra credit):
A multiple choice test (testing your general knowledge of science and scientific phenomena)
A critical review of the "science" in current news article (testing your ability to gather, evaluate, and communicate information)
A series of written responses assessing your understanding of the SEVEN scientific Cross-cutting Concepts.
A final extra credit option - however, you MUST complete the first three parts in order to have the opportunity for the extra credit section.
Here's where we get to put your knowledge (and probably your ESS Notebook) to the test.
The first part of your final exam will be an online multiple choice test. You may use your ESS Notebook for this part of the final exam.
Click on the link below to access your exam.
Period 6: ESS Final Exam - Part 1: Multiple Choice (Note: you will not be able to access the test until the day of the final exam.)
When you are finished with Part 1, move immediately to Part 2.
In Part 2, you will do a critical evaluation of an article. This part will be written and completed on a worksheet. You may use your ESS Notebook for this part of the final exam.
Use the link below and follow the directions on the worksheet to complete your critique.
Current Event Article for Critique (Note: the link has been updated for our Fall 2022 final exam. It should take you to an article about UAP's.)
When you finish Part 2 of your final exam, submit your paper to the inbox in the front of the room and move immediately to Part 3.
Part 3 of your final exam will focus on our Cross-cutting concepts. This part is also written and your answers will be place on the appropriate worksheet. You may use your ESS Notebook for this part of the final exam.
You will pick up the worksheet from your teacher. Follow the directions on the worksheet and submit it to the inbox in the front of the room when you are finished.
When you are finished with Part 3 you have two options:
Complete Part 4 for extra credit, or
Find something silent to do until everyone is finished with the exam.
If you choose to do Part 4, come see me for the worksheet.
Part 4 of your final exam is also written. You will have the opportunity to showcase what you have learned this semester. A good response could help raise your grade OR if you are on the bubble, it could make the difference between the higher grade and the lower grade.
. . . a poor response will just be recycled.
What have you got to lose?
When you are finished, find something silent to do until everyone else has finished the exam. Please give everyone the opportunity to take the entire exam in a silent environment.
We will NOT complete the End of Semester Survey as part of the FALL 2022 Final Exam.
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