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ELA in Science
How to read and write like a scientist: reports, arguments, and study tools.
Science has its own kind of reading and writing, and it can be taught step by step. This hub covers the parts of a lab report and paper, argument and response writing (including CER), the thinking and study tools that make it stick (Cornell notes and the 6 R's, graphic organizers), and an explicit, timed method for reading science that includes graphs and tables.
Three levels
Prerequisite, remediation, and advanced extension for every skill.
Worked practice
Vetted questions with step-by-step solutions and example data.
Study-ready
Illustrated glossary, vetted videos, and downloadable guided notes.
The Anatomy of a Lab Report & Paper
· 5 topicsCoreScientific writing: abstractWriting AbstractsSummarize a whole study in about 4 to 6 sentences: the purpose, brief methods, the key result with a number, and the conclusion, written so it stands alone.CoreScientific writing: conclusionConclusion & DiscussionWrite a conclusion that answers the question, says whether the hypothesis was supported, explains what the results mean, names the limitations, and suggests a next step.CoreScientific writing: introductionThe Introduction & BodyOpen a paper the way scientists do: give background, ask the question, state a testable hypothesis, and say why it matters, then start each body paragraph with a topic sentence.CoreScientific writing: methodsMaterials & MethodsWrite a precise, past-tense record of exactly what you used and did, detailed enough that another person could repeat your investigation and get the same result.CoreScientific writing: results, tables & figuresResults: Using Tables & FiguresReport your data clearly and objectively: build a labeled table or figure, then number it, caption it, and reference it in the text without slipping in your interpretation.
Argument & Response Writing
· 4 topicsCoreScientific argumentation & writingCER: Claim, Evidence, ReasoningAnswer a scientific question with a clear claim, the data that supports it, and the reasoning that ties them together.CoreScientific writing: proposalWriting Research ProposalsPlan an investigation on paper first: state the question, give background, propose methods, and argue that the study is both feasible and worth doing.CoreScientific writing: short answerShort-Answer & Constructed ResponseAnswer the exact question asked using the RACE strategy: Restate, Answer, Cite specific evidence, and Explain why it fits.CoreScientific writing: procedureWriting ProceduresWrite numbered, imperative, reproducible steps with a materials list, exact amounts and times, and safety, so someone else can follow it exactly.
Thinking & Study Tools
· 3 topicsFoundationalStudy skills: Cornell notesCornell Notes & the 6 RsSplit your page into a cue column, a notes column, and a summary strip, then work your notes through the six-step cycle: Record, Reduce, Review, Reflect, Recite, Revise.FoundationalStudy skills: graphic organizersGraphic Organizers: Mind Maps, Venn Diagrams & OutlinesPick the right picture for your thinking: a mind map to branch out ideas, a Venn diagram to compare two things, an outline to structure writing, and a concept map to show how ideas connect.CoreStudy skills: evidence-based studyingHow to Review & Study ScienceUse what cognitive science actually shows works: self-test instead of reread, space your practice instead of cramming, and mix words with pictures.
How to Read Science
· 2 topicsCoreScientific reading: reading a paperHow to Read a Science Paper Step by StepRead a research paper in a smart order (abstract, figures, conclusion, then methods) using a three-pass plan, and pull out the claim, evidence, and reasoning.CoreScientific reading: strategy & timingReading Strategy, Timing & Improving Science ReadingPreview, chunk, and read science texts actively, monitor your own understanding, and pace yourself so you finish a timed reading test with your comprehension intact.