This document discusses the key components of the scientific method: claim, reason, and evidence. It explains that a claim is a statement that can be true or false and needs support. A reason provides support for the claim through interpretation of evidence or inferences from observations. Evidence is something that must be searched for in the real world and made available for others to examine. The document instructs students to summarize a claim they found about a product, diet, or process being scientifically tested and to discuss whether there was sufficient evidence provided to support the claim. It also provides discussion questions about an article on the limitations of science as a way of knowing compared to other methods.

1. The Nature of
Science
HL Biology
Cells & Biomolecules

2. The Scientific Method
Figure from: http:www.tomatosphere.org

3. CLAIM
• Claim is a sentence that asserts something that
may be true or false and so needs support.
• E.g. The world is warming up.
• The main claim of a piece of writing is the thesis
statement.

4. REASON
• Reason is a sentence support the claim. We think
up reasons by the action of our minds.
• In science, reasons include interpretation of
evidence or inferences from observations.
• In writing, a reason supporting the claim could be
the topic sentence of a paragraph.

5. EVIDENCE
• Evidence is something that we have to search for…
in the ‘hard’ reality of the world, then make it
available for everyone to see

6. Addressing your HW
Your HW Task last week was to:
•Locate a media claim that a product, diet or
process has been “scientifically tested”.
•Summarize the claim, and attach a copy of the
report.

7. Part 1 - Addressing your
HW: The Nature of Science
• Write a 1 page (approximately 500 words) addressing
the various products, diets or processes that were
“scientifically tested” presented by our class.
• Discuss these claims, stating if you feel there was
enough evidence to support the claim that they were
“scientifically tested”.
• In your opinion, could discuss why science (sense
perception) as a way of knowing is or isn’t appropriate
for our diet and lifestyles.

8. Part 2: Article by Robert
Ehrlich
• Read the article by Robert Ehrlich: Science Will Never
Explain Everything That is Why it is so Useful?
• Answer the following discussion questions:
A. Was the article too critical of other ways of knowing,
i.e. did the author imply that science is the only valid
way of knowing?
B. What were examples of other ways of knowing were
mentioned in the article?