1. Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
2. Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, accurate data and evidence that demonstrate an understanding of the topic or text, using credible sources.
3. Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
4. Establish and maintain a formal style.
5. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

6-8.WS.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

6-8.WS.5 With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

1. Science is a paradigm for how we learn about the world around us, each one of us is a scientist in our own right.
2. Observing and making inferences about the world is important to informing your life.
3. You do not have to formally study science to be knowledgeable about life process, laws of physics, chemistry of the body, etc.
4. Formal knowledge of science helps society.
5. Knowledge of science has been used to target and harm specific groups.

1. How do you, or another scientist, learn new things about the world?
2. What is the value of critically observing the world around you?
3. How can you use what you learn through observations and inferences, provide an example?
4. How does the collective study of science advance society?
5. How has the study of science and technology been used to harm or disrupt groups?

1. They are competent scientists.
2. The process of observation and inference are important steps in the scientific process.
3. You do not have to be in a laboratory to make observations about the world–learning in science can occur anywhere.
4. Knowledge of science is important to the health, safety, and security of the world, people, and resources via case studies.
5. Historical examples of how science can be and has been used to help or harm groups via case studies.

1. Describe the importance of observation and inference in science.
2. Analyze through a compare and contrast paper the use of science for “good and evil” in the world using historical examples
3. Peer edit and reflect on their own writing process to strengthen their writing.

• Technological advances separating coastline and middle America
• Infrastructure differences

Case Study #2: Medical Advances (Science) 

• War time advances (Civil War, WWI)
• Vaccines and antibiotics: Penicillin, Rabies Vaccine, Polio Vaccine, Flu Vaccines, HIV vaccines
• Genetic Engineering

Case Study #3: World War II (Science and Technology)

• Nazi Germany
• Atomic Bomb

Case Study #4: Censorship (The use of technology to filter scientific knowledge)

-China

-Middle East

Case Study #5: Self Reflection and Writing

• Writing Workshop for compare and contrast paper
• Peer review process