Materials for practical lessons

Practical lesson #1

Text # 1

What is science?

Science is “knowledge attained through study or practice” or “knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method and concerned with the physical world”. (English Comprehensive Dictionary)

Figure #1. The Scientific method as an ongoing process

Scientific Method Basic Elements: Formulation of a question, Hypothesis, Prediction, Testing, Analysis

DNA example

The basic elements of the scientific method are illustrated by the following example from the discovery of the structure of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid):

· Question: How genetic information was stored in DNA?

· Hypothesis: Linus Pauling, Francis Crick and James D. Watson hypothesized that DNA had a helical structure.

· Prediction: If DNA had a helical structure, its X-ray diffraction pattern would be X-shaped.

· Experiment: Rosalind Franklin crystallized pure DNA and performed X-ray diffraction to produce photo 51. The results showed an X-shape.

· Analysis: When Watson saw the detailed diffraction pattern, he immediately recognized it as a helix.

Scientific Style and its features

Functions

- provides information

- presents exact and relatively complete scientific knowledge

- addresses a relatively small group of professionals well acquainted with the subject

Forms

- primarily written: essays, articles, textbooks, scientific studies

- spoken: presentations, discussions, conferences

- monologue: no feedback, no situational context, no paralinguistic features

Date: 2016-02-19; view: 582; Нарушение авторских прав