Materials and assignments 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