Writing in Science
V.W.E.
VWE is a strategy that prepares you for any extended response question. You should use this method to generate a well contructed written response. This step should be completed before using RAGES to write your complete paragraph. VWE stands for:
Healthy Teeth
Dentists say that we should all brush our teeth twice a day. Why do they say this? It is because brushing your teeth helps prevent cavities. When you eat, pieces of food get stuck to your teeth, and if the food stays there, it can cause damage. Sugar is especially damaging, and should be avoided. In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day, you should also floss to clean small pieces of food between the teeth. This will keep your mouth healthy and prevent cavities.
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PROMPT: Write a single paragraph response on the various ways to reduce cavities. Your response must be based on ideas and information that can be found in the passages.
EXAMPLE
Step 1: Read prompt
Step 2: Create VWE chart
Step 3: Fill in chart with information from the prompt & sentence stems
R.A.C.E.S.
The RACES strategy teaches you to do what good writers do normally and can help you answer short-response questions. It helps you maintain a formal style and make sure that you are answering all parts of the question with details and evidence. RACES stands for:
EXAMPLE
Experimental question: Which air, cold or hot, weighs more?
Cold air weighs more than hot air. When I filled a 9 centimeter in diameter balloon with cold air in it it weighed 1 gram and when I weighed the same size balloon with hot air, it weighed 0.5 grams. When molecules are cooled, they move closer together and when they are heated up, they move farther apart. This suggests that more molecules can fit into a balloon when the air going in it is colder. To sum up, cold air will sink while hot air will rise.
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RESTATE ANSWER CITE EXPLAIN SUMMARIZE
Remember to use your notes to EXPLAIN your evidence! Always go back to the science to support your answer.