The national science standards, along with prominent researchers, call for increased focus on scientific argumentation in the classroom. Over the past decade, researchers have developed sophisticated online science learning environments to support these opportunities for scientific argumentation. Assessing the quality of dialogic argumentation,…

Presents a study that analyzes an extensive database consisting of the written and oral discourse of students (N=23) as they described their thoughts on ontology, epistemology, and sociology of scientific knowledge. Contains 51 references. (DDR)

Focuses on how one teacher examined classroom discourse through a unit on tornadoes and natural catastrophes. Defines various types of discourse and discusses how discourse in a 6th grade class was analyzed. Details some of the activities that engaged students. (DDR)