Unit 3: Reasoning and Explaining (MP2 and MP3)

3.2.3 Levels of Explanation: Level 2

Multiple Examples

The second level of explanations is learning to present an argument by presenting multiple examples or cases demonstrating that a claim works in more than one instance. Students often get into an argument about how much evidence is enough, especially when they realize they cannot test every case.

In the video below, Brandon, Chris, and Nathan use multiple examples organized systematically.

Download Transcript

Leslie’s Tests

The photos of Leslie’s tests for odd and even numbers are shown below. For the test, Leslie chose random numbers between 1 and 30 (9, 15, 17, 18, 26, and 29). She defined “even” as a number where there is no remainder, so every cube has a partner. She began by building trains with multi-link cubes using colors to show groups of two. She replicates the trains on graph paper using the same color-coding, labels each cube with a number, and labels the number of groups of two.

She writes for each train: Leftover: ___, so /“there for” ___ is odd/even.