Introduction to Biology

Fall 2010

Taking Cornell Notes

Biology Introduction

What is science?

Answer or Definition for the Question/Main Idea

Science

• A process which produces a body of knowledge about nature

Examples of sciences:

• Biological Science• Physical Science

What makes Science, Science?

1. Science deals only with the natural world

2. Scientists collect and organize information in a careful, orderly way, looking for patterns and connections between events.

3. Scientists propose explanations that can be tested by examining evidence.

Sciences words to know:

• Observations: the process of gathering information about events or processes in a careful, orderly way.

• Data: the information gathered from observations

Science Words to Know:

• Testable Question: a question that can be answered through scientific investigation

• Independent variable: the variable that is deliberately changed, the manipulated variable

• Dependent Variable: the variable that is observed

and that changes in responseto the manipulated variable

Science Words to Know:

• Fact: something that is know to exist or to have happened

• Opinion: a belief that is not necessarily supported by data

Science Words to Know:

• Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world

• Law: a summary of observations, where every possible situation cannot be tested

Writing a Cornell Note Summary

Science has many vocabulary words to help us understand nature and the world around us. Opinions are not scientific. Facts, theories and laws are different, but they are all supported by data.

AVID Summary Strategy

Decorate a T-Shirt to show the vocab of science.