Book report for science

The first step for writing any scientist biography report is to have the students choose a biography to read. You may have a book, or article, scheduled in your science program, but If you don't have a book already scheduled for you with your science program, simply choose the scientist you would like to study and then head to your local library.

Students read a book-length account of the practice of the scientific enterprise (e.g., The Double Helix or A Feeling for the Organism). They compare the account to course ideas, making connections, finding examples, and discovering discrepancies. They write a short (1-2 pages) report of their findings.

The usual course enrollment is 15-20 students. Students are given a list of possible books in the second week of the semester, and are required to turn in the written book report 10 weeks later. This activity could be easily adapted for secondary and undergraduate students. Attached is the list of suggested books.

In a graduate level course on the nature of science and science teaching, students read about and discuss a variety of philosophical and theoretical ideas about the nature of science. It is helpful for students to have an opportunity to relate these ideas to real-life examples of the practice of science.