Beyond argumentation: Sense-making discourse in the science classroom

This chapter considers argumentation in science education in the larger context of discourse in science classrooms. While there has been a great deal of discussion and emphasis in science education research in the past decade on argumentation, this has come somewhat at the expense of a broader view of science discourse. While argumentation is clearly a critical component to the development of new knowledge in any field, there is much discipline specific discourse that falls outside of the area of argumentation. This broader use of discourse processes that we describe as sense making, is also critical to students' development of a rich understanding of the cultural practices of science.