THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRADE 10th STUDENTS’ ARGUMENTATION SKILLS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY TEACHING PLANS USING SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC ISSUE

Abstract

     The objective of this research was to develop   10th grade students’ argument skills through socio-scientific issue. The participants were 33 10th grade students who have studied in fundamental science subject (physics) from one of high schools in central region. The research sample was chosen by selecting purposive sampling method. The data was collected from the argument skills test with open-ended questions on one socio-scientific issue regarding nuclear energy. There are 4 questions and 3 lesson plans about nuclear energy. The argument skills consisted of 4 components which were claim and warrant, evidence, counter claim and rebuttal. The quantitative data were analyzed by means (4 level rating scale), frequencies and percentages, as well as the qualitative data was analyzed by content analysis. The result showed that students developed their argumentation skills from improvement level to excellent, good and fair level. The best components that students developed were claim and warrant in excellent level (= 3.27). At the same time, the good level of components were in counter claim and rebuttal (= 3.09 and  = 2.58 respectively), and the lowest components in fair level were evidence (= 2.48).