Chemistry Assessment Task Overview
Chemistry Assessment Task Overview
Conditions
Technique Research investigation
Mode/length Written (e.g. scientific essay): 15002000 words
Resources Online: internet, databases, journals
Context
Investigate the following claim:
Synthetic polymers are better than natural polymers.
Identify and explain the structure of polyester and cotton and relate it to their properties and functions and to the research question.
Task
Gather secondary evidence related to a research question in order to evaluate the claim. Develop your research question based on the claim provided/selected. Obtain evidence by researching scientifically credible sources, such as scientific journals, books by well-credentialed scientists, and websites of governments, universities, independent research bodies or science and technology manufacturers. You must adhere to research conventions.
To complete this task, you must:
Select a claim to be evaluated
Identify the relevant scientific concepts associated with the claim
Pose a research question addressing an aspect of the claim
Conduct research to gather scientific evidence that may be used to address the research question and subsequently evaluate the claim
Analyse the data to identify sufficient and relevant evidence
Identify the trends, patterns or relationships in the evidence
Analyse the evidence to identify limitations
Interpret the evidence to construct justified scientific arguments
Interpret the evidence to form a justified conclusion to the research question
Discuss the quality of the evidence
Evaluate the claim by extrapolating the findings of the research question to the claim
Suggest improvements and extensions to the investigation
Communicate findings in an appropriate scientific genre, i.e. empirical essay.
Scaffolding
The response must be presented using an appropriate scientific genre (i.e. empirical essay) and contain:
A claim - sub heading CLAIM
A research question sub heading RESEARCH QUESTION
A rationale for the investigation sub heading RATIONALE
Justified scientific arguments using evidence sub heading ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
A conclusion to the research question based on the interpretation of the evidence sub heading CONCLUSION
Evaluation of the claim and suggestions of improvements and extensions to the investigation sub heading EVALUATION
A reference list.
RESEARCH QUESTION (RQ):
When used for the manufacture of textiles, is cotton more suitable than polyester (PET) in terms of its biodegradability and tensile strength?
Criteria Being Assessed:
Selected Properties for Comparison:
Biodegradability (MAIN CRTIERIA)
Tensile Strength (MAIN CRITERIA)
Impact Strength [POSSIBLE NEW ADDITIONAL CRTIERIA BEING ADDED]
NOTE: IF YOU CAN PLEASE FIND OTHER SOURCES WITH PROPERTIES RELATING TO POLYESTER AND COTTON [AS THE ONES ABOVE]. ALSO PLEASE FIND SOURCES THAT COMPARE THREE OF THE SAME PROPERTIES IN THREE DIFFERENT SOURCES .
Sources
EVIDENCE #1: Biodegradability Study on Cotton and Polyester Fabrics https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/155892501000500406#:~:text=Biodegradation%20testing%20by%20composting,a%20very%20slow%20degradation%20rate.
EVIDENCE #2: Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Nonwoven Recycled Cotton/PET Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Hybrid Composites
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/mame.202400020
EVIDENCE #3: Progress toward Circularity of Polyester and Cotton Textiles
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/3/3/24
EVIDENCE #4: Identifying the Strength Properties of Cotton Polyester Blended Woven Fabrics of Different Fibre Content
https://isca.in/MATERIAL_SCI/Archive/v7/i2/1.ISCA-RJMatS-2019-001.pdf
EVIDENCE #5: Mechanical Characterization of Coir Fiber and Cotton Fiber reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites for Packaging Applications
https://repository.rit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=japr
EVIDENCE #6: Effect of cotton-polyester composite yarn on the physico-mechanical and comfort properties of woven fabric
https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pls2.10141
PDF: https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pls2.10141
Marking Rubrics
Criterion: Research and planning
Assessment Objectives
2. apply understanding of the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design to develop research questions
5. investigate phenomena associated with the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design through research
The student work has the following characteristics: Marks
informed application of understanding of the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by a considered rationale identifying clear development of the research question from the claim
effective and efficient investigation of phenomena associated with the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
a specific and relevant research question
selection of sufficient and relevant sources. 6
adequate application of understanding of the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by a reasonable rationale that links the research question and the claim
effective investigation of phenomena associated with the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
a relevant research question
selection of relevant sources. 3 4
rudimentary application of understanding of the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by a vague or irrelevant rationale for the investigation
ineffective investigation of phenomena associated with the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
an inappropriate research question
selection of insufficient and irrelevant sources. 1 2
does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0
Criterion: Analysis and Interpretation
Assessment Objectives
3. analyse research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design
4. interpret research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design
The student work has the following characteristics: Marks
systematic and effective analysis of qualitative data and/or quantitative data within the sources about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
the identification of sufficient and relevant evidence
thorough identification of relevant trends, patterns or relationships
thorough and appropriate identification of limitations of evidence
insightful interpretation of research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by justified scientific argument/s. 5 6
effective analysis of qualitative data and/or quantitative data within the sources about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
the identification of relevant evidence
identification of obvious trends, patterns or relationships
basic identification of limitations of evidence
adequate interpretation of research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by reasonable scientific argument/s. 3 4
rudimentary analysis of qualitative data and/or quantitative data within the sources about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
the identification of insufficient and irrelevant evidence
identification of incorrect or irrelevant trends, patterns or relationships
incorrect or insufficient identification of limitations of evidence
invalid interpretation of research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by inappropriate or irrelevant argument/s. 1 2
does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0
Criterion: Conclusion and Evaluation
Assessment Objectives
4. interpret research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design
6. evaluate research processes, claims and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design
The student work has the following characteristics: Marks
insightful interpretation of research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by justified conclusion/s linked to the research question
critical evaluation of the research processes, claims and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
insightful discussion of the quality of evidence
extrapolation of credible findings of the research to the claim
suggested improvements and extensions to the investigation that are considered and relevant to the claim. 5 6
adequate interpretation of research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by reasonable conclusion/s relevant to the research question
basic evaluation of the research processes, claims and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
reasonable description of the quality of evidence
application of relevant findings of the research to the claim
suggested improvements and extensions to the investigation that are relevant to the claim. 3 4
invalid interpretation of research evidence about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by inappropriate or irrelevant conclusion/s
superficial evaluation of the research processes, claims and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
cursory or simplistic statements about the quality of evidence
application of insufficient or inappropriate findings of the research to the claim
ineffective or irrelevant suggestions. 1 2
does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0
Criterion: Communication
Assessment Objectives
7. communicate understandings and research findings, arguments and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design
The student work has the following characteristics: Marks
effective communication of understandings and research findings, arguments and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
fluent and concise use of scientific language and representations
appropriate use of genre conventions
acknowledgment of sources of information through appropriate use of referencing conventions. 2
adequate communication of understandings and research findings, arguments and conclusions about the properties and structure of organic materials or chemical synthesis and design demonstrated by
competent use of scientific language and representations
use of basic genre conventions
use of basic referencing conventions. does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0
