Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I received my science paper back from my teacher (on Do Lungs Work Harder at Higher Elevations). She wrote some stuff on it and I'm not sure why so I thought someone could explain since she won't. This is what happened - I was going to do an experiment somehow involving the lungs, but wasn't sure what to do. My uncle is a triathlete and at dinner one night, he was talking about earning money in college years ago, and how he had gotten money for being in an experiment. He had to cycle at different speeds and they checked his lung capacity at different times. After listening and what I would do for my own science experiment, he suggested the experiment that I ended up doing. I listed him as a source on my paper, and said that he had been a guinea pig in a similar experiment in college. She said "Did he give you his results too?!? You duplicated an experiment" and she dropped my grade. She wouldn't listen to me explain - why should I be able to go to a million places on the internet and get examples of experiments but I can't take the suggestion of an athlete. And besides, I thought one of the things about experiments is that they can be duplicated. I know the other kids got their ideas from the internet, one girl's mom is a doctor and she used stuff from her. All of my teacher's comments make me feel like she thinks I just copied what he did, when he was in something completely different. But besides, what if I had done the experiment he was in (which I couldn't because it was a college thing) - isn't that what science is about? Thanks.

Hmmm, that seems a bit harsh. Especially if she isn't explaining it to you. What doesn't seem right is the fact that she marks you down for "duplication". You should probably try to arrange some time with your teacher and discuss this out, it doesn't seem to make sense to me either. I mean, you obviously didn't take the results of your uncle's participation in the college experiment. Perhaps that should be the first thing to be made clear with your teacher.

frosty,

It does seem that your teacher made an assumption. I would suggest that if you are seriously concerned about bringing justice to your work and clearing your name, I would suggest setting a meeting and invite your uncle. Make it clear that you used your uncle as a basis for your experiment and that you did not duplicate the test your uncle had gone through.

Hope this helps,
Sareena