Chopping Onions
Have you ever noticed that when people chop onions they look like they are crying?
Note: The numerical scores indicated in the scoring rubrics were for research purposes. Higher scores indicate higher quality argumentation. We encourage you to use a scoring scheme that matches your present goals for students.
A Explain how you think a chemical from the onion could get into a person's eye.
A chemical could get into a person's eye by ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Student provides the scientifically accurate mechanism of how the chemical gets from the onion to the eye (traveling as a gas, through the air or atmosphere and reaching the eye). The student references the eye and there is evidence that the student understands that a gas is involved (examples: atmosphere, travel through air). |
A chemical coming out of the onion and entering the atmosphere can cause a chemical to get into a person's eye because the eye is in contact with the atmosphere. the air. It releases something when you cut it and it travels through the air, reaching your eye (not on purpose though). When you cut an onion, there may be released vapor that we can't see and if could rise to our eyes. The chemical then makes our eyes water and makes us appear to cry. |
| 1 |
Student provides a partially correct mechanism of how the chemical gets to the eye (e.g. traveling through the air, as a gas, evaporation, or the splashing/spurting of a liquid) but there is not an explicit connection between the mechanism and it reaching the eye. |
traveling through air. flying into a person's eye. When the knife hits the onion some of the chemical could spurt up and hit the persons eye. Evaporation cutting the onion and releasing the "tear jerking" chemical into the near atmosphere. |
| 0 |
Student does not explain how a chemical from the onion reaches the eye. |
stimulating a change in phase in the eyeball Rising gas/heat of the chemical in onions It can get into your eyes because the onion release this chemical when your cutting it and it stings so you cry. Restatement.
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Mark and Kian are discussing what happens when they chop onions.
They have two different ideas:
B What is Mark’s idea about why people cry when they cut onions?
Mark’s idea is that ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Student identifies that Mark believes a gas from the onion is responsible for the crying OR The student restates Mark’s argument. The student should reference the gas and eye or the onion. There may be superfluous information. |
The cutting of the onion releases gas the gas released from chopping onions goes into the air and enters the eye. There's a chemical released when people cut onions. The chemical is carried by the air and into the person's eye. the onion releases fumes in the form of gas that sour peoples emotions. |
| 0 |
Student does not identify that Mark’s claim is that “a gas” from the onion causes the crying |
transfer by hand. Molecules from the onion would rub off on the person's hand and reach the eye when the hand is in direct contact therewith. |
C What is Kian’s idea about why people cry when they cut onions?
Kian’s idea is that ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Student identifies that Kian believes a liquid from the onion is responsible for the crying Student should make a reference to the liquid AND the eye or onion. |
The chemical is liquid and squirts out and into his eyes when the onion is cut. the liquid of the onion makes people cry. |
| 0 |
Student does not identify that Kian’s claim is that a liquid from the onion causes the crying |
ur mom it spreads easily and is messy. Liquids can fly in the air. Does not reference the onion or eye.
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D. Below, there are some pieces of evidence. Who does each piece of evidence support?
D1 Onions contain chemicals that are slightly irritating to humans. This evidence supports…
Mark, Kian, Both, or Neither
D2 A girl was cutting an onion, and her brother (who was on the other side of the table) started to cry too. This evidence supports…
Mark, Kian, Both, or Neither
D3 People only start crying after they cut the onion. This evidence supports…
Mark, Kian, Both, or Neither
D4 A student poured some of the onion liquid from the cutting board into a cup. She rubbed some in her eye, and she started to cry more. This evidence supports…
Mark, Kian, Both, or Neither
E Complete the last sentence below to form an argument:
A girl was cutting an onion, and her brother (who was on the other side of the table) started to cry too. This evidence supports Mark's or Kian's idea because ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Student identifies that Evidence D2 supports Mark’s idea and explains in terms of the chemical traveling (or being in the air) to the person OR explains that the liquid can’t travel that far. OR Student identifies that evidence D2 supports both students’ ideas, and explains that the gas and liquid could both travel that far. TODO: After table D is fixed above, make sure these references to "D2" still make sense.
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Student identifies Mark:
no way her brother could as be affected the onion if he was in the other room unless the chemical is a gas. Student identifies Mark:
the gas traveled to an unreachable point at which the liquid could not. Conveys the idea that the gas travels farther than a liquid.
Student identifies Mark:
Gas spreads out. If it were water that was making people cry, there's almost no way that the liquid would get into both the girl and her brother's eyes. The only logical answer is if it were a gas, because the gas could spread around and get into the eyes of everyone around the onion. Student identifies Mark:
The liquid cannot get that fair because it doesnt move as freely like gas Student identifies Both:
Mark suggests that the chemicals released from the onion are in a gaseous state, and are released and dispersed into the air, causing the people nearby to cry. The gas could have traveled through the air to the girl and to her brother and caused them to cry. Kian suggests that when the onion is cut, a liquid squirts out and into the person nearby's eye and causes them to cry. Though less likely than gas, the liquid could have reached both the girl and her brothers' eyes and made them cry. Student identifies Both:
the liquid could've flown to her brother's eye, and the gas from the onion couldve spread out through the air effecting them both. |
| 1 |
Selects Mark or Both, but does not explain how the evidence supports the claim. Student does not include something about traveling, Student selects “Neither,” or “Kian” and clearly and consistently explains how the evidence supports the claim |
Student identifies Mark:
it emits a chemical Student identifies Mark:
the gases from the onion got released into the air. Doesn’t include how it gets there.
Student identifies Both:
gas and liquid can reach the brother who was only on the other side of the table. Doesn’t include how it travels.
Student identifies Neither:
it never said if the brother had been affected by the onion or was crying for a different reason. Student identifies Neither:
you only start to cry if you're within the onion's immediate vicinity |
| 0 |
Student’s justification is nonsensical, inconsistent or tautological. |
Student identifies Neither:
both students say that cutting onions will make people cry Student identifies Both:
the chemical in the onion irritates humans Student identifies Both:
the gas gets released and spreads Inconsistent.
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After looking at all the evidence below (1-4), and thinking about what you know about cutting onions, which idea do you now agree with more?
Evidence:
- Onions contain chemicals that are slightly irritating to humans.
- A girl was cutting an onion, and her brother (who was on the other side of the table) started to cry, too.
- People only start crying after cutting the onion.
- A student poured some of the onion liquid from the cutting board into a cup. She rubbed some in her eye and she started to cry more.
F Which student do you agree with more?
Student: Mark or Kian
G Why do you think that student's idea is better? Use evidence from below, your own knowledge of cutting onions, or both.
I think Mark's or Kian's idea is better because ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 3 |
Student provides accurate and explicit evidence or background knowledge and a logical and clear piece of reasoning (explanation of how the evidence supports the claim). The student may explain why the other idea is flawed with explicit evidence. (“it’s logical” or “It makes sense” is not a piece of reasoning worthy of a “3.” The student needs to explain.) |
Student selects Kian:
From the evidence, Kian's idea is better because evidence 1 states that onion's chemicals are only slightly irritating to humans. Evidence 2 states that the girl's brother got affected maybe because the juice got in his eye. Evidence 3 states that people only cry after they cut the onion and Kian said "chopping onions makes you cry because when the knife slices the onion, some liquid squirts out of the onion". Evidence 4 states that a student only cried when she poured some onion juice onto her eye and Kian says that it only affects the person when some liquid squirts out from the onion into the persons eyes. Student selects Mark:
onions contain chemicals that can hurt your eyes without having to have it squirt in your eye. it would be hard for the onion to squirt all the way across the table. Student selects Mark:
it makes more sense and you cant feel the liquid going into your eye. it just like cooking something ont he grill. the smoke frmo the grill would get into your eyes because of the wind or something and you would start to tear up |
| 2 |
Student provides some accurate evidence or background knowledge and a vague piece of reasoning explaining how the evidence supports the claim OR The student provides a complete piece of reasoning, which explains how the evidence supports the claim. |
Student selects Mark:
The liquid would not always squirt into another person nearbys eyes. it is possible for the gas to linger in the air and cause the other person to cry. The reasoning is disconnected.
Student selects Mark:
it is logical that a gas is causing us to cry. The gas is from inside the onion, and I know because people only start crying after they cut the onion. Vague reasoning and evidence.
Student selects Mark:
A girl was cutting an onion, and her brother (who was on the other side of the table) started to cry too. Student selects Mark:
If the chemical was a liquid, then it wouldnt have gone into the brothers eye Student selects Mark:
it's much more logical and consistent compared to Kian's idea which only has a slim chance of happening, whereas Mark's idea shows consistency and will almost always occur. |
| 1 |
Student provides some clear accurate evidence (just saying the # of evidence is OK) or vague reasoning explaining how the evidence supports the claim. Vague reasoning: not explaining the connection between the claim and evidence (e.g. uses general statements like “it’s logical,” “it’s true,” “it best explains”) |
Student selects Mark:
it supports every situation when you cut open an onion. Unclear reasoning.
Student selects Mark:
Evidence 2 best explains. Student selects Mark:
if you cut onion the onion make you cry and it come from the chemical in the onion Student selects Mark:
It’s logical Student selects Mark:
more evidence supports mark's idea and also its true Student selects Mark:
it does indeed go into the air and into the eyes. Student selects Mark:
of evidence 1, 2, and 3. Student selects Mark:
if you cut onion the onion make you cry and it come from the chemical in the onion Doesn’t provide reasoning for how this supports the idea of it being a gas… borderline “2.”
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| 0 |
Student restates the claim or the answer is nonsense. |
Student selects Kian:
she hot |
H What do you think is wrong with that student's idea?
I think the problem with Student’s idea is ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Note: Reference who the student did NOT select for Part F. Student clearly identifies a flaw and explains why it is a flaw. The flaw does not need to be accurate. |
If liquid squirted into the eye was the main cause of crying, then it could be prevented. The wearing of glasses can easily fix this issue, unfortunately, as someone who wears glasses, I have not been saved from crying when cutting onions. It doesn't make sense that the brother would also cry if the crying sensation is caused by getting the liquid chemical in your eyes he is saying that the liquid is what caused it, which could be true, but that way is too direct, especially if her brother was affected from across the table |
| 1 |
Student clearly identifies a flaw in the argument. The flaw does not need to be accurate. |
it is only liquid that irritates humans, not the gas. lack of evidence. Theres no gas in onions that it doesn't support the brother being affected by the onion. Liquids could not fly into your poor eyes every time when you cut onions. you won't be close enough for the juices to be squirted in your eyes. This is an example of high performance for a level 1 response.
it is not possible to project liquid across the table. onions do not have a lot of juice it is nowhere represented in the 1-4 claims of evidence. Had Mark been given the correct amount of space, maybe he wouldn't be so wrong. In short, I still believe that a gas is omitted from the onion, it is just unfortunate that I was not given that option |
| 0 |
Student does not identify a flaw. |
his theory discriminates againts a significant portion of the popluation that is visually imparred. it is very vague Not a clear flaw.
the liquid doesn't make sense... I think the onion emitting gas makes more sense. Not a clear flaw.
Nothing. It's just that Marks' is a more common occurrence and is likely to happen with more intensity and congruity. Note: explicitly says there is not a flaw.
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