Question

writing a scientific argument
write a scientific argument to dr. jackie lewis below. as you write, remember to:

• include your strongest, most convincing evidence.
• use the scientific argument sentence starters and the word bank below to explain your thinking.

what rock transformation processes are happening on venus?

• claim 1: venuss rock transformation processes form mostly sedimentary rock.
• claim 2: venuss rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock.

scientific argument sentence starters
describing evidence:
the evidence that supports my claim is...
my first piece of evidence is...
another piece of evidence is...
this evidence shows that...
describing how the evidence supports the claim:
if ____, then...
this is important because...
since ____, ...
based on the evidence, i conclude that...
this claim is stronger because...

Explanation:

To address this, we'll build a scientific argument for one of the claims (we'll choose Claim 2 as Venus has volcanic activity, a key igneous rock - forming process) using the provided sentence starters.

Step 1: State the Claim and Initial Evidence

The evidence that supports my claim (Claim 2: Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock) is that Venus has numerous volcanoes (both active and extinct) across its surface. My first piece of evidence is the extensive volcanic features observed on Venus, such as large shield volcanoes and volcanic plains. This evidence shows that there has been significant volcanic activity on Venus.

Step 2: Connect Evidence to Claim

If there is significant volcanic activity on Venus, then magma has been erupting onto the surface (or cooling beneath the surface) in large quantities. This is important because igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Since Venus has widespread volcanic activity, the cooling of the erupted lava (or intruded magma) would lead to the formation of igneous rocks.

Step 3: Conclude the Argument

Based on the evidence of extensive volcanic features on Venus, I conclude that Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock. This claim is stronger because volcanic activity is a primary process for forming igneous rocks, and the abundance of volcanic features on Venus indicates that this process has been highly influential in shaping Venus’s rock composition.

If we were to argue for Claim 1 (sedimentary rock), we would need to focus on processes like weathering, erosion, deposition, and compaction/cementation. However, Venus has a very harsh environment with high temperatures and pressures, and a thick, acidic atmosphere, which makes the typical processes for forming sedimentary rocks (like water - driven erosion and deposition) less likely to be the dominant rock - forming process compared to volcanic (igneous - forming) processes. So the argument for Claim 2 is more strongly supported by the known geological features of Venus.

Final Argument (for Claim 2)

To Dr. Jackie Lewis,

The evidence that supports my claim (Claim 2: Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock) is that Venus has numerous volcanoes (both active and extinct) across its surface. My first piece of evidence is the extensive volcanic features observed on Venus, such as large shield volcanoes and volcanic plains. This evidence shows that there has been significant volcanic activity on Venus.

If there is significant volcanic activity on Venus, then magma has been erupting onto the surface (or cooling beneath the surface) in large quantities. This is important because igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Since Venus has widespread volcanic activity, the cooling of the erupted lava (or intruded magma) would lead to the formation of igneous rocks.

Based on the evidence of extensive volcanic features on Venus, I conclude that Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock. This claim is stronger because volcanic activity is a primary process for forming igneous rocks, and the abundance of volcanic features on Venus indicates that this process has been highly influential in shaping Venus’s rock composition.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Answer:

To address this, we'll build a scientific argument for one of the claims (we'll choose Claim 2 as Venus has volcanic activity, a key igneous rock - forming process) using the provided sentence starters.

Step 1: State the Claim and Initial Evidence

The evidence that supports my claim (Claim 2: Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock) is that Venus has numerous volcanoes (both active and extinct) across its surface. My first piece of evidence is the extensive volcanic features observed on Venus, such as large shield volcanoes and volcanic plains. This evidence shows that there has been significant volcanic activity on Venus.

Step 2: Connect Evidence to Claim

If there is significant volcanic activity on Venus, then magma has been erupting onto the surface (or cooling beneath the surface) in large quantities. This is important because igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Since Venus has widespread volcanic activity, the cooling of the erupted lava (or intruded magma) would lead to the formation of igneous rocks.

Step 3: Conclude the Argument

Based on the evidence of extensive volcanic features on Venus, I conclude that Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock. This claim is stronger because volcanic activity is a primary process for forming igneous rocks, and the abundance of volcanic features on Venus indicates that this process has been highly influential in shaping Venus’s rock composition.

If we were to argue for Claim 1 (sedimentary rock), we would need to focus on processes like weathering, erosion, deposition, and compaction/cementation. However, Venus has a very harsh environment with high temperatures and pressures, and a thick, acidic atmosphere, which makes the typical processes for forming sedimentary rocks (like water - driven erosion and deposition) less likely to be the dominant rock - forming process compared to volcanic (igneous - forming) processes. So the argument for Claim 2 is more strongly supported by the known geological features of Venus.

Final Argument (for Claim 2)

To Dr. Jackie Lewis,

The evidence that supports my claim (Claim 2: Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock) is that Venus has numerous volcanoes (both active and extinct) across its surface. My first piece of evidence is the extensive volcanic features observed on Venus, such as large shield volcanoes and volcanic plains. This evidence shows that there has been significant volcanic activity on Venus.

If there is significant volcanic activity on Venus, then magma has been erupting onto the surface (or cooling beneath the surface) in large quantities. This is important because igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Since Venus has widespread volcanic activity, the cooling of the erupted lava (or intruded magma) would lead to the formation of igneous rocks.

Based on the evidence of extensive volcanic features on Venus, I conclude that Venus’s rock transformation processes form mostly igneous rock. This claim is stronger because volcanic activity is a primary process for forming igneous rocks, and the abundance of volcanic features on Venus indicates that this process has been highly influential in shaping Venus’s rock composition.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]