The use of argumentative text writing activities enriched with concept cartoons in teaching socio-scientific issues

In this study, it was tried to determine the use of argumentative text writing activities enriched with concept cartoons in teaching socio-scientific issues and the students' argument quality related to various socio-scientific subjects and the opinions of the teachers and students in regard to the process. In the 2017-2018 academic year, 24 students (14 female, 10 male) attending 7th grade in a secondary school located in Boyabat district of Sinop province were included in the study group determined according to purposive sampling method. In the study, a case study pattern was used from qualitative research designs. In this research, the argumentative text forms enriched with the concept cartoons prepared by the researcher, open-ended questionnaires on socio-scientific issues, student and teacher diaries, student interview records, field notes and teacher information form were used. The data acquired from the research were analyzed using the content analysis technique and the descriptive analysis technique. According to the research results, it was revealed that the quality of the arguments in the students' discussion texts was concentrated at Level 2, and there was a positive increase in the number of argument quality during the application process. It was determined that the students used similar images and expressions to the expressions given in the cartoons in the argumentative text form enriched with the concept cartoon given to them in the data collection tools on SSI. It was stated about the application process that the students enjoyed the activity process, found the activity entertaining, gained new information, expressed that writing argumentative texts developed them in a positive way, but were tired of writing and had anxiety for writing about their opinions incorrectly. It has been concluded that the argumentative texts enriched with the concept cartoons used in the application process prompt students to think and provide the opportunity to write down the thoughts that they cannot express verbally, therefore the argumentative text writing activities were effective in teaching SSI. Key Words: Socio-Scientific Issues, Concept Cartoon, Argumentative Text, Case Study, Secondary School Students