English to Arabic Other Education / Pedagogy

1. Ask a question
Start with a basic question: What can we do to reduce our city’s air temperatures? What would happen if my city (or a specific location like a school, mosque or neighborhood) had green roofs? cool roofs? more trees? Why are things the way they are?

2. Conduct preliminary research
Collect information by researching a variety of sources: personal interviews with subject matter experts, review books, and searching online sources. Collect research needed to ground your stated hypothesis in a base of information and solid reasoning.

3. Define the variables
Once you have identified your hypothesis, define the variables. Which ones are independent and which are dependent”? A good rule of thumb: an independent variable is the cause, and the dependent variable is the effect. An independent variables is not affected by other variables in your study. The value of a dependent variable depends on changes in the independent variable. Be sure to consider the limits of your study or experiment before finalizing your hypothesis.

4. Phrase hypothesis as an “IF-THEN” statement
“If I water a plant every day, then it will grow better.” Including more variables creates a complex hypothesis. Looking at “IF- THEN” is a reliable method for expressing the cause-and-effect relationship you are testing.