Figure Kit

ASTR 201 — Socratic Seminar Tools

Author

Instructor: Dr. Anna Rosen

How to Read a Scientific Figure (Micro-Guide)

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________

Astronomy is a science of inference. A figure is not “the truth”—it’s a compact argument made out of data, axes, and assumptions.

Step 0: Identify the figure’s job (one sentence)

This figure is trying to show:
______________________________________________________________________________

Step 1: Read the axes like a scientist

  • What are the axes? (write the full variable names, not just symbols)
    x-axis: ________________________________ units: ________________
    y-axis: ________________________________ units: ________________

  • What is measured vs inferred?
    Measured (observables): __________________________________________________
    Inferred (model-dependent): ______________________________________________

  • What is the scale? (linear/log; important!)
    ☐ linear ☐ log ☐ mixed/other: ______________________

Step 2: Describe the pattern (before you interpret it)

Use literal description first.

  • Trend: ___________________________________________________________________
  • Scatter / uncertainty: ___________________________________________________
  • Outliers: ________________________________________________________________
  • Range / limits: __________________________________________________________

If error bars exist: what do they represent? ☐ measurement error ☐ intrinsic scatter ☐ not sure

Step 3: What claim does the figure support (conservatively)?

Conservative claim (supported by what’s shown):
______________________________________________________________________________
Evidence in the figure (point to a specific feature/value/region):
______________________________________________________________________________

Step 4: Name at least one assumption

Interpretation requires assumptions. Name one.

Assumption: _______________________________________________________________
If this assumption fails, the interpretation might change because:
______________________________________________________________________________

Step 5: Ask the “discriminating test” question

What new measurement would best reduce ambiguity?

Next measurement: _________________________________________________________
If we saw ________, it would strengthen the claim. If we saw ________, it would weaken it.

Quick checklist (for seminar)

☐ I can say what each axis means and its units.
☐ I separated description from interpretation.
☐ I named at least one assumption.
☐ I can propose a next measurement.

Socratic Seminar Prep — Half-Sheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________
Seminar topic / “text” (figure, excerpt, dataset): _______________________________________

1) My Claim (one sentence)

Write a specific claim that you think the “text” supports.

Claim:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2) Evidence (two concrete pieces)

Point to specific evidence: a quoted phrase, a trend, an axis label + value, a feature in a spectrum, etc.

Evidence #1 (what I’m pointing to):
______________________________________________________________________________
Why it supports my claim (one sentence):
______________________________________________________________________________

Evidence #2 (what I’m pointing to):
______________________________________________________________________________
Why it supports my claim (one sentence):
______________________________________________________________________________

3) Assumption (what must be true for my claim to hold)

Name at least one assumption your inference relies on. (Examples: equilibrium, calibration, geometry, negligible dust, “standard candle” validity, selection effects.)

Assumption:
______________________________________________________________________________
If this assumption fails, my claim would change like this:
______________________________________________________________________________

4) Uncertainty (optional but strongly encouraged)

Try a confidence estimate with a reason.

I am about _______% confident because
______________________________________________________________________________

5) Next Measurement (the discriminating test)

If you had one new observation/measurement you could make, what would best test your claim or distinguish between competing explanations?

Next measurement:
______________________________________________________________________________
What outcome would strengthen my claim?
______________________________________________________________________________
What outcome would weaken my claim?
______________________________________________________________________________

6) One Question I want to ask the group

Ask something that pushes thinking forward (not a yes/no question).

Question:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________