The
construction and evaluation of explanations are closely related to the core scientific practice of argumentation (McNeill &
Krajcik, 2011) because, in developing an argument, students must explain their reasoning and link evidence to it (Kollar,
Fischer, & Slotta, 2007). Similarly, Berland and Reiser (2009) observed that explanations can be developed through argu-
mentation in scientific communities.