Argumentative practice in geography education: a study from the concept of territory

The aim of this study was to investigate “what are” and “how are” developed the scientific arguments constructed by the students of the final years of elementary school of three public schools in the city of São Paulo. As research tool, we were use a kind of knowledge test questionnaire. The discussions that involve this investigation analyse the quality of the students’ argument in the contact with the scientific theory presented through the pattern of argument developed by the English philosopher Stephen Toulmin and other tools refinement of yours categories. They are also concerns to this research contextualize the analysis of the role of morality and ethics in the decision-making contained in the arguments collected. The results demonstrate the potential of the field of scientific argumentation in providing new steps for research and classroom practice in the discipline of Geography.