Abstract

Physics is the basic of science that became the foundation for the development of technology. We can train our reasoning skills with learning physics. Reasoning skills are needed by humans to be able to create technology and make life easier. So, reasoning skills are very necessary for students in vocational schools to be able to develop skills based on the department. One of reasoning skills is argumentation skills. This research investigates the students’ argumentation skills about the chapter of temperature and heat through PMA Learning. Quasi-experimental with post-test only control group designs was carried out for the research. The research samples were students of X-TKJ1 (experimental class) and X-MM (control class) at SMKN 2 Jember in the 2016/2017 academic year. The design of argumentation test was using the role of competing theories strategy. Based on the output of SPSS 23 with 2 samples independent test showed that the significant of the test was 0.000 < 0.05. The result of the test showed that the score of students’ argumentation skills (about evidences and justifications of argument, counter argument, and rebuttal) in the experimental class are higher than those in the control class.