Thesis Statement
In this presentation we will elucidate the scientific method. We will start by describing the theory that constitutes a scientific method. We will do this by enumerating necessary steps involved in the formulation of such theory. We will then apply this method to a hypothetical case where the grass is greener in the other man’s lawn!
Analysis
We start with a formal definition of the scientific method “The scientific method is the process by which the scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate (that is reliable, consistent and non-arbitrary) representation of the world. (Introduction to the Scientific Method 2004)
The theory behind scientific method is based on the following:
1. Study and narration of an occurrence or group of occurrences.
2. Formulation of a hypothesis to explain the occurrence. In physics, the hypothesis can be in form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.
4. Carrying out actual experiments to test the validity of the predictions.

If and when the test results prove that the hypothesis (i.e. a premise, a deduction, an inference about a cause and effect relationship) repeatedly and conclusively, then the hypothesis becomes a law or theory.
Assuming that you try to start your car but it will not start. You think that the battery has conked out. This is the hypothesis. But when you check the battery with your voltmeter you see that there is nothing wrong with the battery. This disproves your hypothesis. You can make another hypothesis that the self would have developed a fault and so on. It is important to remember that a theory cannot be proved. One can fail to disprove it till such time that someone disproves and comes up with another theory. It is also important to note that for the hypothesis to become a law rigorous tests conducted independently be several different sources are necessary. Several sources are necessary to eliminate possible researcher bias in the case of a solitary experiment. Common sense and obvious solutions cannot be the basis for a theory under the scientific method. (The scientific research method 2004)
Now coming to our situation we need to develop our hypothesis about the grass comparison. The observation is that the grass around one house is brown, short, and dead compared to the grass around your neighbor's house which is green, tall, and alive. This is step one called observation of the occurrence or phenomena. The next step is to formulate the hypothesis. Let us hypothesize that that the brown grass is due to under watering. Having done this we proceed to test this hypothesis. Assuming that the ground area where the grass grows is identical in the two houses being compared, we will need to see for what length of time the grass is watered in the two houses respectively to test whether the under watering hypothesis is correct. During the course of the week on seven consecutive days you time the duration for which the neighbor is busy watering the lawn. While you are timing your neighbor you similarly also time yourself when you water the grass around your house. You note down the exact timings. You also check with your neighbor see how many horse power motor is being used by him and compare that to your own motor. It turns out that he uses the same motor as you do. Both you and your neighbor carry out the lawn watering activity after returning from work.

Your mind now turns to the soil but you at once remember that you and your neighbor had gone together to get the top soil and fertilizer. So this hypothesis too has to be discarded.

While trying to think what else could be the cause for the difference you think of the location of the two houses in terms of the sunshine each gets. You see that the adjoining houses in the entire lane have no difference in this respect either except for the fact that your house has a lot of mature trees around it. It occurs to you that this could very well be the reason for the poor quality of grass around your house. Your grass does not get as much sunshine as the neighbor’s because of the tree cover. While your neighbor has been trimming his tress and keeping the height at 6-8 feet you have not done so and as a result your trees are now as high as twenty feet. You now decided to test this hypothesis by having your trees cut down. It is unreasonable to expect any improvement in a week or two so you decide to wait longer. And sure enough after about six weeks or so you could see the grass around your house changing its color from a brownish to a greenish tinge. At the end of about 12 weeks the both the sets of grass were at par. The experiment showed that the hypothesis you had formulated was not disproved.

Conclusion
And thus concluded the scientific method. Though it was a simplistic model but nevertheless it illustrates how scientific methods are conducted.