The initial ideas of the continental drift hypothesis led to the development of the theory of plate tectonics. For the theory to be accepted, the entire scientific concept had to undergo the thorough process of the scientific method. This is an initial observation leading to a hypothesis, attempting to explain the current observation. For this to be determined, predictions are made to explain the specific hypotheses, which are then supported by evidence, ultimately leading to a generally accepted theory. In this essay, the process by which different parts of the scientific method were used in the context of the continental drift hypothesis and the theory of plate tectonics will be described while showing how contemporaries reacted negatively to an incomplete scientific method. example of how a hypothesis is formulated based on an observation. It also shows how contemporaries can reject hypotheses until substantial evidence is found. The hypothesis of continental drift was first introduced by Alfred Wegener in 1914. He suggested that at some point all the continents were combined into one, which he named "Pangaea", and that they eventually drifted from each other to find themselves in the positions they were in. are today (see Figure 1.0 below). This came from the observation that the coasts of continents could be combined into one, like a puzzle, particularly the "parallelism of the Atlantic coasts" (Skinner, Porter and Botkin pp. 66). Another observation that contributed to the hypothesis is the fact that similar flora and fauna can be found on completely different continents, where there was no obvious way to travel between the two. Wegener proposed that continental drift forms in the middle of the article within the scientific community as well as how forming a theory can be potentially long and tedious. Works Cited Keary, P, Klepeis, AK & Vine, JF 2009, Global Techtonics, 3rd edition, Wiley-Blackwall, West Sussex, UKSkinner, BJ, Porter, SC & Botkin, DB 1999, The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Science of the Earth System, 2nd edition, John Wiley & sons, Inc, New York, USA.Subduction of plates, 2002, the regents of the University of California, accessed April 12, 2014, Watson, J 2012, Pangaea, Earthguide at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Virginia, accessed April 11, 2013, Weil, A 1997, Regents of the University of California, California, accessed April 11 2014,