Are Viruses Living?
PURPOSE:
This project will "TEST" your understanding of the characteristics of life and ability to relate this understanding to viruses. Each student will investigate the question “Are viruses alive?” to develop their own hypothesis.
BACKGROUND:
There is a very thin line between life and non-life. To help decipher the difference, scientists have developed a set of standards by which to determine if something is living. We refer to these standards as the characteristics of life. Viruses seem to exist on the border between life and non-life. The fact that viruses fall into this gray middle ground leads scientists to debate on whether or not there is a “clear-cut” definition of life.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. To help begin and organize research, a chart with a few sources has been provided. However, additional research and a variety of sources are required. Each student has the option of organizing the research using the chart to aid in developing a hypothesis. Since this is student choice, the chart does not have to be turned in.
2. After examining research, decide whether or not viruses should be classified as living. There is no right or wrong answer, but your hypothesis must be supported.
3. Each student will prepare and submit a 2 page typed paper discussing their hypothesis. The paper will include supporting research and proper use of the characteristics of life.
ü Arrangement of Paper:
o The introductory paragraph should be used to discuss the characteristics of life and where you feel viruses fit. Don’t forget the introductory paragraph needs to have a strong attention grabber which could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader. Your hypothesis should be stated in this paragraph and provide a clear understanding of your position on the topic.
§ DON’T USE . . . “I am about to tell you” . . . “You are about to read” . . . etc. . .
o The body of the paper is where you want to be informative. Include arguments and support of your hypothesis while discussing all the characteristics of life and viruses. These should be provided in a logical order that makes it easy and interesting for the reader to follow.
o The conclusion should be strong and leave the reader firmly understanding your position. Effective restatement of your position is key to a closing paragraph.
ü Specific Layout Guidelines:
o Double Spaced
o 1 inch margin
o 12 New Times Roman Font
o Indentations are to be only 5 spaces from left margin or set up through paragraph options
o Spacing before and after paragraphs are set at 0pt
o Widows and Orphans turned off
o Text wrapping when illustration is used
4. Submit work to http://turnitin.com on or before deadline.
Students are to set up and access account prior to the deadline
to ensure that the website and account are working properly.
Are Viruses Living?
Use the following resources to learn about each side of the issue. Make sure to cover all characteristics of life as you research. The following links are a good place to start but you need to use a variety of sources. Make sure to use only reliable sources – sources like Wikipedia and WikiAnswers are not reliable sources. Google, Bing, Dogpile, etc., are not sources but rather search engines and should not be used as a source.
ü Beyondbooks.com: http://www.beyondbooks.com/lif72/2c.asp
ü Microbial Life Educational Resources: http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/yellowstone/viruslive.html
ü What the Heck is a Virus? http://people.ku.edu/~jbrown/virus.html
ü What is a Virus? http://phsuccessnet.com (This source is considered a book since it is an online version of a textbook.)
o Log in:
§ Username: bainbridge Password: bearcats
o Click on the link for the book.
o Scroll down and Click on Chapter 19.
o Scroll down and Click on 19-3 Viruses (pp. 482 – 487).
EVIDENCE FOR LIVING / EVIDENCE FOR NON-LIVINGCharacteristics of Life:
1. Made of Cells
2. Universal Genetic Code (DNA)
3. Obtain and Use Energy
4. Respond to Environment/Adapt
5. Homeostasis
6. Evolution
7. Reproduce
8. Grow and Develop
Exemplary4 / Accomplished
3 / Developing
2 / Beginning
1
Introduction/
Attention Grabber / The introductory paragraph has a strong attention grabber and includes hypothesis providing the reader with a clear understanding of your position on the topic. / The introductory paragraph includes hypothesis and has an attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or doesn’t provide the reader a clear understanding of your position on the topic. / The introductory paragraph includes hypothesis but lacks an attention grabber nor does it provide the reader with an understanding of your position on the topic. / The introductory paragraph does not include hypothesis, and/or attention grabber and/or connection to your position on the topic.
Evidence
(8 characteristics of life) / 100 - 90% of the evidence is specific, relevant and given to show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position. / 89-80% of the evidence is specific, relevant and given to show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position. / 79-70% of the evidence is relevant and shows how each piece of evidence supports the author's position. / 69% or less of the evidence is NOT relevant AND/OR are not explained.
Closing Paragraph / The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader solidly understanding the writer's hypothesis. / The conclusion is recognizable but no clear understanding of the writer’s position can be drawn from it. / The author's hypothesis is merely restated. / There is no conclusion - the paper just ends.
Organization / Good organization, thoughts are logically ordered, sharp sense of beginning and end / Organized but thoughts are somewhat jumpy / Some organization, thoughts jump around, beginning and end are unclear / Not organized, thoughts make no sense
Sources Listed / Various Types of Sources Listed / Only the internet and textbook used as a source / Only text or internet was used / No sources listed
Illustration / Illustrations provided, clear and easy to examine, no larger than 1X1 inches with wrapping text used appropriately / Illustrations provided, somewhat clear and easy to examine, no larger than 1X1 inches with wrapping text used appropriately / Illustration provided, blurry and hard to examine, wrong size used with non-wrapping text / 0 illustrations provided
Layout Guidelines / Exactly as stated in instructions / 1 – 2 specific instructions not followed / 3 – 4 specific instructions not followed / Instructions were not followed what so ever