Biotechnology Summer Assignment
Instructor Adam Sprague:
Assignment Page Count 3-5
"You scientists are always so busy trying to figure out what you can do, you never bother to ask whether or not you should".
Spoken by the character Malcolm the mathematician from the novel Jurrasic Park, by Michael Crichton
This quote captures what this assignment is all about. However, to give further details, the purpose of the assignment is listed below:
Purpose
/ To make students aware of important issues pertaining to the impact of scientific research & technology on their personal lives &/or society.
/ To teach students how to use a variety of resources in order to inform themselves about these types of issues.
/ To teach students how to engage in critical, skeptical thinking in order to determine the reliability of different sources of information - (whether the arguments presented are based on factual evidence or distorted evidence).
/ To teach students how to engage in critical, skeptical thinking when examining the pro and con arguments on both sides of scientifically-related issues.
/ To teach students how to write a persuasive essay in which they try to argue for or against a position..
Procedure 3-5 pages
Step 1: Research ethical issues in science.
Step 2: Pick a topic. Some examples to get you started. (Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning, Food Irradiation, Cloning of animals used for human consumption, Genetic engineering, Eugenics)
Step 1: Pre-read the level four rubric to see what you will need to accomplish. (see below)
Step 2: Read through the helpful links below for suggestions on how to write your essay.
Link 1 Writing Persuasive Essays
/ Link#2 Writing PersuasiveEssays
Step 3: Conduct research to educate yourself about the issues.
asdf / Keep track of your sources as you will need to include a bibliography
Step 4: Your essay should include have the three main parts -
asdf / 1) Thesis statement - Clearly state your position on the issue
asdf / 2) Body - Convince your audience that your position is the correct position by using evidence, examples, etc. Discuss the arguments used to support the other side of the debate and include counter arguments that effectively refute them.Also explain what groups hold the opposite opinion and why - what are their concerns.
asdf / 3) Conclusion - Clearly redefine the topic and restate the most compelling evidence.
Scale / Levels of Proficiency / Name
5 Strong
4 Proficient
3 Developing
2 Emerging
1 Not Yet / Proficient
Score 4’s or higher on all traits in a high school level essay
Proficient with Honors / Assignment Title
Score 4.5’s or higher on all traits in a high school honors-level essay
Date
Teachers: Indicate the correct score by circling the correct number or checking the correct column for a half-point increment. / Teacher
Rubric for the Evaluation of a Persuasive Essay
Ideas and Content / Organization
5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Thesis:
- Thesis argues a specific position on a debatable issue
- Subject is complex enough to allow for meaningful analysis
- Thesis fully addresses the prompt and controls the content of the paper
- Ample amounts of relevant, accurate evidence support each point and the thesis overall
- Well-chosen/Significant background information provides a context for understanding the issue
- Commentary and evaluation show deep insight
- Focus remains on thesis; paper does not drift into tangents
- Opposing arguments are stated and refuted
- Paper has an effective introduction, body, and conclusion
- Thesis provides direction for the paper
- Sequence and structure of ideas and information are clear, focused, and logical
- Topic sentences control the content of paragraphs; internal structure of each paragraph is logical
- Effective transitions tie ideas together
Style / Conventions/Presentation
5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
- Tone, voice, and point of view are always appropriate to the purpose and audience
- Active verbs and precise nouns add clarity
- Subject-specific, striking words enhance meaning
- Sentences vary in length and structure with no awkward constructions
- Creative and appropriate transition words and phrases improve rhythm
- Quotations/evidence are seamlessly integrated into the text
- Spelling, punctuation and capitalization are correct
- Grammar and usage are correct
- Presentation is appropriate to the task
- Appropriate fonts and font sizes are used
- Citations and bibliography are done correctly in APA or MLA style
- Spacing, indentations, and margins are correct
- Titles, headings, and page numbers are used correctly
Teacher Comments