Final Project Cauthers & Zanarini 2010
TOPICS IN BIOLOGY
News Articles
Key Points!
Think you're ready for a challenge? The general public doesn’t understand the Write 3 articles
topics we have learned throughout the year. Most of them don’t know the difference between biotechnology and bicycles. You need to explain why they should care and why these are problems we need to tackle.
Create timeline
First, you are going to find an issue that interests you that we discussed this year. Then you are going to research your topic and write several related articles. This is going to require your best skills. I want the public to know who is involved and what the issue is. It is your duty before leaving this class to help spread the word about some of the most hotly debate topics in biology. You may choose any topic that we discussed this year including: obesity, transgender, euthanasia, genetic engineering, stem cells, cloning, abortion, confidentiality, and more. You will take that information and create three newspaper articles and a timeline of events for your topic. Choose from the following types of articles:
Human interest Emerging Science Editorial
Ethical issue/Conflict Letter to the editor
Expository writing
Persuasive writing
General news, human interest and issue articles. articles Use your best reporting skills and look for the facts. Report what is true and be fair with your coverage of the subject.
Used in your editorial. editorial This is your opinion, but remember to back it up with the facts, statistics and examples you’ve learned in your research.
Creative Writing Letters to the editor. You should have a pretty good idea of what the general public knows and thinks about your topic after our discussions in class. Create fictional people with a particular view on one of the topics and write to the local paper.
Final Project TOPICS IN BIOLOGY
Cauthers & Zanarini 2010
News Article Guidelines
Write 3 articles
General News Article— Article—Emerging Science Article 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Choose a topic that has had a recent event—discovery, research. Investigate the topic and subtopics involved. What general facts, information, statistics do you find? What are some of the major concerns about this topic? Write an article that would explain the topic to readers.
Issue Article 1. 2. 3.
Write your issue as a question Define by explaining what it is to the reader. Report the—what, who, when, where, why, and how . Explain what the issue is, who is involved with this issue, why this is an issue, and why people should be interested in this issue.
Editorial What do you think should be done? New laws? More active roles? Do things differently? 2. Logically explain your perspective. Present your case by using facts, statistics, examples and quotes to support your opinions. Give the readers reasons to agree with you and tell them what you want them to do.
1.
Letters to the Editor 1. Look at the issue from average readers’ perspectives. What would they be thinking? How would they feel? What are the opinions they would have? 2. Think of all the misunderstandings or falsehoods or even myths related to your issue. What does the average person know? What does the average person think? What does the uninformed public think? What does the extremist, radical, or activist believe? 3. Write a letter from one perspective. Remember to have them discuss something about your chosen issue.
Human Interest Article 1. Stakeholders are people who have something to lose or gain. When you think about your stakeholders, ask yourself why they care about your topic. They might have social, economic, political, religious, personal, or cultural reasons for feeling as they do. Find out about these people and how they feel. Look for people who have different opinions and views on your topic. What are your stakeholders' viewpoints? Why do they have these viewpoints? Make sure to look in the Viewpoints sections for video clips and transcripts. Research other sources for different viewpoints. (The other Web links are a great place to start.) 2. Find a stakeholder with an interesting viewpoint. Find out the background of the stakeholder and the "why" behind the viewpoint. 3. Explain the stakeholder’s situation and viewpoint in a fair and unbiased manner. Use quotes, facts, examples and statistics where needed.
Final Project Cauthers & Zanarini 2010
TOPICS IN BIOLOGY
Timeline Production
Create timeline
M
ost people would agree that events in history are easier to remember and connect with when
presented in a graphical format. Your goal for this portion of the project is to create not only a timeline of major events for your topic, but to include visuals for the reader. The timeline should include at least 5 events about your topic. Each event should include a brief description, a picture, and one of the events must include a video clip. The timeline should include a link to a site where the reader can learn more about the event. This can serve as your bibliography for this section. I am going to suggest that you use one of the following online timeline creation tools which easily integrate pictures, videos and more. They are also online tools, so it doesn’t require you to purchase or download software. • •
http://dipity.com/ http://www.capzles.com/
• • •
http://www.xtimeline.com/ http://www.ourstory.com/ http://www.timetoast.com/