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Research Process
Directions to Students
Scenario
Biotechnology, the science of using something in nature to make a product, is not new. Thousands of years ago people used yeast, a bacteria, to make bread and cheese and beer. In the mid-1800s, scientist Gregor Mendel, in his study of peas, discovered the genetic principles of selective and cross breeding.
In the last three decades, this science has gone high tech with the direct alteration of genetic materials via splicing, transplantation, and chemical replantation. As a result, new foods are being developed that have improved nutritive quality and flavor, that can be more disease and pest resistant, and that can greatly increase the crop yield. As beneficial as these benefits may be, they raise serious safety isues concerning people and the environment.
have on our lives? |
Task and Product
A local consumer advocacy group has approached your school and requested help in informing the public about genetically-modified food. Your biotechnology class has accepted the challenge. Working as a group, students will research the topics in the list below, one group member assigned to each topic question. At the completion of the research phase, students will participate in a "jigsaw" activity in which "experts" representing each topic question will meet together to share their information. These "experts" will then return to their original groups to teach their topic to the members of the group. In this way, each group member will learn something about every topic question in order to create their informational product about genetically-engineered food.
When researching and creating a product, keep in mind that your local community may consist of any/all of these consumer groups:
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Topic questions for research (select one for your research and project):
- How nutritious are biotech foods compared to conventional foods?
- How safe are foods developed through biotechnology?
- How are bioengineered foods regulated?
- How can genetically-modified foods address world hunger issues?
- How can agricultural biotechnology benefit the environment?
- Why has biotechnology become a trade issue?
After completing your research and sharing you will use your findings to create one of these products for disseminating your information to your consumer audience:
- pamphlet
- poster
- persuasive letter
- editorial, letter to the editor, or article for school or community newspaper
- public service announcement (PSA) for television or radio
Assessments
You will be graded on your daily work on the research process as well as on your final product.
- Daily (Formative)
- Research Process - Summative (Student/Self)
- Research Process - Summative (Teacher)
- Pamphlet html version MS Word version
- Poster html version MS Word version
- Persuasive Letter
- Newspaper Article
- Newspaper Editorial or Letter to the Editor;
- Public Service Announcement
(Television html version MS Word version or Radio)
Question
Essential Question:
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What impact could genetically-engineered food have on our lives? |
Subsidiary questions
- How nutritious are biotech foods compared to conventional
foods?
- What are the most common biotech foods?
- What has been altered and for what purpose?
- What foods are in development?
- How safe are foods developed through biotechnology?
- Are biotech foods tested?
- If so, by whom?
- How are bioengineered foods regulated?
- What is the role of the FDA?
- What is the current law/policy regarding labeling of genetically-engineered food?
- How can genetically-modified foods address world hunger
issues?
- What are some world population projections?
- How can agricultural biotechnology benefit the environment?
- How can crops be protected from disease?
- Why has biotechnology become a trade issue?
- What are some other countries' policies regarding genetically-altered foods?
Gather and Sort
Gather information from a variety of sources.
Sort your findings using this graphic organizer when taking notes.
Remember to cite your references. Check the MLA guidelines and examples for citing resources; however, your school may use a different format.
To avoid risking plagiarism,
properly paraphrase and quote in your writing.
Organize
Analyze your research notes to determine the impact of genetically-engineered food has on our lives.
Synthesize your findings by creating one of the above products for disseminating your information to your consumer audience:
- What new insights have emerged about your topics?
- Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?
Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.
- Have you gathered sufficient details about your topic?
- Are your details organized in the right categories or sub-topics to make sense for your audience?
- Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on an audience?
Conclusion
Presentation
Share with your group of experts - the other students in your class who researched the same topic questions.
During the sharing phase with experts, use this chart to record the most relevant and important information.
As each expert returns to his or her original group, you will each teach your group members about your area of expertise. Use this chart to help you organize your notes from this discussion. Now you should have the information you need about different aspects of genetically-engineered food in order to create your product for your consumer audience.
Reflection
Now that you have an understanding of genetically-engineered foods, how will it change your family's food shopping ? Scoring Tool for Brief Constructed Response