Research Scenario
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There is a new and exciting field in health sciences called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), which studies the interrelationships among the emotions, nervous system, and immune system. Early research has indicated that stress associated with negative emotions interferes with proper immune system functioning, thus making many of us get sick more often. The good news is that stress related to positive emotions has been linked to healthier people.
Did you know?
- 25% of youth ages 8-17 complain that they don't have enough free time.
- Approximately 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are due to an illness related to stress.
- The United States spends about $1billion annually on stress-related illness.
- 75% of adults feel they have "great stress" one day a week, with one out of three indicating they feel this way more than twice a week.
- Job burnout experienced by 25% to 40% of U.S. workers is blamed on stress.
Would you like to know more about stress-related illness and how to prevent it from happening to you?
How does one's capacity to manage stress
impact the body's ability to resist disease?
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| Task and Product
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You will be researching one of the following body systems which can be affected by stress:
- Endocrine System
- Immune System
- Central Nervous System
You will use the information from your research to create a product/presentation to inform parents or other family members about stress-related illness and disease. Select your final product from the list below and include the following information.
- Definition of the body system
- Main functions of the system
- Structures included in the system
- At least one illustration of the system
- Diseases affecting the system
- Impact of stress on the system
Product Options:
- Brochure
- Webpage
- Multimedia presentation (PowerPoint, Inspiration, etc.)
- Video
- Oral Report with visuals
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Assessments
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The following scoring tools may be used or adapted by your teacher to evaluate your research process and your final product and presentation.
| Research Process Assessments:
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Final Product Assessments:
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Questions
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Essential Question:
How does one's capacity to manage stress
impact the body's ability to resist disease?
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Subsidiary Questions:
1. What is the main function of the body system?
2. What structures are included in the body system?
3. What disease(s) can affect this body system?
4. What impact would stress have on this body system?
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Gather and Sort
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Use a variety of resources for gathering information about the body system to which you have been assigned.
Sort your research findings using the graphic organizer provided, or you may create a graphic organizer of your own.
Be sure to avoid plagiarism and remember to cite your references. Check a research guide for details about the proper citation of sources. For MLA guidelines and examples, click here. |
Organize
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Analyze your research notes to determine if you have sufficient information to answer the subsidiary questions and the essential question.
- Organize your notes according to subtopics corresponding to the subsidiary questions, especially if you did not use the graphic organizer provided.
- Is there a subtopic for which you did not find enough information? If so, decide whether to use electronic or print resources for more information.
- Did you find interesting information which does not fit under any of your subtopics? If so, decide if this information would be useful for your audience, and identify a new subtopic for it.
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Synthesize your findings by creating a first draft of your research product/presentation.
- What new insights have emerged about your topic?
- Which facts would be most useful and interesting to your parents or family members?
- Which facts are repetitive or unnecessary and should be left out?
- In what order should your facts be presented to make sense for your audience?
- What visuals would best illustrate or enhance the information you are presenting?
- Prepare a first draft of your research product.
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Evaluate your finished product for quality and completeness.
- Do a self assessment by using the scoring tool for your product as a checklist to make sure that your work meets all the listed criteria.
- Have a peer use the scoring tool to evaluate your product draft and provide feedback.
- Revise or edit your draft materials as needed based on your self-assessment and peer-assessment.
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Conclusion
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Presentation:
| Present your product to your classmates first and then to your parents or family members. Use the following graphic organizer to take notes on the body systems for which you did not do research. |
Reflection:
After reviewing the presentations, respond to the following BCR question. Be sure to support your answer with notes from the class presentations and your graphic organizer.
How does can the lack of proper stress management skills lead to poor physical health? What suggestions do you have for your family members to avoid being a victim of PNI?
Consult the scoring tool for your BCR response. |
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