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What's the Organic Buzz?
Organic Chemistry
in the News
adapted from Fiona Clark's Webquest
Introduction
WHERE: The City of Golden Friendship
WHEN:
Present Day
WHY: Recently all forms of media - television, radio and print, have been bombarding the public with lots
of scientific information. Unfortunately, much of this information is presented in a biased manner. Only one side of the story
is presented, depending on who the audience is.
WHAT: You will be taking on the role of science reporter for a local
newspaper and providing the full story on various organic chemistry topics in such a manner to please the everyday reader
and the scientific community.
HOW: You will be placed into one of two focus groups whose goal it will be to research
one of two organic chemistry topics in the news. Your group will be responsible for creating a report that can be included
in an upcoming edition of the newspaper.
The presses are ready and waiting to run your story......so let's get started.
Let's have a look at your task.
THE TASK
Memo
To: Chem 84EA Student
From: Editor of The City of Golden Friendship Daily
News
Date: 01/20/2010
Re: Organic Chemistry in the News
Organic Chemistry in the News
Dear Chemistry Student,
It is with great hope that you will be able to help us here in the newsroom. We have
recently been bombarded by letters to the editor about several organic chemistry issues that have been in the news. Our science
editor is currently out of province involved in training for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games, and as a result will be unavailable
until the event is done. Due to budget cuts, we are not able to replace the science editor during their absence. Unfortunately
the rest of the editorial staff and the roving reporters are not astute in the field of science and will not be off much help
in responding to the publics' questions.
You have been highly recommended as credible experts in the chemistry field. We have
heard good things about your expertise and work ethic from several sources within the community. You should be proud that
your names come with such high regard. Since you are probably looking to put your chemistry knowledge to practical use, it
is our hope that you will enjoy working for us.
You will be assigned to one of four different focus groups whose task it will be
to investigate one of the following organic chemistry topics:
- The proposed development of a Biodiesel
Plant in the City of Golden Friendship (Cagayan de Oro City).
- THM's in local water supplies.
- The use of chemical warfare.
- The use of various manmade organic
chemicals.
Your task will be to research your topic and provide the readers of The City of Golden
Friendship Daily News with a logical and informed outline of your topic. You will be investigating topics that are controversial.
But we, the editors, put our full faith into your capabilities. In order to satisfy the local scientific community you will
also be asked to prepare a laboratory activity that they could carry out to test some of your findings.
Your focus group will be working as a cohesive group throughout all aspects of your
research, design and end product. Your findings will be targeting two major audiences - the readers of The City of Golden
Friendship Daily News and the scientific community.
Your end product will contain two presentations:
- A 250 word article that will be
printed in an upcoming edition of the paper detailing the findings of your research. This should be a word processed report.
- An outline for a lab that the chemists
could perform to monitor your topic. This will be submitted to the President of the Chemical Society of the Philippines-Cagayan
de Oro Chapter.
The readership and the editorial staff look forward to reading your finished reports.
Sincerely,
E.P. Ether
E.P. Ether
Editor-in-chief The City of Golden Friendship Daily News
To see how you will accomplish this, check out the process.
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THE PROCESS
How to do What you Have to do....The Process
It is important that our readership get the answers as quickly as possible to their
questions. It is our duty as editors of The City of Golden Friendship Daily News to provide accurate up-to-date information.
Time is ticking so let's begin.
Steps to follow to make your task a little easier:
1.
You will be assigned to one of the four focus groups by our editor at large.
2. Working individually, complete the following task. Divide a page into two columns. On one side, write
everything you can think of that you already know about the topic. On the other side, write everything that you can think
of that you need to find out about the topic. Discuss what you have written with the rest of your group.
3. a) Each member of your group has to choose
one role from the list below. Remember that even though you will have specific roles, you will be functioning as an integral
member of a group.
b) For those of you in a group of five, have each
member of your group choose one of the first four roles. Share the remaining role between the entire group. Remember that
even though you will have specific roles, you will be functioning as an integral member of a group.
Lab Technician-your key duty will be to function as the lead on the design of the lab used to monitor your
topic. You should be creative and adept at writing scientific papers.
Reporter/Type Editor- your key duty will be to function as the lead in writing the story to be printed in an
upcoming edition of The City of Golden Friendship Daily News. You should be adept at working with word processing programs
and you should possess a good writing style that is suitable for our reading audience.
Facilitator/Liaison- your key duties will be to keep all members of your group on task and to keep each other
up with the others status. As well you will be responsible for providing written daily status reports to the editor at large
of The City of Golden Friendship Daily News. You should be organized and motivated.
Interviewer
-your key duty will be to interview local residents and to report their reactions on your topic. You will work closely with
the reporter/type editor to incorporate your interview in your story. You should be personable and not afraid of getting the
whole story.
Graphic Designer - your key duty will be
to locate appropriate graphics that will accompany your submission to the newspaper. You will work closely with the reporter/
type editor to plan the way your story is to be organized and how the text and graphics can be effectively coordinated.
You may want to use a digital camera to get local pictures, you can create your own graphics or you may find appropriate graphics
on the internet.
Word Finder - your key duty will be to provide your focus groups with the definitions for the new chemistry
and other terms that your research may present. You should be willing to do some important research and be able to explain
and teach these new definitions to your entire group.
4. You should re-read the memo from The Editor of The City of Golden Friendship Daily
News very carefully and determine exactly what is required of you. As well you should head to the evaluation to see how you
will be evaluated.
5. You should start first with the research
stage of the process. The following sources should be consulted first and then if information cannot be found here than additional
resources (textbooks, other internet sites, experts in the field, etc.) can be used. Be sure to keep a record of where you
are obtaining your information. To keep yourself organized, you should use a flowchart or summary chart to keep track of your
information.
THM's in the Water Supply
Chemical
Warfare
(Not to be
confused with biohazards like anthrax)
Controversial Manmade Organic Chemicals
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General Overview
of the City of Golden Friendship |
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Overview of
Bio-diesel |
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Biodiesel From
Start to Finish |
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The Environmental
Impact of Bio-diesel production |
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An Excellent
Site Containing a Massive Amount of Information on Bio-diesel in the Philippines |
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Arguments Against
Cagayan de Oro Bio-diesel Plant Project |
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Health Hazards
of Bio-diesel Plant
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6. Your focus groups should set a time limit to gather your information. Remember
this is your first job and you want to make a good impression....make sure you are not just surfing the net on work time!
7. After sufficient productive search time start producing your report. Though you do have specific roles
to fulfill, you want to work together as a team.
8. Newspaper Report - In order to best serve the readers of The City of Golden Friendship Daily
News, you must remember to report on the full story. Ethically, you must report on all the facts, both fore and against. By
doing this, you provide the readers with the knowledge to make informed choices.
9. All members of your group must be in agreement of all final products.
10. Remember that we are counting on you to provide the most up-to-date
information for our readers in a manner that is easy and exciting to read. Remember to check and recheck your report to ensure
that you will produce the best possible product. Good luck, become informed and we look forward to reading your presentation.
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EVALUATION
The following is a marking rubric as to how your final mark will be obtained. Each
person in the group will receive an individual evaluation based on both their individual contribution and the group contribution.
Instead of just reporting, while you are doing your research and creating your newspaper
article, here are some questions to keep in mind and to make sure that you have answers for in order to make sure that you
perform well on the evaluation:
- What are the implications of your
topic for the City of Golden Friendship?
- In your opinion what is the best
way to use this new found knowledge?
- What did you learn from your research?
- Explain the relationship between
organic chemistry and the rest of the chemistry that you know.
- Using an example from your own
experience, illustrate how your topic has affected your life.
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Novice Reporter
1 |
Junior Reporter
2 |
Seasoned Reporter
3 |
Poised to take over the paper
4 |
Score |
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Collaborative Efforts |
Works well in group. Contributes to group
effort. Does not try to take over group or do all the work alone. Observes development and evaluation of finished product(s). |
Participates in discussions during development
and evaluation of finished products(s). |
Helps to organize and facilitate the team.
Encourages others. Stays on task, meets deadlines. Contributes somewhat to development and evaluation of finished product(s). |
Provides vital leadership to the team.
Gives and receives suggestions and/or help to/from other team members. Maintains a positive attitude. Contributes significantly
to development and evaluation of finished product(s). |
|
|
Completion of Individual Tasks |
Is aware of how assigned individual task
fits in with the whole, completes work in a timely manner, does not hinder the work of others in the class. |
Clearly sees how assigned task contributes
to the whole, work may have errors that are corrected by consulting with others, level of organization does not interfere
with the tasks of others. |
Helps others see how each contributes
to the entire project, work is of high quality, tasks are completed within the timeframe set by the class, level of organization
facilitates the work of others in the class. |
Takes responsibility for whole project,
makes sure that individual task is coordinated with the whole, shares own progress with others, quality of work is faultless,
all tasks are completed within the timeframe set by the class, has excellent organization. |
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Use of Internet Research Opportunity |
Time on Internet was spent on task some
of the time. Internet log is partially completed. |
Time on Internet was spent of task. Internet
log contains complete notes about websites visited, all records are kept neatly. |
Uses Internet time well, makes extensive
log notes about websites that were useful, and locates a few new resources in addition to those that were provided. |
Uses Internet time exceptionally well,
makes extensive log notes about websites that were useful, and locates several new resources in addition to those that were provided. |
|
|
Final Report
(Value x2)
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The report contained the bare minimums
regarding scientific information, interview feedback, graphics. The report contained errors. |
The report made some statements regarding
the implications of the topic on the South Shore area. No new ideas were presented. Includes some scientific information,
interviews and graphics. |
The report contains valuable information
for all citizens regarding the implications of the topic. Many extensions, including relationships to personal experience
and other chemical topics. Includes great graphics, scientific information and graphics |
The report is very well laid out, makes
use of several graphics and interviews. It contains up-to-date information regarding the topic. As well it contains
many extensions, personal inferences, and it relates to other chemistry or social topics. Contains some mention of future
research needed. |
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Lab Report
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Lab report is poorly written and does
not follow proper scientific written techniques. Does not follow IB marking guidelines. |
Lab report is completed. Idea is not a
realistic idea. Report contains many errors. Scores 1's on IB marking rubric for P(b). |
Lab report is well done - scientifically
sound. Idea is viable. Report contains few errors. Scores 2's on IB marking rubric for P(b). |
Lab report is exceptionally done. Idea
is realistic and scientifically correct. Scores 3's on IB marking rubric for P(b). |
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Important:
Items colored BLUE = to be graded by group members. The final score for this item is the average rating from the
members.
Items colored PURPLE = to be graded by group members & teacher. The final score for this item is (average rating
from members + rating from teacher)/2.
Items colored PINK = to be graded by your teacher only.
FINAL SCORE = (Total
Score from table above x 2) + 2
Therefore, perfect score is 50. This
is equivalent to one chapter exam.
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CONCLUSION
Congratulations on a job well done. You and your
entire group have produced a very informative report. We look forward to including your story in next week's edition of The
City of Golden Friendship Daily News. Your research has provided the people of the City of Golden Friendship with information
from which they can make an informed conclusion about these science topics in the news. We look forward to calling upon your
services if we run into such problems again in our news room.
You have managed to do quality research. What can
you personally do to continue to infuse science with a social aspect? What can you do to remain an informed member of the
community?
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