Waldorf University An Evaluation of Science Reporting Discussion

 

 

PHYSIOLOGY IN THE NEWS:

AN EVALUATION OF SCIENCE REPORTING

Objectives:

1. To become more familiar with the physiology studies (including genetics, biochemistry, medicine,

etc.) currently reported daily in popular newspapers.

2. To practice analyzing science as it is presented in newspapers and presenting this information to peers.

Sources:

Newspapers (for example: USA Today, San Diego Union-Tribune, New York Times) that are

dated within one year of the first day of this term. On-line versions of newspapers are also acceptable.

Assignments using sources other than newspapers will not be accepted. You are looking for an article

addressing a scientific experiment.

The following sources are NOT acceptable: Scientific American, Nature, National Geographic, on-line

scientific journals, etc. These are excellent publications, but they do not cover current events for the

general public or the information they do present is usually much more detailed than desired for this

assignments.

You are looking for a newspaper article addressing a scientific experiment. Remember this is a

physiology course (please do not use articles on volcanoes, astronomy, etc. unless they relate to

biology). If you have questions, please discuss it with your instructor.

Method:

Summarize, and respond to, a newspaper article on a scientific experiment focused on some

aspect of physiology. The article should report on a new scientific report or summary. The article should

be less than one year old and provided to instructor when the report is submitted. A URL may be

substituted for the newspaper clipping. You may earn a maximum of 25 points for this writing

assignment.

The points are assigned as follows:

Grammar and Style:

(5 points) You should demonstrate effective and appropriate writing. Does each paragraph have a topic

sentence? Is the style flowing and easily read? Is it obvious you did not review your writing before

submitting it? Do nouns and verbs agree? Are spelling error kept a minimum ?