Biology Department Biology 10 Anatomy Lesson
Course Home Instructor Home Course Syllabus Handouts / Downloads Study Guides Links
General Course Info Lab Info Pre-Labs resources Course Books Grades

Biology 10 Lab 6 - Hot Topics - Fall 2011

Lab Information | Sign-Up Sheets - Issues: A, B, C

Format of the Lab:
This lab has a different format compared to the ones you are used to. For this lab, you will be researching one aspect or question of a larger “Biology Hot Topic” dealing with an environmental issue facing us today. There are three issues that are then sub-divided into individual topics or questions Each person will choose (from a list in lab) a specific question to answer regarding one of the larger issues as a whole.

Click the larger issue that you are interested in to see the complete list of topics below:

NOTE: Up to 2 people can research the same topic BUT each individual is responsible for doing their own research, writing their own paper and doing their own presentation - no team papers or presentations.

For this lab you will:

  1. Research your question – prepare and turn in preliminary information on your topic using the Preliminary Research handout (page 3 of the printed Pre-Lab) one week prior to your scheduled due date.
  2. Investigate/brainstorm for a possible solution. Reference a minimum of three articles.
  3. Write a one to two page summary (typed)
  4. Present your findings to the class.

NOTE: where the instructions on this webpage differ from the instructions on the print version of the prelab, the instructions on this webpage will supersede those found on the print version of the prelab.
Due Dates And Grading (this lab is worth 50 pts):

(1) Preliminary Research = Brief Smmary / Annotated Bibliography (10 pts) - DUE:   Oct 28th  

  • Turn in page 3 of the Hot Topics Pre-Lab identifying your topic (issue A, B or C and specific research question.
  • Be sure to include: - (1) a list of search terms and (2) either a one paragraph brief summary of the larger issue or an annotated bibliography (list of reference articles found (use proper bibliographic citation) and a brief 1-2 sentence summary of each article).
  • Note: you must reference a minimum of three legitimate articles (see "How to Research Your Topic" below).
  • Get page 3 of the Lab #6 Pre-Lab here: http://instruct.westvalley.edu/schrey/b10prelabs/B10Prelabs.html

(2) Final Written Summary = Formal Written Paper (20 pts) - DUE:   Nov 4th  

  • Question the Research. Your Final Summary should:
    • summarize the main points of your research in your own words
    • contain facts and figures relevant to the research question
    • be balanced and include both opposing viewpoints when appropriate
    • conclude with suggestions for solving the issue
    • be one to two pages in length.
  • Balance:
    • Both viewpoints were researched when appropriate and included in the summary
  • Works Cited:
    • Separate page for the list of articles you used in MLA format
    • At least three articles must be cited and used as references
    • WARNING: You must cite articles that you used from ProQuest or the Web in your research and include them on a Works Cited page at the end of your summary. See the following link for assistance or visit the Library:
      http://www.westvalley.edu/library/research-guides/mla.pdf

(3) Class Presentation / Discussion (20 pts) - DUE:   Nov 4th  

  • Participation in classroom presentation of your topic AND participation in the topic discussions.
  • Presentations should be no more than 2-3 minutes long. Practice!
  • Note: you are the expert on your topic so it is up to you to inform the class. You should therefore come prepared to brief the class on the topic - you may want to make some notes to read from, or even prepare a PowerPoint slide show for the class. You will also be answering questions in the class discussion. Be prepared!
How to Research your Topic:
In the mass media every article contains an opinion. It is very rare to find an impartial, unbiased viewpoint. Therefore, one of the skills that you need to develop is the ability to be critical of what you read. Before forming an opinion, you need to hear both sides of an argument (consider the judge and jury in a trial).

Tip, Tip, Tip: Before you start your literature search review the libraries basic literature search tutorial on the "Research Guides" webpage. This tutorial will introduce you how to use ProQuest to search for scholarly articles. Once you have viewed the tutorial, get started. For our purposes I strongly recommend that you utilize ProQuest as your primary search tool. ProQuest can be accessed online from campus or home on the library webpage

Select one "Research Topic" from ONE of the following issues as the topic of your research. Sign up in class or email me with your request. You will need to submit a preliminary research page (page 3 of the Pre-Lab) one week before the final assignment is due.

Issue A
Am I contributing to issues associated with lack of Biodiversity?
(Members of the same lab table may not sign up for the same research topic)
NOTE: Up to 2 people can research the same topic BUT each individual is responsible for doing there own research, writing there own paper and doing there own presentation - no team papers or presentations.
Research Topic
Name
Name
1. What is Biodiversity? How many species are there on earth?
 
 
2. What are Biodiversity Hot Spots? Provide an example of a Biodiversity Hot Spot. Why are they of particular concern for Conservation?    
3. Provide an overview of the Biodiversity Crisis. How many species are estimated to become extinct per…time period. Provide an example of a projection for species loss during your lifetime (next 50 years)    
4. Discuss how habitat destruction has an impact of species extinctions. Use named examples of two species to support your discussion.    
5. Discuss how overexploitation has an impact of species extinctions. Use named examples of two species to support your discussion.    
6. Discuss how the introduction of exotic species has an impact of species extinctions. Use named examples of two species to support your discussion.    
7. Discuss how Climate Change is predicted to have an impact on species extinctions. Use named examples of two species to support your discussion.    
8. Discuss the direct values of Biodiversity to humans. Use named examples of two species to support your discussion.    
9. Discuss the indirect values of Biodiversity to humans. Use named examples of two species to support your discussion.    
10. Provide a report on efforts to save the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. Describe both viewpoints as to whether there should be a ban on fishing to conserve stocks.    
11. Provide a report on the Yangtzee River Dolphin. What happened to this species?    
12. Hawaii has the highest number of species on the Endangered Species List. Discuss why Hawaii has so many endangered species, and what has led them to become endangered.    
13. Provide a report on the different levels used to categorize species in terms of their risk of becoming extinct. What is the IUCN Red Data List?    
14. Discuss the Convention on the Trade on Endangered Species (CITES). Which products are banned from international trade.    
15. Discuss the Convention on Biological Diversity. What are the goals of this Convention?    

Issue B
Am I causing global warming?
(Members of the same lab table may not sign up for the same research topic)
NOTE: Up to 2 people can research the same topic BUT each individual is responsible for doing there own research, writing there own paper and doing there own presentation - no team papers or presentations.
Research Topic
Name
Name
1. It’s hot out there? What evidence is there that the world is getting warmer?    
2. IPCC Who? Who is the IPCC (Inter-government Panel on Climate Change) and what is their role in global warming?    
3. Fuel efficiency vs. looking cool (miles per gallon) and car choice    
4. Snorkeling to the Mall. The links between global warming, glacier ice sheet melting, and sea level rise. Where and when?    
5. Kicking the Petroleum habit. What alternatives do we have to fossil fuels?    
6. The Hydrogen Economy. How would hydrogen cars turn fuel into water? Where does hydrogen come from?      
7. Coasting on Neutral: What is “Carbon Neutral” and what are some ways we can offset our carbon emissions?    
8. It’s All About the Green: Can “green” business improve the economy? What are some examples of successful green businesses?    

Issue C
Am I causing debt and pollution? (Am I greedy and messy?)
(Members of the same lab table may not sign up for the same research topic)
NOTE: Up to 2 people can research the same topic BUT each individual is responsible for doing there own research, writing there own paper and doing there own presentation - no team papers or presentations.
Research Topic
Name
Name
1. Why doesn’t my car fit in my garage? Why do we buy junk that we don’t need? What type of junk do we buy?    
2. Paper or Plastic? Reuse v Recycle? Why do people throw away objects that can be reused? What % of your household products can you recycle, and which % gets recycled.    
3. Junk Mail or Trees: How much paper and other wood products do we use? How much of the nations, and the world’s forests are left. What alternatives are there to buy sustainable wood products (& paper)    
4. The Disposable Generation. Which products are made that are not recyclable or are designed to be dumped?    
5. Trash Talking: Where does your trash go? Discuss the problems counties and cities face in disposing of our trash. What alternatives are there to landfills    
6. The Same Goods Twice. Which products are made from recycled materials? Do they differ in quality or cost from products made from non-recycled materials?    

West Valley College page created by Nathan Norris Click to Contact
updated:  14 October 2011