Grade 10 MYP Sciences Assessment Task

Unit Environmental Chemistry

Global Context Globalization and Sustainability

Statement of inquiry Chemical reactions and numbers can be used to

understand the environment and the human impact upon it.

Assessment notice: Thursday June 9

Assessment due: Wednesday June 22

Assessment criterion: D – Reflecting on the impacts of science

Assessment task type: Analytical research essay OR Poster

The assessment:

 is to be a minmum of 500 and a maximum of 1200 words

 should include chemical names, reactions and formulas

 the essay needs to be submitted in print and to be presented in the MLA format. Please see
student planner for more details

 the poster should be easy to read and well-presented

 should contain acknowledgement of any sources used and presented in the MLA format. Please
see student planner for more details

 essays should be emailed as a Microsoft word file or an Adobe Acrobat pdf file to
nicholas.pinkerton@tamagawa.ed.jp before the lesson

 students who do not submit a task on the due date will have 1 hour in study hall to hand write
and essay.
Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science Maximum: 8

Students will be assessed on how well they:

i. explain the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue

ii. discuss and evaluate the various implications of using science and its application to solve a specific
problem or issue

iii. apply scientific language effectively

iv. document the work of others and sources of information used.

Level Level Descriptor

0 The student does not reach a standard identified by any of the descriptors below.

The student is able to:

i. outline the ways in which science is used to address a specific problem or issue
ii. outline the implications of using science to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a
1-2
factor
iii. apply scientific language to communicate understanding but does so with limited success
iv. document sources, with limited success.

The student is able to:

i. summarize the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue
ii. describe the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue,
3-4
interacting with a factor
iii. sometimes apply scientific language to communicate understanding
iv. sometimes document sources correctly.

The student is able to:

i. describe the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue
ii. discuss the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue,
5-6
interacting with a factor
iii. usually apply scientific language to communicate understanding clearly and precisely
iv. usually document sources correctly.

The student is able to:

i. explain the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue
ii. discuss and evaluate the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific
7-8
problem or issue, interacting with a factor
iii. consistently apply scientific language to communicate understanding clearly and precisely
iv. document sources completely.

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Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science (MYP 5) Achievement Level Rubric

0 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8

The student is able to:

outline the ways in summarize the ways describe the ways in explain the ways in
which science is used in which science is which science is which science is
The student does not reach a standard identified by any of the descriptors

to address a specific applied and used to applied and used to applied and used to
Strand 1

problem or issue address a specific address a specific address a specific

problem or issue problem or issue problem or issue

outline the describe the discuss the discuss and evaluate

implications of using implications of using implications of using the implications of
science to solve a science and its science and its using science and its
specific problem or application to solve a application to solve a application to solve a
issue, interacting with specific problem or specific problem or specific problem or
Strand 2

a factor issue, interacting with issue, interacting with issue, interacting with
a factor a factor a factor

apply scientific sometimes apply usually apply consistently apply

language to scientific language to scientific language to scientific language to
communicate communicate communicate communicate
understanding but understanding understanding clearly understanding clearly
Strand 3

does so with limited and precisely and precisely

success

document sources, sometimes document usually document document sources

Strand 4

with limited success sources correctly sources correctly completely

Assessment Feedback: Please refer to the rubrics to self-assess

Criterion D Level I think I got: Reason:

Reflecting on the

impacts of science

Teacher assessment:

Criterion D Level you achieved: Reason:

Reflecting on the

impacts of science

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 How you did well How you can improve

 You can use scientific words

 You used scientific words.
 You can explain the science in detail
 You explained the science in detail
 You can discuss and evaluate the strengths and
 You discussed and evaluated the strengths and
weaknesses of the science being used to solve the
weaknesses of the science being used to solve the
problem with one factor
problem with one factor
 You can improve your writing to make it easier to
 Your writing was easy to understand
understand
 You presented your sources corrrectly.
 You can present your sources corrrectly.

Your ATL target for next Criterion D assessment is: I plan to achieve this target for the next assessment by:

 Using time better to research.

Thinking / Communication
 Learning the meaning of key words.
Social / Self - management
 Checking my work for mistakes.
Research
 Reading instructions more carefully.

Teacher: How can this be done? Student: Any extra ideas?

Key question

Your answer

Key question

Your answer

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Task Explanation:
 In a Criterion D task it is important to find a problem that science is trying to solve. I have given you 6

topics below to begin your research. Please choose a problem and a solution that relates to one of the

topics. I have provided an example for each topic. You can choose one of these or create your own.

Topics Example questions

Fresh water pollution How effective is science in solving eutrophication?

Marine pollution How effective is science in reducing the risks of oil spills and reducing their

impact after the spills?

Air pollution How effective is the technology that can reduce sulfur pollution?

Dealing with urban waste How effective are the technologies being used to handle urban waste?

Chemicals in food How effective is science in producing food that can last a long time?

Chemicals in medicine How effective are anitbiotics?

 You must be able to research, analyse and evaluate how well the science is applied or interacts with at

least one of the following factors; moral, ethical, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental.

(As the area of interaction for this unit is the environment I request that the environment be strongly

considered a topic to be included in your essay).

 As stated on the cover of this assessment task, the minimum number of words is 500. The maximum

number of words is approximately 1,200. This does not include the bibliography.

 Present the essay in MLA format. The following link should assist but a general summary is in size 12

font, 1.5 to double-spaced lines and your name on the first page.

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

 Also include a bibliography with at least half the sources in English. Use at least 6 sources for your

information. Formatting instructions for electronic sources are at the following link:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

 Please pay close attention to the Assessment Criteria and also complete the section that asks for you to

self-assess your work.

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 GUIDANCE: WRITING A ONE WORLD ESSAY or ARTICLE
OVERVIEW
Essay Focus
At some point near the start of your essay (in first or second paragraph) you need to outline what your
essay is about and what you are going to write about
Eg.
 In this essay the advantages and limitations of (the scientific ideas or processes) with regard to
(social/economic/political/environmental/cultural/ethical) factors will be discussed and evaluated.
OR
 In this essay it will be argued that (insert thesis statement here)…………

Introduction:
1st paragraph: outline/briefly describe the problem your application of science is addressing
2nd/paragraph: describe and communicate the scientific ideas or processes which are used to address this
problem
3rd paragraph: explain how well science addresses the problem, benefits and limitation. Eg, How well does
the science solve the problem?
Body: Choose one of these structures to follow
Structure 1 Structure 2
First evaluate all the benefits of 1st (and 2nd) First evaluate all the (insert first one world factor)
factor/s benefits and limitations.
Then evaluate all the limitations of 1st (and 2nd) Then evaluate all the (insert second one world
factor/s. factor) benefits and limitations.
Word Count should be between 700 to 1200 words in length.

Definitions
State is defined as “to give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.”
Describe is defined as “to give a detailed account”
Explain is defined as “to give a clear account including causes and reasons or mechanisms.”
Discuss is defined as “to give an account including, where possible, a range of arguments for and against,
the relative importance of various factors and comparisons of alternative hypotheses.”
Evaluate: is defined as “to assess the implications and limitations”; making an informed judgement or
assessment

For Level 7-8, you should be looking to Explain. Discuss and Evaluate

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Conclusion:
 Very briefly summarise the main ideas of the essay and the main issue.
 End with a recommendation/evaluation based on your argument.

YOUR THESIS STATEMENT

What is the point of your essay? How do you think this application of science addresses the problem in
relation to one world factors? Your essay must have a focus or it will just be a succession of facts and
information. After researching (and reviewing) the benefits and limitations, choose a position on the
following spectrum.
1. Worst 2. Bad, not too 3. On the fence 4. Good, not 5. Best possible
bad. completely good.
(The scientific ideas Although there are The advantages Although the There are only
or processes) offer some advantages and limitations of (scientific idea or advantages to the
no advantages to of (the scientific (the scientific ideas processes) have (scientific ideas or
the world at all. ideas of processes), or processes) are some limitations, processes) no
There are only the limitations are equally balanced. there are more limitations or
drawbacks. more significant significant drawbacks.
than the advantages.
advantages.
NB: It is very difficult to get a 5 or 6 grade if you choose thesis statement 1 or 5.
Also, stating that everything has positive and negatives so we have to accept it, is not a fair conclusion. You
have looked at the evidence (benefits and limitations), give your informed judgement/evaluation on the
issue.

REFERENCING
Reference Government/ UN/Non government organization (NGO’s) reports and newspaper articles and
scientific journal for key statistics, tables, graphs and diagrams,
Remember to refer to all inserts (diagrams/graphs/tables) in your text. Eg. As Figure 1 illustrates the USA
produced the highest volume (insert number) of carbon dioxide emissions in 2006.
Use of Websites
Try to find the references the website uses eg. Every Wikipedia article has a list of references at the bottom.
Check and use the original reference NOT Wikipedia
MLA format:

Author unknown: Name of website. (online) Available URL (date of access)

Author known: Last name, first name. Title of Site. (online). Available URL (date of access).
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GUIDANCE FOR WRITING ABOUT FACTORS
Think about these definitions/questions when you evaluate the benefits and limitations of this application of science
in regards to one world factors.

ECONOMIC is defined as “pertaining to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and
commodities.” The costs and benefits of using science. Who pays or receives the benefit? Is it worth it? How much
will it cost? Are the potential benefits worth the cost? Who pays for it, private companies, the Government,
consumers? (Obesity will cost governments millions but so does changing people’s eating habits and diet- is it worth
attempting to deal with it?)
SOCIAL is defined as “of or pertaining to the life, welfare, and relations of human beings in a community.”
The people affected or involved, from a few people up to the global community. How will this application of science
affect society, will it affect everyone or a select group? Will it unfairly affect one group of society over another? Will
everyone have access to the science/solution or only the privileged (An oil refinery is a local problem but global
warming is truly global)
ETHICAL is defined as “pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right
and wrong in conduct.” Is it right or wrong to use science in this way and if we do, how ought we to do it? (Aborting
foetuses is something we have to do in a caring way even if we think it is right or wrong. Who decides whether it is
right or wrong, the Government, religious groups, individuals? There are ways of doing things and often a law to
guide us - animal testing is highly policed).
POLITICAL is defined as “of, pertaining to, or involving the state or its government.” Is the government
involved directly or are powerful groups trying to influence people or the government or the UN etc? Notice how
much diet advice is given in books by non-experts. Why would the Government be for or against this the application
of this science and how would it affect other countries?
ENVIRONMENTAL is defined as “of, relating to, or associated with the environment.” Is the issue an
environmental one in some way, directly or indirectly? (Pollution is direct but what about binge-drinking?)
CULTURAL is defined as “of, relating to, or associated with the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a
particular social, ethnic, or age group.” A problem in one place is seen differently in another for reasons such as faith,
tradition and different belief values. Would people from different cultures be affected the same way or have the
same opinion on the scientific solution. Some religions are against certain medical procedures, from organ
transplants to blood donations. Some cultures rely heavilly upon the natural ecosystem to gain their food and shelter,
others live in a manufactured society and are diconnected from the natural world. Certain religions have rules about
how males and females should interact, or what foods to eat.

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