Purpose: The purpose of this extra credit assignment is multilayered. I was never explicitly taught how to read a scientific journal article, and I believe with repeated exposure, students can learn to feel more comfortable with it, and not be intimidated. The language is complex and can be an obstacle, but it can be translated into layman’s English. I have chosen an article that is relatively recent and combines several topics from our course (mutation, cancer, DNA testing), and thus gives you an opportunity to relate what you know to the research.
Task: You will read/skim the abstract, the introduction, and the discussion of the scientific article provided. In “layman’s” terms, you will need to explain:
· the basic underlying problem/question that this research aims to help solve/answer
· the results of this research (as best as you can tell) (What was achieved or answered?)
· the potential use or applications of the results gained from this research
In this assignment, the “layman” is a person with a high school education, and no particular knowledge about biology or chemistry above a high school level. Write the essay as if it were a newspaper article, intended to inform the public about this breakthrough research and its implications. Create a catchy title for your newspaper article.
Criteria: The essay should include a “newspaper headline” as a title and be about 1/2 - 2/3 of a page, typed and single-spaced. Use correct spelling and grammar. You will be graded on how well you can explain this topic to a general audience, including the 3 bullet points above. No bibliography or references are necessary. Up to 10 points can be earned, with 7 points indicating an acceptable attempt, and 10 points reserved for the best submissions.
article attached