4. The Mission
You have been selected to
serve on a presidential
commission whose mission is
to establish guidelines to
increase the longevity of
Americans.
5. Your Focus
The presidential commission has been directed
to focus on life style and its relationship to the
longevity of humans. Your task is to identify the
life style factors thar are directly related with
longevity. Factors such as exercise, obesity,
healthy diet, and stress are of particular
interest to the commission.
6. You have been chosen to be
the lead researcher for the
commission.
The commission has created a set
of essential questions to guide
your research.
7. Essential Questions
Does longevity vary in different countries, cultures, or sub groups?
Does research consistently link exercise with longevity?
Which life style factors are the most important in affecting the
longevity of humans?
Is there any emerging research on animals and longevity that
might suggest areas to explore regarding human longevity?
Are issues like healthy diet, obesity, and stress directly related to
human longevity?
How has human longevity changed over the years? What factors
might be related to such changes?
8. Begin Your Internet Research
Consulting different sources about your topic
requires the use of critical reading skills to help
determine the reliability of each source.
Identifying an author’s main points and evaluating
supportive evidence is an essential task in
verifying the importance and validity of an
author’s argument. Complete the following
assignment and turn it in with your research
notes before you begin writing your 2-3 page
proposal.
9. How to Live to Be 100 years old
4 min excellent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWix4e0DzI
10. Ten Top Foods for Health
3 min good for note taking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EWGP4PITLE
11. 7 Anti Aging Foods
7 min good for note taking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn_1dRTkeFM
12. Evaluation of Sources Assignment
In order to complete the research requirement,
you will need to read and review 8-12 of the
following internet sources and take notes. As
you read your sources carefully, use the
essential questions that have been provided to
gather relevant information about your topic.
After reviewing your 8-12 sources, select three
of them and provide a thorough analysis of
each by completing the following questions.
13. As you read your internet
articles, look for supportive
evidence. Do not accept the
author’s argument or point of
view unless strong supporting
evevidence is provided.
15. Evaluating Sources Assignment
Select three articles and answer 5 of the 9
questions for each article. 1. Is there a message or main idea presented in the text?
What in the text led you to that conclusion?
2. Is the author trying to convince the reader of
something? What? How do you know this?
3. If the author is comparing something, what is being
compared and what makes the comparison effective?
4. Has the author used any words, phrases, or sentence
structures to create a particular effect or convey a
meaning? Explain and give examples from the text.
16. 5. Does the author use any words that may have more
than one meaning? Identify the words and their multiple meanings.
6. Read between the lines and select a point that you think the
author is making without directly saying it. How do you know you
can infer this meaning from what the author is saying?
7. Is there anything missing from the text that you expected to
find? Why might the author have left that out of the text?
8. Do you have any reason to question the validity or reliability of
the author’s supporting evidence? Explain your concerns about the
evidence presented by the author.
9. Does the author make a claim that is supported by a source that
is considered credible by the academic community at large? How
do you know this?
17. The following slides provide
sources for the research project.
18. No Pain No Aging?
http://phenomena.nationalgeo
graphic.com/2014/05/22/the-
pain-of-aging/
20. Aging and Environmental Factors
http://news.nationalgeographic.c
om/news/2014/05/140528-
gerontogens-chemicals-toxins-
environment-study-aging-science/
21. The Fountain of Youth:
Extending Longevity
Grade___
ORNISH RESEARCH-TELEOMERES LONGER IN ONLY 3 MONTHS WITH
EXERCISE, STRESS REDUCTION, LOW FAT AND HIGH VEGGIES
22. Research Data on Factors Contributing
to Longevity in Men
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/11/19/AR2
007111900560_2.html
23. Could Humans Live to 500 Years Old?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete
ch/article-2523086/Could-humans-
live-500-years-old-Scientists-believe-
genetic-tweaks-significantly-extend-
lifespan.html
24. Foods for Health and Longevity
http://www.webmd.com/healt
hy-aging/features/eating-
longevity
33. Research on Stress and Longevity
http://www.bps.org.uk
/news/stress-and-
lower-life-expectancy-
linked
34. Is Stress a Positive Factor
for Longevity?
http://blog.ted.com/2013/09
/04/could-stress-be-good-
for-you-recent-research-
that-suggests-it-has-
benefits/
35. What Kind of Stress
Lowers Life Expectancy?
http://www.theatlantic.com
/health/archive/2012/03/the-
kind-of-stress-that-doesnt-
kill-you-but-makes-you-
stronger/255298/
36. Using Graphs and Charts
as Primary Sources
Use the following slides as
primary source information and
evidence to support your
arguments. Take careful notes so
you can use the data as you write
your paper.
44. Write a Proposal
Use your notes to write a two
or three page paper
identifying the life style factors
that are most important for
extending longevity. . Provide
specific information to
support your ideas with clearly
articulated arguments and
sufficient evidence.
44
45. Your Proposal
Define the issue/problem
Outline the details of your
argument
Cite supporting research
Project possible roadblocks
Specify contingency or back up
plans
4
5
46. Evaluate and Verify
Research Sources
Internet sources will vary greatly in accuracy and reliability
Consider the expertise and reputation of each website
Compare facts and information of different internet sources
Select information that is supported on several reliable websites
Question or refute information that lacks consistent support
47. Develop a Writing Plan
Determine what your main
point will be, and write a
topic sentence that provides
focus for your essay.
Choose several main ideas
that support your topic
sentence.
Sort your information into
supporting details with facts
and examples.
47
50. Details Must Support the Main Ideas
Provide specific facts,
examples, and reasons
for each main idea in
the body of your essay
51. Prepare to Write
Use your outline and write a
five paragraph essay reviewing
the life style factors that are
most significant for increasing
longevity.
As you write your rough draft, it
will be very important to use
special words that enable you
to transition smoothly from one
idea to the next.
51
52. Transition Words
As you view these
words, select the
words that help you
make transitions
smoothly from one
idea to the next.
as a result
such as
for example
nevertheless
for that reason
finally
at this time
therefore
furthermore
in addition
in conclusion
as well as
52
53. Review, Edit, and Rewrite
1. Re-read your essay several times.
2. How can you improve your sentences
to communicate more clearly?
3. Are your main ideas supported by
examples and details?
4. Exchange papers with another
student and read each other’s essay out
loud.
5. Make final corrections and write the
final draft of your polished essay.
53
54. Once you have completed your
independent research and written
your paper, you will demonstrate
your knowledge of the topic by
creating a PowerPoint presenting the
main points of your research.
Convert your Knowledge
into Action
54
55. Creating Your PowerPoint
Use some of the following slides with
images or find your own on the
internet to create an illustrated
PowerPoint presentation about your
research topic. Change the images
and content as needed. Use a
minimum of ten slides with
illustrations and text.
