This document provides guidance for a Year 13 internal assessment on a socio-scientific issue. Students must integrate biological knowledge to present a slideshow and podcast discussing their response to a contemporary issue. They must present a personal position and proposed actions, justifying their response by analyzing and evaluating relevant biological knowledge. Students will work independently over 4 weeks to complete the assessment, handing in research notes and references.

1. SOCIO SCIENTIFIC ISSUE
YEAR 13
4 INTERNAL CREDITS
MS GIBELLINI

2. INTERNAL
• integrate biological knowledge to present a Google slide or Powerpoint
presentation and podcast
• discuss your response to a contemporary socio-scientific issue.
• present a personal position and propose action(s) at a personal and/or societal
level.
• justify your response by analysing and evaluating relevant biological knowledge.
• You will work independently and have 4 weeks to complete the assessment.
• You will need to hand in your research notes with references in a portfolio to
show the sources of your information.

3. INTERNAL CONTENT
Introduction:
• biological concepts and processes that relate to your chosen issue
• Why its an issue
Main:
• biological implications (e.g. effect of 1080 on other organisms) and social implications (e.g. economic, ethical, cultural or
environmental) involved in the application of your issue.
• different opinions or viewpoints (for and against) that named individuals, groups or organisations have about the application of your
issue, in New Zealand if possible (consider how bias may influence these opinions). Make sure your opinions or viewpoints are from
a reputable, scientific, and referenced source.
Your Opinion:
• personal position on the issue
• proposed action(s) by you personally and/or by society on the issue.
• give reasons (with supporting evidence) to explain why you chose this position and proposed action(s)
• analyse and evaluate the biological knowledge related to the issue to justify your position and proposed action(s) by:
• comparing the significance of the biological and social implications of the issue
• considering the likely effectiveness of your and/or society’s proposed action(s)
Resources:
• commenting on your sources and information by considering ideas such as:
• validity (date/currency, scientific acceptance),
• bias (attitudes, values, beliefs), i.e. weighing up how science ideas are used by different groups.
•

4. CONTENTS
• Fact or Fiction
• Fact or Opinion
• Bias
• Ethics and Values
• Justifying your opinion
• Evaluating Resources
• Concepts Vs Process
• Biological Vs Social Implications
• Choosing a Topic

5. FACT OR FICTION
• Not everything you read/see/hear is true….
• Move around the room and circle
True/False/Mixed/Unsure on each of the cards
displayed
• Take one completed card – summarise the
findings, present to the class

6. LEMMINGS

7. TARANTULAS ARE POISONOUS, AND THEIR BITES CAN KILL
HUMANS.
FALSE.
See numerous websites and science books for further information.
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and very
large arachnids belonging to the Theraphosidae family of spiders, of
which approximately 900 species have been identified. This article
only describes members of Theraphosidae, although some other
members of the same suborder are commonly referred to as
"tarantulas". Most species of tarantulas are not dangerous to
humans, and some species have become popular in the exotic pet
trade.

8. SEX

9. ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWERS

10. COCA COLA

11. POPPY SEEDS

12. DOG FOOD

13. RICE AND BIRDS

14. SPACE

15. FINGER NAILS

16. TEN PERCENT BRAIN POWER

17. FACT OR OPINION
Facts are statements that can be proven.
• Facts may be true or false.
• But facts can be proven.
• .
Examples
1. Statistically, women live longer than men.
2. Most buses weigh more than most cars.
3. There are ten inches in a foot (false).

18. FACT OR OPINION
Opinions are statements that cannot be proven.
• Opinions can be argued.
• Opinions may be supported with facts.
• Opinions cannot be proven.
Examples
1. Golf is boring.
2. Pizza is delicious.
3. Math is the hardest subject

19. FACT OR FICTION – YOU DECIDE
1. The Family Guy is not appropriate to watch during school.
2. There are fewer panda bears in the world than grizzly bears.
3. Drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes bad.
4. Justin Bieber deserved to win the Grammy for best new artist.
5. Chicken that has not been properly prepared and cooked may cause salmonella.
6. Cheating on your boyfriend or girlfriend is wrong.
7. The Xbox came out before the Wii.
8. Super Mario is one of the greatest video game characters of all time.
9. Chocolate milk tastes better than regular milk.
10.Charter school students are scheduled to attend school more often than students who
attend neighborhood schools.

20. FACT OR OPINION ANSWERS
1. Opinion
2. Fact
3. Opinion
4. Opinion
5. Fact
6. Opinion
7. Fact
8. Opinion
9. Opinion
10. Fact

21. BIAS
What is a bias?
• a preference
• a way of seeing something
• a belief
Why is it important to identify bias?
.

22. WHAT ARE YOUR BIAS?
• All athletes are…
• People on welfare are all…
• Drugs are used by virtually …
• All politicians are …
• All people who sleep on grates are..
• All Christian Fundamentalists are..
• Students who attend Nayland college
are..
• All diabetics are…
• People who are vegaterians are..
• People who are against GMO are..
• All people who vote for the Green party are..
• All people who agree with Stem Cell research
are..
• All Otago University graduates are…
• All construction workers are…
• He's so dumb, he must be …
• He's so smart, he must be …
• He's quick-tempered, so he must be …
• He drinks like a fish, so he must be …
• He likes watermelon, and so does every …

23. BIAS IN THE MEDIA
Look at the articles/posters/flyers around the room
• Who are the sources?
• Is there a lack of diversity?
• From whose point of view is the news reported?
• Is the language loaded?
• Is there a lack of context?
• Decide if they are biased or not
• What makes it bias?
• Is the whole article bias or just some of it?
• Why are there bias?

24. ETHICS AND VALUES
• http://www.biotechlearn.org.nz/themes/bioethics/video_clips/ethics_vs_morals_v0153/(size)/large
• To have an ethical viewpoint, you have to be able to give some reason for it.
• So you might feel morally it is wrong to eat animals, for example, but if you
have an ethical viewpoint on it, you have to have some sort of analysis,
some set of arguments about why it would be wrong to eat animals, or
whether it might be wrong to eat certain animals, but acceptable to eat
others.

25. ETHICS VIDEOS
• http://www.biotechlearn.org.nz/themes/bioethics/video_clips/introducing_e
thics_in_teaching_v0156
• http://www.biotechlearn.org.nz/themes/bioethics/video_clips/ethics_and_re
ligion_v0157
• http://www.biotechlearn.org.nz/themes/bioethics/video_clips/reaching_ethi
cal_consensus_v0159

26. IMPLICATIONS
• Biological Implications
• scientific effects (positive and negative) of both sides of the issue (eg using 1080
and not using 1080)
• Long term effects
• Short term effects
• Social Implications
• economic – financial for both the public and private organisations, long and short
term costs
• ethical – is it right or wrong, can it be justified, how will it effect future
generations?
• Cultural – does it impact on peoples beliefs or way of life?
• Environmental – what long and short term effects will it have on the environment,
both natural and man made?

27. JUSTIFYING YOUR OPINION
Justify
• why you have the opinion you do
• give evidence from research to back up your ideas,
• evaluate the pros and cons as you see them and the ethics
Homework:
• Complete worksheet Thinking About Cloning
• Remember you need to be able to justify your opinion based on factual
evidence

28. EVALUATING RESOURCES
• Accuracy. If your page lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a
way of contacting him/her and . . .
• Authority. If your page lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu, .gov,
.org, or .net), and, . .
• Objectivity. If your page provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is
objective in presenting the information, and . . .
• Currency. If your page is current and updated regularly (as stated on the page) and the links
(if any) are also up-to-date, and . . .
• Coverage. If you can view the information properly--not limited to fees, browser technology,
or software requirement, then . . .
• See worksheets

30. BIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND PROCESS
• Biological Concepts – biological ideas and facts that relate to the issue
• Biological Process – techniques or procedures carried out or the things done

31. BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
• Implications
• flow on effects from carrying out the biological procedures
• Biological Implications
• environmental, ecological, genetic, evolutionary effects
• Remember to look at both sides – implications if not done and if carried out
• Social Implications
• Economic, ethical, cultural effects
• Remember to look at both sides – implications if not done and if carried out
• NIMBY – not in my back yard – people may support an idea (eg sewage treatment
station) but not near their home

33. WHAT TOPIC?

34. ISLE OF SKYE – INFORMATION
INTERVIEWS – CLICK ON THE CHARACTERS TO READ THEIR INTERVIEWS.
Name: Sandra McKennon
Occupation: Holiday advisor
Scottish Tourist Board
Location: Edinburgh
Name: Brian Malone
Occupation: Welder
Location: Isle of Lewis
Name: Carole Wright
Occupation: Insurance Advisor
Location: Yorkshire
Name: Angus Maculloch
Occupation: Fisherman
Location: Isle of Skye
Name: Flo Robertson
Occupation: Owns Hotel
Location: Isle of Skye

35. NAME: SANDRA MCKENNON
OCCUPATION: HOLIDAY ADVISOR SCOTTISH TOURIST BOARD
LOCATION: EDINBURGH
The Isle of Sky is a beautiful place to
take a holiday. The scenery is
amazing and there are lots of
amazing walks around the island to
tourist places such as the old
lighthouse and the castle. I would
definitely recommend a visit to the
island and I would also be able to
help you book your holiday!
Back to Character
Selection

36. NAME: BRIAN MALONE
OCCUPATION: WELDER
LOCATION: ISLE OF LEWIS
I have been the Isle of Skye many a
times and do not really like it. It is full of
flying ants in the summer months which
make it difficult to be outdoors. Its
scenery is OK but other places in
Scotland such as the Isle of Lewis have
much better views.
The people are not very friendly unlike
the Isle of Lewis where we welcome
everybody!
Back to Character
Selection

37. NAME: CAROLE WRIGHT
OCCUPATION: INSURANCE ADVISOR
LOCATION: YORKSHIRE
I go to the Island at least once a year. It
is an amazing place. It is quite far away
but well worth the trip. There are loads
of gorgeous restaurants and the scenery
is outstanding. There is so much to do
for adults and children. I have been to
lots of places in Scotland but this is
definitely my favourite!
Back to Character
Selection

38. NAME: ANGUS MACULLOCH
OCCUPATION: FARMER
LOCATION: ISLE OF SKYE
The island used to be a wonderful place
to live but now it is overrun by tourists.
All the houses have been turned into
hotels or bought by people who do not
live on the island for their holidays – its
disgraceful. I would urge tourists to go
somewhere else instead.
Back to Character
Selection

39. NAME: FLO ROBERTSON
OCCUPATION: OWNS HOTEL
LOCATION: ISLE OF SKYE
I have lived on the island all of my
life and I would recommend
everyone to come and visit. Its
particularly famous for the
mountain scenery and there is lots
to do including windsurfing,
canoeing, golf and also many shops
and a museum.
Back to Character
Selection