In the last few years, people have become increasingly
aware of the many advances in all aspects of scientific
research. There is an abundance of information on the
Internet about new scientific discoveries involving cells,
such as cloning and stem cell research, as well as answers
to interesting questions about how the cells in our bodies
work. People who write about scientific topics need to learn
about the topics they are investigating in detail. They also
need to use a writing style that is appropriate for the
place where their pieces will be published. Writing articles
for newspapers or magazines is different from writing for
the Internet. What are some of the latest scientific
discoveries about cells that are reported on the Internet?
What types of scientific questions about the cells in the
human body are answered on the Internet? How would you
summarize this information for publishing on the Internet?
In this WebQuest, you will explore new research involving
different types of cells, read about how cells in the human
body work, and write a summary of one of the topics you
researched that is suitable for Internet publication.
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Your job in the WebQuest is to learn about current
research involving different types of cells. You will
investigate how scientists studying diverse scientific
topics are adding to the current body of knowledge about
cells. You also will explore questions and answers about the
roles that different cells play in our bodies. You will
answer a set of questions to demonstrate what you have
learned. Once you've explored information to increase your
knowledge of developments in cell studies and how cells work
in the human body, you'll write a summary about one of the
topics you investigated. The purpose of this summary is to
write about a scientific topic using a style suited for
posting on a Web site.
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1-2 days to answer the set of questions and write a
summary
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First, read through the following set of questions before
you begin your Internet research. As you explore each site,
look for answers to the questions.
Questions about Cells
- What do researchers think is one cause of memory
impairment related to growing older? What does new
research show that may be able to help reverse this
process?
- How might fat cells be able to help people with spinal
cord injuries?
- How are frog eggs being used in research involving
human cells?
- What are Schwann cells? How are they affected in
multiple sclerosis patients?
- What role do cells play in preventing the stomach from
digesting itself?
Next, visit the Web sites listed to find more information
about another type of recent research involving cells.
Write a summary of that topic that includes more than the
answer to one of the questions. Your summary should be
written to appear on a Web page about cells, life science,
scientific research, systems in the human body, or a related
subject.
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Look at the web sites given here to find information that
will help you answer questions about cell research, and to
gather information to use as you write your summary.
You may use these resources to provide detailed
information about how to write effectively for a Web-based
audience:
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In the process of completing this WebQuest, you've read
about recent research involving cells. You've found answers
to questions about how the cells function in the human body.
In the process of answering questions, your research gave
you further insight to current and ongoing scientific study
about cells. You've also enhanced your writing skills by
preparing a summary about one of the research topics you
investigated. The summary you wrote gave you the opportunity
to understand more about the scientific content as well as
present the information in a style compatible with
publishing on the Web.
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