Assignment 1: Biology Article

Assignment 1: Biology Article

Due Week 5 and worth 120 points

Use the Internet and / or the Strayer Learning Resource Center to research aspects of biology.

Select an article from a magazine or newspaper that has something in  it that pertains to biology. This will serve as the “target article” for  this assignment. For instance, you can select an article about  medicine, invasive species, nature, conservation, genetic technology,  ecology, or any other topic that is related to biology. One purpose of  this assignment is to help you become aware of how biology is related to  your everyday life.

Write a one to three (1-3) page paper in which you:

1. Summarize the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your  own words. Be sure to identify the article using an in-text citation in  the body of the paper, as well as a reference in the reference section. 
2. Explain how the article relates to this course. Identify which  biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the  topic covered in the article. Citing the course text, discuss the ways  in which this course does (or doesn’t) provide background information to  help you understand the article and the larger issues surrounding it. 
3. Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article  to your life and to issues that are important to you. Discuss how or if  the scientific knowledge about the topic covered in the article affects  you directly or indirectly.
4. Discuss your opinion on how research on this topic should be  funded. State whether you think taxpayer monies should support research  on this topic or whether such research in this area should be funded by  the private sector. Rate the importance of research on this topic,  relative to other areas of research. 

In addition to the target article, you should use at least one  additional resource, such as your textbook or another article. You must  have a reference section which contains an APA reference to your chosen  article and all other sources. Additionally, you must provide in-text  citations (in APA format) to your references in the body of the text.  Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of  quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing, along with your in-text  citations.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12),  with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow  APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any  additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the  student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date.  The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required  assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Use technology and information resources to research issues in biology.
• Write clearly and concisely about biology using proper writing mechanics.