Disease+Project+Descriptor

=[|Infectious Support]= =Research Process=

[|Disease data folder]
=Infectious Disease Research Project Product Descriptor= You have contracted an infectious disease. (Your assigned disease is on this [|spreadsheet] .See color coded key below the chart to find your name quickly. Note- a * means you have 2 assignments)
 * The Task:**

We have created a disease support network for you to join called [|Infectious Support]. This is a Ning, where you can post information about your disease and work with others to find out more about the **epidemiology** //(the study of a disease and how it spreads)// of your infectious disease.

You will conduct research to create **concise** //(to the point)// and clearly summarized, pertinent (//most important)// information in your posts to the ning.


 * Citing sources is always important.** Because we are posting our information online, it is especially important that you cite your research in your posts.

You will be evaluated based on the following criteria. For examples of how to do this, please visit the **Black Plague** group on the ning.
 * Criteria and Assessment**

**__Demonstrating Content Knowledge__**
Your participation in the Infectious Support Ning should demonstrate your content knowledge about infectious diseases. You should define vocabulary specific to your disease. Your posts need to show you understand the material and are not copying it. __//**Summarize**//__ the information. __Please review the academic honesty policy.__ Clear connections should be made between the various aspects of your research, exhibiting a thorough understanding of this disease. You can help to establish the depth of your content knowledge in your replies to the posts of other group members.

__**Back-story on "My page"**__ Each group member should create a **scenario** of how you became infected. The scene should integrate some of the physical symptoms of the disease you are experiencing and include the mode of transmission. This back-story should introduce you to your support group by giving important information they might need to know about you (age, sex, state or country you live in, occupation, treatment you are seeking, etc.). Be creative in creating your profile, and bear in mind that your back-story needs to be plausible for your disease. See the [|rubric.] //(there is a downloadable copy above you may want to have as ready reference)//

**__Posts to your group__**
Each disease will have 6 discussion sections as follows. Each member will contribute to each section, either as the primary post or in responses to the other posts. Each member will also contribute to the resources section. Each section has prompts for you to research and answer.
 * 1) //__**Symptoms**__//
 * 2) //__**Cause**__//
 * 3) //__**Transmission**__//
 * 4) //__**Treatment**__//
 * 5) **__//Epidemiology//__**
 * 6) **__//Resources//__**

It is critical that your posts be ON TIME as 7 classes are all using this ning and depending on everyone to post so they can respond. LATE WORK will be heavily penalized as it affects the entire membership of that disease! __**Detention will be assigned, if needed, in order to get your work done so others may complete theirs.**__
 * **Primary post**: Each group member is responsible for 1 or 2 primary posts (See assignments [|spreadsheet] ) . You need to use the resources gathered by your group to construct a response to the prompts. Don't forget to **__ cite your sources __**in your post as **In text citations.** You must focus on question #1 (**BOLDED QUESTIONS ONLY)** as listed in the post. Each member will be evaluated on their primary post. See the [|rubric].
 * **Responses:** Each group member is also responsible to __//respond to each primary post//__ in the discussion sections. A response must contribute significantly to the discussion by adding in new information, or relating information to another discussion section in the Ning. You may add to the ques. #1 post (NOT JUST REPEAT same info!) with NEW info but you need to answer one of the remaining question(s) which were not yet addressed by the primary response. You may contribute to discussions in other disease groups, but will only be evaluated on the posts to your group. Posts that detract from the discussion will lower your score on the [|rubric].
 * **Additional prompts:** Mrs. Raines, Ms. Wooten, or Mr Weiss may post additional prompts for your group to respond to. In that case, you will be scored for those responses as well. Check your Ning mail and responses for comments about your responses or important corrections/ items you need to attend to.

__**Resources: minimum of 3**__
All sources should be cited using MLA standards. **The Resource page on the Ning has a guidelines as to format.** Please follow that when submitting your entries. NOTE: **__For links to work you must create it in a document on your computer and then paste it into the cite__.** Be sure that the information is __current__.

General information about the disease can be easily obtained from traditional sources like encyclopedias. **Wikipedia may be used as a backgrounder to gain understanding, but cannot be a cited source** in your Ning. If you gather information from Wikipedia, you should verify it from another source and cite that source. See the [|rubric].
 * **One source** must be from a peer reviewed journal. You do not need to read the whole article but do need to read the abstract. You may go on to read and use the article if it provides further information that would be of interest/add to the group understanding for the disease. Do not choose articles that are so technical you do not understand them- they will not be good resources to share.
 * **One source** must be from a **non-internet resource (print)**. An eBook or encyclopedia like Britannica online count as print resources as they are digitized books. Our library has many good references on reserve. See the lists on [|Disease links], as well as lots of internet links for various diseases. Also see the resources posted on the ning as they are provided-Mrs Hamilton has some information there too.
 * **One source** can be **your choice**- easiest is a web source. BE SURE IT IS A VALID, RELIABLE and not some term paper by a college student or someone's blog. Choose established, medical websites.

**__Mechanics and Writing Style__**
All standard rules of mechanics should be followed. Please follow MLA guidelines. See the [|rubric].
 * For your formal posts, please use appropriate style for science writing.
 * __**Use evidence**__ in your writing as much as possible. **Cite specific data** to support your points.
 * Direct quotes or information used mostly unchanged needs to be cited properly with MLA citations.
 * PROOFREAD! (ex. Check formatting, spacing, paragraph and spelling issues)
 * Write your posts in a word processor (Pages, etc) so you can avoid losing content and can proofread it before posting.

__**Summative Assessment**__
Additionally, you will be given current and historical data and a graph on the "reported cases" of your disease. The group member assigned to __epidemiology__ will be obtaining this data for the group. Using this mathematical information and the content on the Infectious Support Ning, you will **make predictions** about the future possible occurrences of the disease and provide recommendations about how to control this disease in your country. The prediction portion is a summative, individual assessment and will take place in class.