STEP 1: Choose an article

Select one of the below topics to review

Include the full title of your choice and a brief summary (1 paragraph) of why this was chosen

Tiger mosquitoes are capable of transmitting yellow fever 

A      microbial compound in the gut leads to anxious behaviors in mice  

Delta      vs. Kappa: Study examines molecular factors that fuel COVID-19 variants 

Antibodies      improve in quality for months after COVID-19 vaccination  

A trait of the rare few whose bodies naturally control HIV:      ‘trained’ immune cells 

New ebolavirus vaccine design seeks to drive stronger      antibody defense 

Vikings      had smallpox and may have helped spread the world’s deadliest virus (this      additional primary reference covering the same study is needed to complete      this topic: Diverse variola      virus (smallpox) strains were widespread in Viking Age). This helps to      clarify the study and does not count as one of your secondary refs – 

• Study      reveals Ebola virus can hide in brain, persist even years after treatment 

STEP 2: Outline – Due April 1, 2022

The outline should be in bullet list format, not a draft with full sentences and paragraphs. The more detail you include in the outline, the more you will likely benefit from the feedback.

Note: Your outline must show you have done some preliminary research in your topic selection. Outline that just restate the required topics (Introduction, background, etc) of the paper will only earn 1/2 credit. Under these topics you should provide some of the initial information you have learned researching the paper. 

Format: Use one of the following outline formats: Roman numerals (I, II, III) or alpha-numeric (A, B, C/1,2,3). 

STEP 3: Article Critique paper – Due April 8, 2022

Your Article Critique paper should include the following sections and address the following questions as they relate to your chosen popular media/news article and the corresponding peer-reviewed scholarly article:

• Double-spaced, 12-point font. 

Title Page – Name, date, course, instructor (Blank) and school

Background information (25 points)

Include basic information about the topic. For example, if your article describes a study about tuberculosis, you should include a description of the disease, a description of the microbe that causes the disease, and the organisms’ characteristics. Does the article mention previous research that is relevant to this research study? If so, briefly describe.

Description of the Scientific Research Study (25 points) that includes the following:

• The goal of the study

The hypothesis 

Summary of the experiment(s) conducted, including supportive detail like sample size, length of experiments, dosages, etc. This should be thorough so that the reader knows exactly what was done without having to read either article. If more than one experiment is described, it is OK to focus on just one of those experiments in this section of your paper.

A summary of the results of the study

Conclusions

• Future experiments planned (if mentioned)

Critique of the Article (15 points) that includes a discussion of the following:

Do the experiment(s) have proper control group(s)? What are the control group(s)? 

Are there factors that may impact the results that are not controlled or accounted for?

Comment on the sample size. For example, it is large enough, and are the test subjects relevant? etc.

• Comment on the presence or absence of potential bias? Explain your decision. Consider funding sources and researcher’s background or connections.

Are the conclusions supported by the experimental evidence? 

Real-World Application (10 points)

What is the importance of this study and how does it apply to the general population? 

Include your own thoughts and opinions on the topic of the chosen article and relate it to your everyday life and/or to work you have completed in class. Be sure to make your contributions clear, such as “I believe …, I think …, etc.”

• References (10 points) 

Include references to the chosen popular media/news article, the corresponding scholarly article, and at least two (2) additional, reputable information sources (four total). 

References and in-text citations should be in APA format. Please visit the UMGC Citing and Writing page for citation, writing, and academic integrity help: https://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/gethelp-citi… 

Mechanics (10 points)

Your paper should be well-written, well organized, and demonstrate a logical flow of information. It should also be spell-checked and grammatically correct.

• Binomial nomenclature should be correctly used for all genus/species names.