Edexcel SNAB Biology AS LEVEL

6BI03 Visit / Issue Report Guidance

The solution to a biological problem

The visit / issue report…

must be a word-processed report taking an analytical and critical look at a biological problem and how it is being solved;

It need not be related to what your studying in Year 12, but must be related to either a visit made or an issue researched;

must be all your own work - all reports will be checked by your teacher so if reports are seen to be too similar you will have to start again;

should refer clearly to biological methods and processes, have a clear structure (using headings, sub-headings and visuals), and be written using technical vocabulary where appropriate;

must not be just a descriptive essay - ideas and opinions must be expressed - and the report must contain supportive visuals (photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, etc.) properly referenced in the text.

should contain personal comment and / or explore controversial areas;

will invariably be better if there is clear discussion of pros / cons hazards / benefits, advantages / disadvantages, positives / negatives, etc., as this will give better access to higher levels in the assessment criteria.

ChecklistCheck your report carefully against the assessment criteria in the tables below, before submitting your report.

You might also find it useful to mark your own work against the Assessment Criteria given in a second set of tables at the end.

1. Describe the biological methods and processes used in a chosen area of Biology in the context of a problem or question identified during a visit made or issue researched.

Have you clearly Identified and described a question or problem in an area of Biology relevant to the visit made or issue researched? (4 marks)

The question or problem you are writing about must be CLEARLY stated or identifiable in the introduction to your report.

o 2 marks for clearly stating the question or problem Biologists are trying to solve, 1 mark if not.

o 2 further marks for a full description, only 1 if it’s too brief.

Have you described the biological methods and processes involved in producing data or solutions to the above? (4 marks)

Your description must be relevant, thorough and detailed…

o 2 marks for a good description of the identified biological methods and processes. Don’t forget that they must be fully explained in terms of the science involved. 1 mark for less well described material.

o 2 further marks if you also provide supportive data or specific examples that illustrate how the biological methods or processes described can provide (or have already provided) data or solutions relevant to the question or problem. 1 mark for data or examples that just skim the surface.

Have you explained how the biological methods or processes described are appropriate in terms of producing both valid and reliable data, and effective solutions to the identified question or problem? (4 marks)

Your explanation must include critical opinion backed by evidence…

o 2 marks for a full explanation of why the identified biological methods and processes are actually appropriate to the solution, only 1 if it’s too brief.

o 2 further marks if you add a discussion that includes valid and relevant quantitative data (graphs, tables, photographs or diagrams) to support the explanation. 1 mark for a less detailed discussion.

Hints:

Look up the meaning of “valid” and “reliable” data in SNAB Skills Support.

If you use “I” or “we” it will be assumed you are giving personal opinion. This is more likely to be interpreted by the marker as “discussion”. Make sure the discussion is yours and not taken directly from your source material – this will be checked.

2. Identify applications and implications of the Biology encountered within the context of the visit made or issue researched.

Have you identified, considered and thoroughly explained at least TWO implications of the biological applications encountered? (Maximum 4 marks)

Carefully describe how the biological methods and processes you’ve researched are, or could be, applied in real life – now and / or in the future.

The implications considered can be ethical, social, economic or environmental – choose at least two out of the four.

The biological applications and their implications must be described in such a way that it is very clear you understand the Biology of what you’ve written. Higher marks will be available if you discuss the implications thoroughly (see the previous hint). You’ll get lower marks if your discussion is pure description, too brief, not very clearly explained, or a rehash of someone else’s ideas.

Have you evaluated the benefits and risks to humans, other organisms and the environment (as appropriate), of the implications of the identified biological applications. (Maximum 4 marks)

For example, you might be using information from one scientific group giving their view of the benefits and risks of the biological application you’re examining - you could simply believe it to be true, but it would be much better to check it out by comparing its information with that from other similar groups. This is not difficult using “Google”, let alone direct conversations, telephone calls, e-mails, or a well crafted questionnaire that you could send to the groups concerned.

Remember that you can’t trust everything you read! If one source says one thing, check another two to see if they agree or not. If they do, say why; if they don’t, evaluate their arguments to decide which is the most reliable. This must not just be a passing reference.

Higher marks will only be available if you consider both sides:

o pros / cons, hazards / benefits, advantages / disadvantages, positives / negatives, etc.,

Have you discussed some alternative views or solutions to the present or future implications of the Biology encountered? (Maximum 4 marks)

You must consider TWO alternative solutions, worth a maximum of 2 marks each. Detail must be given – a simple description of or reference to an idea will only get low marks. You’ll get better marks for adding informed speculation, especially if it uses properly referenced source material to provide evidence. Top marks will be awarded for a full discussion, personal speculation, evidence from source material and a reasoned argument as to the further implications of the alternative views or solutions.

VERY IMPORTANT!

The three components of this section must flow seamlessly in terms of content.

For example, if you have discussed a ethical problem you must evaluate the benefits and risks associated with specifically that problem, not another, and follow it up with a look at two alternative solutions that might help to avoid that problem.

The same goes for your second (and possibly, third) social, economic or environmental choices.

3. Use information or arguments obtained from three or more sources (including at least one web-based and one non web-based) when researching the visit made or issue researched.

Have you used the Internet, books, journals, magazines, professional literature, personal correspondence, etc. to inform your report and clearly identified any quotes from those sources? (Maximum 4 marks)

You must provide information from three or more sources to compare viewpoints, ideas, methods, etc.

At least one of these must be sourced from the Internet, and at least one from books, journals, personal correspondence with a researcher, etc.

Top marks will only be available if it is absolutely clear that you are using the information from your chosen sources within the discussion, not just quoting it in isolation.

ALL sources must be acknowledged in the text and identified clearly (see below).

Have you provided information about the source, author and date of THREE or more references used in your report, and linked those references to the appropriate text within your report? (Maximum 4 marks)

You must provide a properly constructed bibliography of ALL sources at the end of your report. See SNAB coursework support for information on how to present this in the appropriate style. The minimum requirement is:

o Source – full publication information, or webpage title and URL. Please note that URL of the specific webpage containing the source material must be given, not just the generic homepage.

o Author(s)

o Date of publication or, for internet sources, date of access

You should link information obtained from sources and used in the text of your report to the bibliography using reference marks (usually superscripted numbers at the end of sentences – MS Word can do this automatically for you).

IMPORTANT: Do not specify Wikipedia as a source. Use Wikipedia if you must but look at the end of the article for the original sources, look them up, and quote them only.

Have you evaluated at least TWO references used in the report? (Maximum 4 marks)

You must have used your sources selectively and commented on their relative reliability.

o Don’t quote a source just for the sake of quoting a source – you must have USED the information.

o Reliability of information can be judged by how often the same information is given by independent sources (the more the better!), or the recognised reputation of the source. NOTE: information repeated verbatim by different sources does not make it reliable!

o 1 mark is available for any informed comment being made about the validity of each of two sources. The other 2 marks are available if you back up your comments with some research giving the evidence itself AND your own opinion.

4. Communicate clearly, concisely and logically with appropriate use of visuals.

Have you ensured your spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct?(2 marks)

Use a spelling and grammar checker!

Have you included appropriate scientific / technical terms, and used visual material appropriately? (2 marks)

If you don’t understand the meaning of terms used don’t assume your audience will – explain them if required. Biological terminology and technical language must be used appropriately.

Terms that can be abbreviated must be fully written out on first use with the appropriate abbreviation in brackets, but may then be used in abbreviated form only later in the report, e.g. Cystic Fibrosis (CF), but from then on just as CF.

Have you used helpful headings, sub-headings, and organised your report carefully so it flows from one thing to another in an easily followed sequence?

Have you included appropriate visuals?

o Your visual material will always be more appropriate if it has been referred to in your text, not just used as attractive space-fillers.

FINALLY…

Is your presentation logical, concise and, above all, interesting?

Put simply – does it flow seamlessly from one thing to another so that the reader is almost forced to read on to the end? Or as one examiner put it - is it a “good read”?

Is your report between 1500 and 2000 words?

This includes the text attached to any diagrams, figures, graphs and tables but excludes the bibliography and numbers.

Going over the word count does not carry a penalty but if you do so it usually indicates that you’ve waffled a bit too much – and waffle doesn’t get you any marks. Go back and check!

Examiner’s Assessment criteriafor the Visit / Issue report

Assessment criteria Marks Range

1.

Describe the biological methods and processes used in a chosen area of biology in the context of a problem or question identified during a visit made or issue researched.

12 marks

1. Identify and describe a question or problem in an area of biology relevant to a visit made or issue researched.a) Relevant question or problem partially identified but not

clear (1); question or problem clear (2)b) Question / problem partially described (1); full description

(2).

0-4

2. Describe the biological methods and processes involved in producing data or solutions to problems or questions relevant to a visit made or issue researched.a) Biological methods or processes partially described (1);

fully described (2)b) Some data or solutions to problem described (1); data or

solutions to problem fully described and explained (2).

NOTE: If there are no data, the ‘solutions’ must be obviously different from the methods or process. It might be a case study.

0-4

3. Explain how the methods and processes used in the chosen area of biology are appropriate in terms of producing both valid and reliable data or effective solutions to address the problem or question identified, using graphs, photos, diagrams and tables that are appropriate, relevant and integrated with the report.a) Valid/reliable data or effective solution briefly mentioned

(1); valid/reliable data or effective solution mentioned in more detail and explained with graphs, diagrams, and tables or photographs appropriate and integrated into the report. (2);

b) Brief explanation of why methods and processes are appropriate (1); more detailed explanation of why methods and processes are appropriate (2).

0-4

2.

Identify applications and implications of the biology encountered within the context of the visit or issue researched

12 marks

1. Identify two implications (ethical, social, environmental or economic) of the applied biology encountered within the context of the visit or issue researched.*a) One implication identified (1); two implications identified

(2)b) One explained briefly (1); both explained briefly (2).

0-4

2. Evaluate benefits and risks to humans, other organisms and the environment as appropriate, of the implications of the applied biology being studied or identified.a) Benefits or advantages from 2.1 mentioned briefly (1); fuller

discussion of these (2)b) Some evaluation of risks or disadvantages from 2.1 (1);

fuller discussion of these (2)

0-4

3. Discuss alternative views or solutions for implications of the biology encountered within the context of the visit or issue.a) One alternative method / solution briefly mentioned (1); full

description (2)*b) Another alternative method / solution briefly mentioned (1);

full description (2)*

NOTE: They may not necessarily be biological solutions.* If the implications relate to the original problem rather than

0-4

the solution, then only 1 not 2 marks for each.

Assessment criteria Marks Range

3.

Use information or arguments obtained from three or more sources (including at least one web based and one non web based) when researching the visit or issue.

12 marks

1. Use information or arguments obtained from three or more sources (including at least one web based and one non-web based) when researching the visit or issue. Clearly identify any quotes from sources.a) At least one web source used (1); b) At least one non web based source used 1 (1);c) At least 3 sources used* in total (1);d) Quotes from sources used* effectively; identified clearly

(1)

*sources must clearly be used as part of the discussion not just mentioned in a bibliography – only a maximum of 2 marks can be given if this is not the case. The non-web source must not be a standard text book.1 – this might be a personal communication from a visit or an interview.

0-4

2. Provide information about the source, author and date of three or more references used in the visit or issue report. Link references to the appropriate text in the visit or issue report.a) Partial bibliography given (1); full bibliography given i.e.

most details of source, author, data, pages, date used (2) *b) Some source material referred to in text (1); all source

material referred to in text (2)

* the non-web based source must be referenced correctly for 2 marks and must not be a standard text book.

0-4

3. Evaluate at least two references used in the reporta) Comment made about reliability or validity of one source

(1); comment made about two sources (2)b) Evidence or data from sources investigated (1); evidence or

data from sources investigated with full evaluation giving own opinion on reliability / validity (2)

0-4

4.

Communicate clearly, concisely and logically with appropriate use of visuals

4 marks

1. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct and the presentation is logical and concise.a) Spelling, punctuation and grammar are largely correct and

the report is well set out (sub headings etc) (1);b) Spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct and the

report is well set out (2)

0-2

2. There is good use of technical language. Visuals are present but not necessarily referred to in the text.a) Some technical language used and visuals present (1);b) Good use of technical language and visuals present but

also referred to in text (2) TOTAL = 4

0-2

Total marks for Visit / Issue report 40