GCSE Gateway science

courseworkcourseworkGCSE Gateway science

courseworkcoursework(science in the news)

The coursework question

• Are we safe in the sun?

• 800 word report

Skills you need to show

select relevant information from an article

reference information from different sources

process quantitative data and identify patterns

evaluate the evidencerelate the data to social, economic or

environmental issuesanswer the question set and explain why

Coursework RULES • Can you draft and redraft Science in the News

tasks?• No. You must submit your original piece of work.

• Can you do research in lesson time, and if so can you be given suitable stimulus material by the teacher?

• Yes. Research can be done in lesson time. You may be provided with a variety of resource material, e.g. relevant newspaper and magazine articles, CD-ROMs, books, Internet addresses etc.

• Can you take Science in the News tasks to complete at home?

• No. The final report has to be completed in lesson time under controlled conditions

• What can you bring into class to help you do a Science in the News task?

• You can bring in notes, pictures, charts or graphs to help. You must not bring in completed answers either electronically or in writing.

• Can you copy sections straight from a book or the Internet?• Yes, but this must be clearly referenced so that the source is

clear. Copying too much irrelevant material will make the work too long.

• What will happen if there is evidence of candidates producing identical work?

• If this is the case, neither candidate’s work should be counted. • Is there a time limit for you completing a Science in the News

task?• No, but about an hour’s writing up time should be sufficient for

most candidates.However, if it carries over into another lesson all the work and the notes must be collected in.

• Can you be told the results of the task?• Yes, but you must not then be given the opportunity to add to or

improve the work. This will also be a provisional mark subject to moderation.

Summary of requirements• 800 words, own work – make use of bullet points/headings• Can use writing framework if wish (may lower marks)• Week to research different sources and data• Consider accuracy of data• Manipulate the data (draw your own graphs)• One hour to complete in silence• No redrafting• Bring with you notes from research, but not completed work• Reference all sources• Relate to environment, social, economic issues• Describe patterns, thoughts, in a conclusion• Good spelling, grammar and use of science words

example

• Link to a students coursework on another question (page 48)

1) What does sun exposure do to the body?

2) Social/economic/environmental effects

3) Sun damage statistics, trends and patterns

4) Statistics, trends and patterns on sunbeds

5) My survey

6) My answer to the question

7) My references

How to reference

• Link to sheet explaining what you need to do

• And another link of examples

Useful resources

• Information from OCR• Slideshow• Word document• http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/skin/• http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/cancer/

prevention_sun.shtml• www.metoffice.com• http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125684.500-

keep-slapping-on-that-sunscreen.html• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/skin• http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-skin/Pages/

Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx&r=1&rtitle=Cancer+of+the+skin+-+Introduction

How you will be marked

• You will be marked on 6 skills

• Each skill is worth 6 marks maximum

• There is a total of 36 marks

• Link to mark sheet ( page 35)

support

• Writing framework – this is found towards the end of the document from OCR