Biochemistry: Aspartame Case Study

Biochemistry: Aspartame Case Study The Issue: In recent years there has been heated public debate surrounding the safety of the dipeptide “Aspartame”. Aspartame is an artificially synthesized sweetening agent used in the food and beverage industry. Although approved by Health Canada and the FDA in the United States there have been claims that Aspartame is a carcinogen and poses other adverse health effects.

Your Task:

You have been provided with two resources outlining two different perspectives on this issue. In addition to these you must find at least two more electronic sources, each supporting one of the sides of the debate. After familiarizing yourself with the issue, you must TAKE A STAND.

Your task is to produce a public service announcement advocating for your side of the issue. Your final product can be in one of the following forms:

 Newspaper editorial  Television / radio segment (maximum 5 min)  Brochure (eg. Nature of Things episode, CBC interview, Oprah)  Subway advertisement  Product of your choice (must be approved by your teacher) You final product must include the following:

1. The chemical structure / composition of aspartame 2. A summary of the issue 3. An explanation of at least 3 specific argument supporting your perspective on the issue 4. A list of references in APA format with a minimum of 4 sources (including the 2 provided)

Qualities of an effective final product:

 Creative, interesting, and thought provoking  Strongly focused on content  Captures and maintains the interest of the intended audience  Aesthetically pleasing (where applicable)  Professional

Due Dates: Peer Assessment Date: ______Final Product Due Date: ______The final product will be due 2 weeks after the date it was assigned. It is recommended that you use one week to complete your research and one week to complete your product. After the first week, each student will have a conference with a peer to assess your progress and plan for completion. You must have completed most or all of your research by the peer assessment date. Sharing of final product: On the due date of the project, students will meet in small groups to share what they have produced. This sharing is NOT for marks, but is rather an opportunity to proudly share your hard work with your classmates. Peer Assessment Checklist ** Please hand this page in with your final product ** Name : ______

Peer Assessor : ______

Complete the following checklist IN CLASS with your peer assessor. On the day of the peer assessment please ensure that you bring ALL of your project materials that you have gathered and/or produced thus far.

Questions Answers

1. Have the required additional two research materials been gathered? Yes  No  2. Have more research materials been gathered than the required two? Yes  No 

How many? _____

more . 3. Are all of the materials reliable, appropriate, relevant, and applicable to this project? Yes  No  4. Are more sources needed to thoroughly complete this project? Yes  No  How many? _____ 5. Has the production of the final product been started? Yes  No  6. Has a plan been established to complete the required work by the due date? Yes  No 

7. Discuss your thoughts and ideas about the final product with your peer assessor. Complete  Identify strengths and weaknesses in the project. 8. Have your peer assessor write down three specific suggestions to improve your final product or help you improve your research or action plan.

Teacher’s Signature: Biochemisty: Aspartame Case Study RUBRIC R 1 2 3 4 Mark (less than 50%) (50 - 59%) (60 - 69%) (70 – 79%) (80 - 100%) - Content is brief and -structure of aspartame may - aspartame - aspartame structure is accurate - K/U inaccurate be inaccurate structure is partly - Summary is entirely or mostly aspartame - Requirements are not met - one or more arguments are accurate accurate. structure is Accuracy missing - summary is - three arguments are mostly based accurate - argument(s) may be based partially inaccurate on accurate and relevant information - issue Thoroughness of on false or irrelevant - one argument may - may contain gaps in information summary is information information be missing accurate - key information is missing. - arguments may be - three - contains many gaps in info based on false or arguments irrelevant are based information. on accurate - Contains several and gaps in information relevant information - Topic is covered thoroughly. No required information missing /6 - incomplete - arguments chosen are not - arguments are - arguments are logical but either - derives A - arguments unrelated to the representative of the views weakly based on confusing, lengthy, or weakly thoughtful, issue held by either perspective in research, or supported by the researched rational, Quality of - not linked to appropriate the public debate or focused research is information concise, arguments aspects of biochemistry on false or unverifiable misinterpreted - partially links knowledge of logical Effectiveness of information - no clear link to biochemistry to arguments arguments final product - no clear link to knowledge knowledge of from of biochemistry biochemistry researched information - links knowledge of biochemistr y to arguments /10 - incomplete - Much too complex, or too - not catered to - appropriate for public consumption - /10 C - inappropriate simple for public public (either too - would capture and hold audience appropriate - messy / sloppy consumption complex, or too - effective product. Attention to for public Audience - would not capture or simple) detail lacking. consumptio appropriate holds audience - would weakly - considerable creativity n Authentic / - ineffective format. capture and hold - would Professional unprofessional. audience strongly creativity - limited creativity - format does not capture and capture issue. Lack hold visual appeal. audience - some creativity - authentic, professional product - high degree of creativity - spelling and grammar at an - Many spelling and - Some spelling and - few spelling and grammar errors. - No spelling C acceptable level grammar errors. grammar errors. - Thoroughly edited. and - poorly edited, or revisions - insufficient editing grammar Spelling not made. or revisions not errors. Grammar made. - Thoroughly edited. /2 Final Mark: /6 K/U / 10 A / 12 C