Assignment Guidelines

Access to Higher Education: Health Studies/Combined Studies

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

Theme and Unit title: Human Biology - Student Name: Homeostasis - Maintaining a Stable Internal Environment. Title of assignment: “The Body in Balance” - a written account of homeostasis in the human body. (1500-2000 words) Date issued: Week 7 w/c 01.11.10 Submission date: Week 12 w/c 06.12.10 (in 1 hour session Monday G2 and Tuesday G1)

Work presented in an assessment must be your own. Plagiarism is where a student copies work from another source, published or unpublished (including the work of another student) and fails to acknowledge the influence of another’s work or to attribute quotes to the author. Plagiarism is an academic offence. If you are thought to have plagiarised someone else’s work this could result in disciplinary action. I have read the above information and I can confirm that this work is my own, and that any sources used have been acknowledged using the appropriate referencing system.

Signature:…………………………………………………………………..Date: ……………………………………………

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

 As this is your first written account in this subject area you are provided overleaf with a suggested format to help you select content and structure your essay in a logical sequence.

 Your work will be assessed against the criteria identified on page 3

 If the work meets the level 3 criteria then it will be graded against the criteria identified on page 4.

 Remember that principally work that is mainly descriptive is level 2 and to achieve at L3 there must be evidence of explanation, and analysis.

 You are advised to utilise the PowerPoint handouts provided in your human biology lessons (PP6, PP7, PP8 and PP9) and your related notes, and the PowerPoint issued on “Introduction to referencing” and Learning Resources Centre booklet on referencing together with your own background reading and independent research to assist you in this assignment.

PLEASE ENSURE THESE GUIDELINES ARE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1 Suggested format: Your written account should commence with an introduction to the structure and content of the assignment. i.e. Briefly state what the account will include and the order in which it will be presented.

After the introduction you should introduce the key concepts relating to homeostasis i.e. Explain why the body needs to maintain a relatively stable internal environment. Define and explain the term homeostasis Identify some of the factors that require a homeostatic control mechanism to ensure that a relatively stable internal environment is maintained. Identify the need for effective communication in a control mechanism and briefly compare and contrast the roles of the nervous and endocrine system as the main communication systems used in homeostasis. Identify and explain the three key components required for a homeostatic mechanism and explain the principle of negative feedback.

Following the introduction to the key concepts your account should then explain three examples of negative feedback mechanisms in further detail as follows:

 Control of body temperature - identify normal range and explain why body temperature needs to be regulated, explain the body's responses to both an increase and a decrease in body temperature from the point of detection through to the effector mechanisms.

 Control of blood glucose - identify the normal range and the consequences if blood sugar becomes abnormally high or low. Identify when in a healthy individual the blood sugar may rise and when it may lower and analyse the body's physiological responses to these changes in blood sugar from the point of detection to the effector mechanisms.

 Control of water balance - describe briefly how urine is formed then focus on explaining how the body is able to regulate water balance by the production of dilute and concentrated urine. i.e. explain the body's response to both an increase in body water content and a decrease in body water content from the point of detection through to the effector mechanisms.

You should aim to structure all sections of the account in a logical sequence. You may use subtitles to distinguish different sections. You may use diagrams where appropriate. If these are not designed and produced by yourself these must be referenced. Please note any explanations included in referenced diagrams are not a substitute for explanations within your written account. Your account should be detailed and contain appropriate level 3 terminology. Further guidance will be given in class and you are also recommended to use the appropriate level 3 textbooks and journals. Your account should aim to meet the level 3 criteria overleaf.

You should use a recognised referencing system and remember, information in the common domain does not require referencing but should be explained in your own words. Figures/numerical values should always be referenced. If you choose to use a website it must authoritative, and acceptable for use in academic work. You are advised to refer to your PowerPoint notes “Introduction to Referencing” and “Researching on the Internet” and booklet on referencing "Who said that?".

2 LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Understand why the human body needs to maintain relatively stable internal conditions.

2. Understand the components required for a homeostatic feedback mechanism.

3. Understand how human body temperature is regulated.

4. Understand the regulation of blood sugar in the human body.

5. Understand how the body is able to regulate water balance by the production of dilute and concentrated urine. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA LEVEL 2

1.1 Describe why the human body requires relatively stable internal conditions.

2.1 Identify and describe the components required for a homeostatic feedback mechanism.

3.1 Describe the mechanisms involved in body temperature regulation.

4.1. Describe how blood sugar is regulated in the human body.

5.1 Describe how the body is able to regulate water balance by the production of dilute and concentrated urine. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA LEVEL 3

1.1 Explain why the human body requires relatively stable internal conditions.

2.1 Identify and explain the components required for a homeostatic feedback mechanism.

3.1 Explain a range of mechanisms involved in body temperature regulation.

4.1 Analyse the body’s response to an increase and a decrease in blood sugar levels.

5.1 Explain how the body is able to regulate water balance by the production of dilute and concentrated urine.

3 If all learning outcomes are achieved at level 3 the assignment will be graded according to the grade descriptors below. For this assignment grading criteria 2 and 7 apply.

Descriptor Content for merit Content for distinction Guidance 2. Makes use of the Makes use of the Your account must include the Application of relevant facts with relevant facts with relevant facts both in depth knowledge either breadth or both breadth or depth and breadth. depth i.e. Think carefully when choosing content. Ensure you chose only what is relevant to the assignment criteria (use your PowerPoint notes). Your content must demonstrate appropriate breadth and depth throughout the account to achieve a distinction. Examples will be discussed in class. 7. The assignment The assignment work is: You have been provided with a Quality work is: suggested format, this provides a logical structure for Structured in a way Structured in a way your written account and you that is generally that is consistently are advised to utilise this. logical and fluent. logical and fluent. Ensure that all of the concepts you introduce are clearly explained and are presented logically and fluently. i.e. Your work should be written in academic style with no use of Taken as a whole Taken as a whole personal pronouns and the demonstrates a demonstrates an appropriate level of very good response excellent response to terminology. Examples will be to the demands of the demands of the discussed in class. the brief/assignment brief/assignment. Your work should demonstrate that you have used your class notes and handouts together with your own independent research i.e. figures for normal body ranges of variables. The latter should be evidenced by at least one reference (merit) two references (distinction) cited correctly in the text and listed correctly in a reference list.