National 5 Biology Assignment

20 marks out of 100 in total.

The course is graded A-D.

The assignment assesses the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

selecting information from a variety of sources applying knowledge of biology to new situations and

interpreting information presenting information appropriately in a variety of

forms processing the information (using calculations and

units, where appropriate) drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations

supported by evidence/justification communicating findings/information

Assignment Stages

Research Stage – 6 hours•You will have to investigate a relevant topic in biology. The topic must have an application with an effect on the environment/society.

Communication Stage – 2 hours•In this stage of your assignment you need to select, process and present information/data from the sources you have gathered, and produce your report under exam conditions.

Application

• The application of Biology must be a deliberate act by humans.

• For example it is not enough to say pesticides are used by farmers.

• You would have to say something like “pesticides are used to protect crops from insects”

Effect

• Your effect must indicate what happens to the environment or society due to your application.

• For example “pesticide use means crops are not damaged” or “pesticide use means more food is grown”

• This effect can be positive or negative.

Research

Most of the work at this stage is to gather data/information.

•This could come from:

- Internet

- Books

- Journals

- Newspaper articles

- Notes taken from a tv programme

Information may include:

- Numerical or experimental data

- Graphs or notes

- Visual diagrams

Warning!

• Download of text directly from the internet or copying directly from books may suggest to the assessor that you have not understood the biology involved. This may be considered as plagiarism unless you acknowledge the sources carefully.

• It is always best to put things in your own words to make sure you really understand them.

Selecting Data

• You must ensure that the raw data is included for all processed data.

• For example if you process a table into a graph you must include the table as your raw data, and reference where it came from.

• When processing your information, you must ensure that your data is from 2 different sources.

Selecting Data

• You can gain marks for explaining why you use your source on the basis of:- Relevance- Reliability- Or differing/similar perspectives.

• You MUST use the appropriate word from “relevant”, “reliable” or “perspective” when doing this!

• You must use at least 2 of these words for your sources of raw data.

Processing Data

Data must be processed into 2 different formats chosen from:-Bar graph-Line graph-Pie chart-Summary text-Diagram

E.g. If you process a table of raw data into a bar graph, your second processed data cannot be a bar graph.

Processing Data

• There is also 1 mark available for correctly labelling your processed data.

• Labels must be copied directly from the source data e.g. if the raw data table heading is “Number of people”, the processed graph axis label must be “Number of people” not “No. of people”

Processing Data

• There is 1 mark available for stating a comparison between your 2 pieces of processed data.

• This should state any link between your two sources of data, and if there is no link between them you must state this also.

• HOWEVER if you state there is no link and a link is visible to the marker you will lose this mark.

Conclusion

• There is 1 mark available for drawing a valid conclusion.

• This must relate back to your aim and be supported by evidence from your research.

• Do not introduce any new ideas within the conclusion.

Underlying Biology

• This section may be completed throughout your assignment, or you may choose to do it as an independent and headed section.

• This should include all of the principles or explanations of Biology relating to your topic.

• Remember you must use terms and ideas appropriate to the level of National 5 Biology.

Structure of report

• You may want to use headings to help give your report structure, ensure these are appropriate and informative headings.

• All sources of information must be listed at the end of the report in sufficient detail to allow someone else to find them. In addition, if you include diagrams, data or direct quotes you must also reference your source at that point.

• There is a final mark available if your report is clear and concise. This means that it is flowing well, and information presented comes in a logical order.

Structure of report

• As a guide, your report should be 500-800 words, excluding tables, charts and diagrams.

• There is no penalty for being out with this range.

Mark Allocation

Skills, knowledge and understanding Marks allocation

The aim of the investigation 1

Application/effect on the environment/society 2

Selection of sources of data/information 2

Selection of relevant information from sources 2

Processing and presentation of data/information 6

Drawing a valid conclusion 1

Applying knowledge and understanding of biology 3

Report structure 3

Mark Allocation