Principles and Concepts, Level B

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

Purpose of this Assessment

The purpose of the final assessment for this competency is to demonstrate awareness of environmental

science and discuss a specific chemical situation within the context of the subject of chemistry from a list

of potential topics.

Items Required for Submission

The item required for submission is a 7-10 page paper in APA format with the four distinct sections

Detailed below for any of the topics you select.

Step ONE: Introduction (12 pages)

Introduce the topic that you selected. Provide whatever background is necessary for discussing the topic

and why you picked that particular topic to research. Include a minimum of two quotations and proper

citations, in this section as part of the writing requirement.

Step TWO: Context of Chemistry (23 pages)

Chemistry is a BIG subject area and contains many branches, including environmental chemistry.

Your particular topic happens to belong to the subject of chemistry somehow. Describe where

your particular topic falls within the overall subject of chemistry, and what the relationship is

between your particular topic and chemistry.

Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric 1

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

Step THREE: Specific Topic Under Discussion (23 pages)

As well as possible, discuss the topic that you selected. What appealed to you about the topic?

Try to connect the topic to the chemistry content you just finished reviewing in the competency.

Be sure to completely explore all questions asked within the problem description.

Step FOUR: Concluding Remarks (2 pages)

Is your topic a recent problem? If so, project what will happen in the future with that problem.

If not, try to identify what is intransigent about the problem that resists a solution. Even if your

topic is not a problem, is the interest in the topic fairly recent or more sustaining historically?

Try to discuss the topic scientifically, and not just from emotions or opinions; include anything

that must be said, and hasnt been so far.

Step FIVE: Complete Checklist for Submission

Before you submit your work, check to see if you have met the criteria noted below. Did you:

Introduce the topic you selected in the Introduction section in your paper and discuss why you

picked that topic?

Include two quotations with appropriate citations in the Introduction section?

Situate your particular topic within the overall understanding of chemistry in the Context

section? Is the connection between your topic and the subject of chemistry fairly well

established?

Provide a full explanation of your particular topic in completing the Specific Topic section,

including why it appealed to you? Were all the questions explored from the problem

description?

Include a consideration for your topic over time in the Concluding Remarks? Is the language used

more scientific or more emotional?

Demonstrate professional writing and presentation style by:

Paraphrasing technical language or using quotations and citations to avoid plagiarism?

Proof-reading your paper to ensure accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation?

Meeting the specified requirements of length and formatting specifications?

Providing citations using correct APA format if appropriate?

Step SIX: Submit Your Work

Your completed files should be submitted through the Final Assessment page of your competency.

Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric 2

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

Please note, for files smaller than 10MB (e.g., most Word documents), use the corresponding

+UPLOAD STUDENT FILE button to upload your Final Assessment documents. For larger files of

any type (e.g., voice over PowerPoint files, video presentations), please use the optional TEXT

EDITOR to provide a URL where your tutorial faculty can download your file.

How you create a download URL is up to you, but various free online providers, including Google

Drive and Dropbox, offer this service. Please make sure that the URL you provide can be accessed

by anyone with the link. For further instructions on how to create public links for uploaded files,

consult the support pages for your chosen provider.

List of Templates/Resources Needed

University online library resources (books, journals, electronic media)

Online Writing and Math Community

APA 7th edition is required for your assignment. Review this comprehensive tutorial, which also

contains a template that can be used for your assignment.

o A Guide to Internalizing APA 7th Edition as a Style of Writing

Scoring Rubric for Final Assessment

Criterion EMERGING DEVELOPING PROFICIENT EXEMPLARY

Introduction Not enough detail

is provided to

understand the

problem. No

explanation for the

topic selection is

provided. No

quotations are

provided or are not

cited correctly.

The problem is

discussed but may

be lacking some

detail. The

explanation for the

topic selection may

be too brief or

omitted. One

quotation is used

and cited correctly.

The problem is

discussed

sufficiently; the

rationale for

selecting that

particular topic is

provided. A

minimum of two

quotations are

used; minor

discrepancies might

exist in how they

are cited.

The introduction to

the problem is

completely

discussed, including

any motivation for

selecting that

particular topic. A

minimum of two

quotations are used

and cited correctly.

Chemistry

Context

There is little or no

connection shown

between the topic

and the subject of

chemistry. The

discussion omits

obvious topics that

should have been

included.

The connection

between the topic

and the greater

subject of

chemistry is a little

vague; some topics

that should have

been in the

The relationship

between the topic

and the greater

subject of

chemistry is made

clear enough; most

related chemistry

topics are included

in the discussion.

The topic is

situated effectively

within the subject

of chemistry;

discussion includes

all related and

pertinent chemistry

topics.

Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric 3

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

discussion are

omitted.

Topic

Specifics

Some details of the

specific topic are

discussed, but

either incompletely

or focusing on an

inappropriate

detail. The

discussion of the

related chemistry

may be brief and

contain errors.

Most of the details

of the specific topic

are discussed,

perhaps too briefly.

The discussion of

the relevant

chemistry may

contain errors or

irrelevant facts.

All details of the

specific topic are

discussed, maybe

briefly. The

relevant chemistry

discussion contains

only one or two

errors.

The specific topic

and its details are

discussed

thoroughly. All

discussion of the

relevant chemistry

is accurately stated.

Concluding

Remarks

No real exploration

of the topic over

time is presented.

Writer comments

are predominantly

opinion-based.

The topic is

insufficiently or

inaccurately

explored over time.

More writer

comments seem

opinion than

scientific fact.

The topic is

examined in an

historical

perspective in an

effective way.

More writer

comments seem

scientific fact than

opinion.

The topic is

correctly framed in

terms of a central

problem and/or a

potential solution

and examined from

an historical

perspective. Writer

comments appear

to be more

scientific in their

nature.

Writing

Mechanics

The paper lacks

clarity and may be

confusing; too long

or short. Numerous

errors in spelling,

grammar and/or

punctuation. No

evidence of

adherence to APA

formatting.

The paper is

somewhat logical

and well-written;

too long or short.

Some errors in

spelling, grammar

and/or

punctuation. Some

deviation from APA

formatting may be

noticed.

The paper is logical,

well-written, and

the required length.

There may be one

or two minor errors

in spelling,

grammar and/or

punctuation. APA

formatting is

followed.

The paper is logical,

well-written, and

the required length.

Spelling, grammar

and punctuation

are accurate. APA

formatting is

followed.

Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric 4

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

Appendix

Project Ideas for P&C Pt. B

Topic #1: Hydrogen as a Fuel Source

Ever since separating water into the elements hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis, many have

speculated that hydrogen could eventually become the fuel source for modern society. Is that a

realistic claim? Can hydrogen completely replace our use of petroleum and nuclear power as a

fuel source?

Topic #2: Comparing Familiar Products

Wood alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and ethylene glycol sound like they ought to be

related in their chemical families. Discuss each product, including a description of its chemistry,

normal use, and how human biology interacts with that product. Are there common features

among some of these products, or exceptions to a general rule?

Topic #3: Dangers in Using Chiral Class Drugs

Ibuprofen and about 56% of all pharmaceuticals come from a class of chemicals called chiral

molecules. What chemical property determines whether a molecule is chiral or not? How does

that create problems when using chiral drugs like ibuprofen?

Topic #4: Effect of Carboxylic Acids on Humans

As a group of chemicals, carboxylic acids are fairly strong organic acids, although not as strong

as mineral-based acids like hydrochloric acid. They and their derivatives occur in unusual

quantities in nature and lend themselves to a variety of applications by humans. Describe this

chemical group and its applications in an organized and thorough way.

Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric 5

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

Topic #5: How do Glowsticks Work?

You have seen them tossed around at concerts and packed away as emergency supplies. What

are glowsticks? How do they work and why? What chemistry is involved? What other

properties make the current glowstick design optimal? Could they be recharged, like batteries,

and reused again? Why or why not?

Topic #6: Implications of the Laws of Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics describes the relationship between heat and other energy forms. Several

central principles called the Laws of Thermodynamics describe the major results, but they also

act as physical barriers to making changes in response to societal problems. When put together,

what do the Laws of Thermodynamics say about the nature of the universe and its future fate?

Topic #7: Surface Tension and its Applications

One important property of water is the surface tension it creates. What is surface tension in

general? What applications are related to understanding surface tension? Specifically about

water, what does surface tension explain about observable phenomena?

Topic #8: Capturing and Using Carbon Dioxide

One recent technology development involves being able to capture carbon dioxide. What does

that mean? How does the technology work? Can the by-products that are produced in the

technology be used? Why is this important?

Topic #9: Biomass to Ethanol Conversion

Converting plant matter into ethanol has proven to reduce the need for petroleum, since it can

be mixed into the gasolines that are burned. What chemistry is involved in converting biomass

to ethanol? What technology is involved in trying to do that in sufficiently large amounts?

What is the ceiling for its potential as a fuel source in the future?

Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric 6

Principles and Concepts, Level B, Final Assessment: Outline and Rubric

Topic #10: Why Do Generic Drugs Cost Less?

What does it mean for something to be generic? In the pharmaceutical industry, what does it

mean for something to be a generic drug? Why do generic drugs cost less? Compared to the

name brands, comment on their effectiveness, and any potential problems that come from

using them.

Topic #11: The Element Beryllium

In the Periodic Table, the fourth element listed is Beryllium. Its name comes from the Greek for

sweet but it is anything but sweet. Describe its history, how it is manufactured, what it is used

for, and any problems associated with working with that element.