Investigating an outbreak: evidence and connections
Tue, Sep 8, 2026 · Week 3 · Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions)
Today's goal: Organize the seven main Day 1 case histories and build a contact map supported by the supplied records.
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
Original fictional practice. Never copy Model M into the official case record. Model M says M1 reports a headache. A clinician measures M2's temperature at 38.2 degrees Celsius. Both attend the same club. Record the headache as a reported symptom and the temperature as a measured sign. Link M1 and M2 with the label same club. This connection does not show who infected whom, or even that they have the same illness.
| Record | Evidence type | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Reported symptom | Headache |
| M2 | Measured sign | Temperature 38.2 degrees Celsius |
| M1 and M2 | Stated connection | Same club; transmission not established |
This model shows the level of evidence and organization needed to complete: Original simulated practice for recording evidence. These are not facts from the official PLTW case.
- Date and label the entry.
- Record the procedure, observation, or design decision clearly.
- End with what the evidence means and the next step.
Keep the structure. Replace the question, facts, measurements, and evidence. Then recheck units, vocabulary, and whether the conclusion goes beyond the evidence.
Also due today: Use the official Day 1 histories for your own case notes and labeled contact map. Model M is practice only.
Turn in: Model M: record a clue and a connection
Go to Schoology to turn this in.
Submit one PDF. Put your first and last name in the document header. Name the file: FirstName LastName - Assignment Title - YYYY-MM-DD.pdf.
Open Schoology PDF upload helpIf you cannot get in, see Mr. Mendoza. Do not skip the work.
Claim ceiling: Record what the Day 1 sheet states and connect people by stated facts. These records cannot show who infected whom, and they cannot name a cause.
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.
It builds this reusable test skill: Separating observations from interpretations in a record.
- Name the concept or data pattern being tested.
- Cross out choices that violate that rule or the evidence.
- Justify the best remaining choice before checking the answer.