Cancer screening debate
Argue a CER position on whether broad cancer screening does more good than harm.
One CER on whether broad cancer screening does more good than harm, plus a reflection naming one false-positive or cost counterargument.
- 1Do thisArgue a CER position on whether broad cancer screening does more good than harm.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: One CER on whether broad cancer screening does more good than harm, plus a reflection naming one false-positive or cost counterargument.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions) › Cancer as loss of regulation; tumor types; diagnostic workflow. › CEROpen Schoology
Read to prepare for today
Vetted sources picked for today's question. Skim these before you take a position or start the work, so your argument and evidence are grounded.
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: When screening saves some lives but harms others through overdiagnosis, how do you weigh the tradeoff?
- 0-5Hook controversy; frame overdiagnosis vs. early detection debate question
- 5-20Silent read of cancer screening case brief; draft two overdiagnosis questions
- 20-35CER draft: claim on broad screening benefit vs. harm, two evidences, reasoning
- 35-65Structured debate: broad screening yes vs. targeted only
- 65-75Written reflection: name one false-positive or cost counterargument
- 75-80Post CER and reflection to course shell; confirm Tuesday is the last day before break
- • Hook: Show the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force mammography recommendation controversy in one sentence; ask: who should decide what gets screened?
- • Why it matters: Cancer is the unit you are beginning, and screening is the first clinical decision in every cancer case.
- • Today's structure: case brief, CER prep, structured debate, reflection.
- • Exit goal: CER and reflection posted before the bell; the rest of the week is short due to Thanksgiving.
- 1Read the cancer screening case brief in the course shell.
- 2Write two prepared questions about overdiagnosis versus early detection.
- 3Draft a CER with a claim, two pieces of evidence, and your reasoning.
- 4In the debate, note one counterargument about false positives or cost.
- 5Post your CER and reflection in the course shell.
- • You'll be able to argue a position on cancer screening with evidence.
- • You'll be able to weigh early detection against overdiagnosis.
- • Overdiagnosis occurs when screening detects a cancer that would never have caused symptoms or death if left undiscovered; it leads to unnecessary treatment with real side effects.
- • Early detection reduces mortality when the cancer is fast-growing and treatable; the benefit is clearest for aggressive cancers.
- • False positives cause anxiety, additional testing, and sometimes unnecessary procedures even when no cancer exists.
Your PLTW work today
Cancer as loss of regulation; tumor types; diagnostic workflow. · Cancer screening debate
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open the cancer screening debate activity in myPLTW for Unit 3 How to Conquer Cancer, Lesson 3.1 Detecting Cancer, Activity 3.1.1 Stories of Cancer / Who Is Affected by Cancer, and review the CER rubric.
Mark the cancer screening debate activity complete after your CER is posted.
Unit 2 summative should be at 100%; this is your first Unit 3 benchmark.
Cancer screening CER and reflection visible in the course discussion board.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Cancer as loss of regulation; tumor types; diagnostic workflow. · Cancer screening debate
Open the cancer screening debate activity in myPLTW for Unit 3 How to Conquer Cancer, Lesson 3.1 Detecting Cancer, Activity 3.1.1 Stories of Cancer / Who Is Affected by Cancer, and review the CER rubric.
Unit 2 summative should be at 100%; this is your first Unit 3 benchmark.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Argue a CER position on whether broad cancer screening does more good than harm.
- Read the cancer screening case brief in the course shell.
- Write two prepared questions about overdiagnosis versus early detection.
- Draft a CER with a claim, two pieces of evidence, and your reasoning.
- In the debate, note one counterargument about false positives or cost.
- Post your CER and reflection in the course shell.
CER: One CER on whether broad cancer screening does more good than harm, plus a reflection naming one false-positive or cost counterargument.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the cancer screening case brief in the course shell. | _______ |
| Write two prepared questions about overdiagnosis versus early detection. | _______ |
| Draft a CER with a claim, two pieces of evidence, and your reasoning. | _______ |
| In the debate, note one counterargument about false positives or cost. | _______ |
| Post your CER and reflection in the course shell. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You'll be able to argue a position on cancer screening with evidence.
- You'll be able to weigh early detection against overdiagnosis.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Cancer launch, biopsy, diagnosis workflow by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-3_How-to-Conquer-Cancer/3.1_Detecting-Cancer; keywords:cancer, tumor, biopsy. Score 146. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Cancer launch, biopsy, diagnosis workflow by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-3_How-to-Conquer-Cancer/00_Unit-Overview; keywords:cancer, diagnosis, osteosarcoma. Score 142. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Cancer launch, biopsy, diagnosis workflow by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-3_How-to-Conquer-Cancer/3.1_Detecting-Cancer; keywords:cancer, osteosarcoma. Score 138. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Missed the live debate? Watch the linked overview and post a written CER on cancer screening plus your two questions and a reflection in the PLTW course shell.
Then submit your CER on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
National Cancer Institute: What Is Cancer?Optional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · Cancer screening debate here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project