Chemo and radiation
Compare how chemotherapy and radiation kill cancer cells and why each causes side effects.
CER paragraph arguing which treatment (chemo or radiation) is more appropriate for a localized tumor, with apoptosis and side-effect evidence.
- 1Do thisCompare how chemotherapy and radiation kill cancer cells and why each causes side effects.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: CER paragraph arguing which treatment (chemo or radiation) is more appropriate for a localized tumor, with apoptosis and side-effect evidence.
- 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) › Biopsy, imaging, staging, chemo, radiation, targeted therapy, response, side effects. › CEROpen Schoology
- 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: Killing cancer cells means disrupting cell division, which always risks collateral damage to healthy tissue.
- 0-8Read treatment notes; define apoptosis in margin
- 8-25Draw chemotherapy mechanism diagram (systemic, fast-dividers)
- 25-40Draw radiation mechanism diagram (targeted, DNA damage)
- 40-55List two side effects each; link to healthy tissue type
- 55-72Write CER paragraph: chemo vs. radiation for a localized tumor
- 72-80Peer review CER structure; submit
- • Both chemotherapy and radiation kill cancer, but they do it differently and hurt different bystanders.
- • Today you will diagram each mechanism and then argue which one fits a specific case.
- • The CER format you practice today is one of the highest-frequency skills on the WebXam.
- • By the end you will be able to explain to a patient why their hair may fall out.
- 1Read the treatment-mechanism notes in the PLTW course shell and define apoptosis.
- 2Diagram how chemotherapy targets fast-dividing cells throughout the body.
- 3Diagram how radiation damages cell DNA in a targeted area.
- 4List two common side effects for each and tie them to healthy fast-dividing tissue.
- 5Write a CER paragraph claiming which treatment fits a localized tumor and why.
- • You'll be able to contrast the mechanisms of chemotherapy and radiation.
- • You'll be able to explain side effects using apoptosis and healthy-cell damage.
- • Chemotherapy circulates systemically and targets any rapidly dividing cell.
- • Radiation delivers focused ionizing energy to damage DNA in a defined tumor volume.
- • Side effects correlate directly to which fast-dividing healthy tissues are caught in the treatment field.
Your PLTW work today
Biopsy, imaging, staging, chemo, radiation, targeted therapy, response, side effects. · Chemo and radiation
Day 3 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Activity 3.3.1 Diary of a Cancer Patient in myPLTW for Lesson 3.3 Treating Cancer and use the treatment-mechanism notes to diagram chemotherapy and radiation.
Mark the chemo-and-radiation entry complete and attach your CER paragraph.
Biopsy and staging should be done (Tuesday); chemo/radiation diagrams and CER due today.
Both mechanism diagrams and CER paragraph submitted in the course shell.
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.
Biopsy, imaging, staging, chemo, radiation, targeted therapy, response, side effects. · Chemo and radiation
Open Activity 3.3.1 Diary of a Cancer Patient in myPLTW for Lesson 3.3 Treating Cancer and use the treatment-mechanism notes to diagram chemotherapy and radiation.
Biopsy and staging should be done (Tuesday); chemo/radiation diagrams and CER due today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Compare how chemotherapy and radiation kill cancer cells and why each causes side effects.
- Read the treatment-mechanism notes in the PLTW course shell and define apoptosis.
- Diagram how chemotherapy targets fast-dividing cells throughout the body.
- Diagram how radiation damages cell DNA in a targeted area.
- List two common side effects for each and tie them to healthy fast-dividing tissue.
- Write a CER paragraph claiming which treatment fits a localized tumor and why.
CER: CER paragraph arguing which treatment (chemo or radiation) is more appropriate for a localized tumor, with apoptosis and side-effect evidence.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the treatment-mechanism notes in the PLTW course shell and define apoptosis. | _______ |
| Diagram how chemotherapy targets fast-dividing cells throughout the body. | _______ |
| Diagram how radiation damages cell DNA in a targeted area. | _______ |
| List two common side effects for each and tie them to healthy fast-dividing tissue. | _______ |
| Write a CER paragraph claiming which treatment fits a localized tumor and why. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You'll be able to contrast the mechanisms of chemotherapy and radiation.
- You'll be able to explain side effects using apoptosis and healthy-cell damage.
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 treatment and therapeutic choices by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-3_How-to-Conquer-Cancer/3.3_Treating-Cancer; keywords:chemotherapy, radiation, cancer. 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 treatment and therapeutic choices by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-3_How-to-Conquer-Cancer/3.4_Building-a-Better-Cancer-Treatment; keywords:treatment, cancer. Score 142. 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.
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
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your CER.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
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: Types of cancer treatmentOptional 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 Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · Chemo and radiation here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project