Bioethics: performance enhancement
Debate whether muscle-enhancing drugs should be allowed in sports, then post a CER.
One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether performance-enhancing drugs should be permitted in competitive sport.
- 1Do thisDebate whether muscle-enhancing drugs should be allowed in sports, then post a CER.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether performance-enhancing drugs should be permitted in competitive sport.
- 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: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 1.2 Muscles and Motion: Muscle contraction, muscle orientation, Maniken muscle build, movement and biomechanics. › 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: Performance-enhancing drugs manipulate muscle physiology in ways that raise both health and fairness concerns across competitive sport.
- 0-5Intro: how performance drugs change muscle physiology
- 5-20Independent reading and two-column pro/con list
- 20-40John Carroll bioethics debate
- 40-55Draft claim and evidence
- 55-75Write and post CER
- 75-80Class share: strongest health vs fairness arguments
- • This week we study the muscular system from the sarcomere to the full muscle. Before we do that, we have a question this system raises directly.
- • Drugs that force muscles to grow faster are real, available, and banned in most sports. Should they be?
- • Your CER today must take a specific position. Not just that drugs are bad. A position on the fairness and health trade-off.
- • Listen for the term anabolic in the reading. That word connects to the muscle biology we start tomorrow.
- 1Read the prompt: should athletes be permitted to use drugs that build muscle faster?
- 2List two arguments for allowing enhancement and two for banning it.
- 3Choose a side and write a one-sentence claim with your reasoning.
- 4Debate in your John Carroll bioethics group and note the strongest opposing point.
- 5Post a CER response on fairness and health in enhancement.
- • You can defend a position on muscle-enhancing drugs.
- • You can weigh fairness against health risk.
- • Anabolic steroids mimic testosterone and increase muscle protein synthesis, but side effects include cardiovascular damage, hormonal disruption, and liver toxicity.
- • The fairness argument against enhancement centers on coercion: if some athletes use drugs, others feel forced to do so to compete.
- • Bioethical reasoning requires weighing physical autonomy (right to use) against health harm and competitive equity.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 1.2 Muscles and Motion: Muscle contraction, muscle orientation, Maniken muscle build, movement and biomechanics. · Bioethics: performance enhancement
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Lesson 1.2 Muscles and Motion in myPLTW and complete the introductory task for this lesson; connect one fact about anabolic muscle physiology to your performance-enhancement CER.
Mark the introductory task complete after posting your CER.
You finished Lesson 1.1 bone content; this begins Lesson 1.2, and the introductory task should be checked off today.
myPLTW completion status plus CER screenshot.
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.
Unit 1.2 Muscles and Motion: Muscle contraction, muscle orientation, Maniken muscle build, movement and biomechanics. · Bioethics: performance enhancement
Open Lesson 1.2 Muscles and Motion in myPLTW and complete the introductory task for this lesson; connect one fact about anabolic muscle physiology to your performance-enhancement CER.
You finished Lesson 1.1 bone content; this begins Lesson 1.2, and the introductory task should be checked off today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Debate whether muscle-enhancing drugs should be allowed in sports, then post a CER.
- Read the prompt: should athletes be permitted to use drugs that build muscle faster?
- List two arguments for allowing enhancement and two for banning it.
- Choose a side and write a one-sentence claim with your reasoning.
- Debate in your John Carroll bioethics group and note the strongest opposing point.
- Post a CER response on fairness and health in enhancement.
CER: One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether performance-enhancing drugs should be permitted in competitive sport.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the prompt: should athletes be permitted to use drugs that build muscle faster? | _______ |
| List two arguments for allowing enhancement and two for banning it. | _______ |
| Choose a side and write a one-sentence claim with your reasoning. | _______ |
| Debate in your John Carroll bioethics group and note the strongest opposing point. | _______ |
| Post a CER response on fairness and health in enhancement. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You can defend a position on muscle-enhancing drugs.
- You can weigh fairness against health risk.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
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
Read the linked overview on anabolic steroids, then post a written CER on whether muscle enhancement should be allowed in sport, citing one fact from the resource.
MedlinePlus: Anabolic steroidsThen 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:
Khan Academy: Muscular System- 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 Tue, Sep 15, 2026 · Bioethics: performance enhancement here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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