Literature and design analysis
Students will evaluate their research design against published literature and refine weak points.
Literature comparison summary: one credible source cited, one strength and one weakness of the team design identified, one concrete revision documented.
- 1Do thisStudents will evaluate their research design against published literature and refine weak points.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisNotebook check: Literature comparison summary: one credible source cited, one strength and one weakness of the team design identified, one concrete revision documented.
- 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 2.2 Research Model: Model organisms, C. elegans, neurotransmitters/hormones, scientific literature, research poster. › Notebook checkOpen 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: Scientists refine their designs by reading what others have done; ignoring prior work leads to avoidable errors.
- 0-10Mini-lesson: how to evaluate source credibility (CRAAP or similar framework)
- 10-28Teams locate one credible source; record title, author, and key methods
- 28-45Compare team methods to the published approach; note similarities and differences
- 45-58Identify one design strength and one weakness; decide on one revision
- 58-70Revise the design plan (variables or sample size) and document the change
- 70-80Write summary of how the literature improved your plan; submit
- • No scientist designs an experiment without first reading what has already been done.
- • Today you will locate a credible source and use it to stress-test your team's design.
- • Finding one weakness and fixing it now is far better than discovering it after you collect data.
- • You will document your revision so your poster can describe your design evolution.
- 1Locate one credible source related to your question.
- 2Compare your methods to the published approach.
- 3Identify one strength and one weakness in your design.
- 4Revise your variables or sample size if needed.
- 5Summarize how the literature improved your plan.
- • Design is compared to at least one credible source.
- • Summary names one concrete revision made.
- • Credible scientific sources include peer-reviewed journals, government health databases, and vetted educational institutions.
- • Comparing your design to published methods reveals gaps in controls, sample size, or measurement.
- • Iterative revision is a normal and necessary part of the scientific process.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 2.2 Research Model: Model organisms, C. elegans, neurotransmitters/hormones, scientific literature, research poster. · Literature and design analysis
Day 4 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Complete the literature-review or design-analysis prompt in myPLTW associated with today's source-comparison work; finish it after you document your design revision.
Mark the literature-analysis activity complete in myPLTW after submitting your literature comparison summary.
Design task is done; today the literature task should show complete and your revised plan should be submitted.
Screenshot or note of completion status for your tracker.
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 2.2 Research Model: Model organisms, C. elegans, neurotransmitters/hormones, scientific literature, research poster. · Literature and design analysis
Complete the literature-review or design-analysis prompt in myPLTW associated with today's source-comparison work; finish it after you document your design revision.
Design task is done; today the literature task should show complete and your revised plan should be submitted.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Students will evaluate their research design against published literature and refine weak points.
- Locate one credible source related to your question.
- Compare your methods to the published approach.
- Identify one strength and one weakness in your design.
- Revise your variables or sample size if needed.
- Summarize how the literature improved your plan.
Notebook check: Literature comparison summary: one credible source cited, one strength and one weakness of the team design identified, one concrete revision documented.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Locate one credible source related to your question. | _______ |
| Compare your methods to the published approach. | _______ |
| Identify one strength and one weakness in your design. | _______ |
| Revise your variables or sample size if needed. | _______ |
| Summarize how the literature improved your plan. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- Design is compared to at least one credible source.
- Summary names one concrete revision made.
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.
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 Notebook check.
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:
Khan Academy: The science of biology (experimental design)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 Wed, Nov 4, 2026 · Literature and design analysis here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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