Unit 3.1 Outbreak Evidence: Line lists, maps, epidemic curves, infectious-agent identification lab or simulation.
What to do if absent- 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.
Week overview - Outbreak Evidence: line lists, epidemic curves, and identifying the agent
Build an epidemic curve from a line list and use case data and a lab simulation to identify the causative agent of an outbreak.
- 1Read the line list and define incidence, prevalence, and incubation period from the data.
- 2Sort the cases by date of onset and tally how many fell ill each day.
- 3Plot the daily case counts to build an epidemic curve and describe its shape.
- 4Run the agent-identification simulation or lab and record your test results carefully.
- 5Match the incubation pattern and lab results to a single most-likely causative agent.
- 6Write one sentence naming the agent and the strongest evidence that points to it.
- • You will be able to read a line list and build an epidemic curve from it.
- • You will be able to use incubation and lab evidence to identify a causative agent.
- • You will be able to record and disinfect properly during an identification lab.
Daily lessons this week
Open any day for its full lesson, the work due that day, and guided notes.
One-sentence statement of the strongest opposing argument encountered during the outbreak privacy debate.
Annotated notes with worked incidence/prevalence examples, epidemic curve shape sketches labeled by transmission type, and a spot-map interpretation note.
Completed data table with line-list summary, plotted epidemic curve (labeled with transmission type), spot-map cluster description, agent-ID results, and one stated measurement error.
CER naming the likely outbreak source and infectious agent, citing epidemic curve, spot map, and agent-ID evidence, including an attack rate or incidence value, and stating assumptions and limitations.
Updated project tracker with outbreak-unit status, confidence rating, and one reflective note, linked to the submitted five-artifact evidence package.
Quick intro to the week
- Hook: an outbreak is a mystery hidden in a spreadsheet, and epidemiologists are the detectives who crack it.
- Today's goal: turn a raw line list into an epidemic curve and name the agent behind the cases.
- Monday bioethics debate ties in: how much patient data may health officials share to stop an outbreak?
- Reminder: your graded epidemic curve and agent-identification report are submitted in the PLTW course shell.
Your PLTW coursework this week
Do this: Advance your PLTW PBS epidemiology benchmark by completing the outbreak data analysis and agent-identification report in the online course shell.
- • A line list records each case so patterns in an outbreak can be analyzed.
- • An epidemic curve plots cases over time and hints at the source and spread.
- • Incidence and prevalence describe new and total cases in a population.
- • Build an epidemic curve from raw case data.
- • Use incubation and lab evidence to identify a causative agent.
📋 PLTW evidence due: the completed epidemic curve and agent-identification lab report in the course shell.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction.
This week's PLTW tracker
Your week at a glance. Check off each deliverable as you finish it, then submit so Mr. Mendoza can see how the class is pacing.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
| Day | Date | Focus | Key deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Mon, Nov 16 | Outbreak privacy debate | One-sentence statement of the strongest opposing argument encountered during the outbreak privacy debate. |
| Tuesday | Tue, Nov 17 | Epidemiology tools notes | Annotated notes with worked incidence/prevalence examples, epidemic curve shape sketches labeled by transmission type, and a spot-map interpretation note. |
| Wednesday | Wed, Nov 18 | Outbreak data and agent ID lab | Completed data table with line-list summary, plotted epidemic curve (labeled with transmission type), spot-map cluster description, agent-ID results, and one stated measurement error. |
| Thursday | Thu, Nov 19 | Source and agent CER | CER naming the likely outbreak source and infectious agent, citing epidemic curve, spot map, and agent-ID evidence, including an attack rate or incidence value, and stating assumptions and limitations. |
| Friday | Fri, Nov 20 | Submit tracker and evidence | Updated project tracker with outbreak-unit status, confidence rating, and one reflective note, linked to the submitted five-artifact evidence package. |
- M: Philosophy for Kids / John Carroll bioethical debate
- T: teacher background notes + PLTW launch task
- W: lab / data or model work
- Th: analysis / CER or design revision
- F: submit tracker + weekly evidence
Due by week's end: Outbreak line list, map, and curve.
Lab day — what to bring & watch
This explainer accompanies the PLTW lab protocol — watch it before lab.
What to do when absent
Most days, this class is your PLTW coursework — and PLTW is online and individual. So being out usually just means doing exactly what we did in class, from home.
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.
You can't do those from home — do this instead: Teacher-posted data/model packet, same objective. Supplemental: CDC: epidemiology basics; HHMI bacterial identification virtual lab if used.
Class still runs. A substitute will post today's plan — complete the online activity above; it's built to be self-guided. Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
CDC: principles of epidemiology and outbreak investigationVocabulary
Virtual resources
Resources & readings
Hand-picked materials for this lesson. Class file items open the document directly; the rest are vetted readings and interactives from other biomedical programs.
Standards this week
WebXam practice
Drop your Week 12 here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project