Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 300–500 words that respond to the following questions with your research. This will be the foundation for future discussions with your classmates. To maximize your learning, select peers who selected topics different from the one you have chosen. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

Science in the News

Now that you have been learning about science, you may have noticed news articles or online videos on various scientific topics. Science is all around you.

Select a news article on a scientific discovery or achievement. This could be the discovery of a new planet or star, a new medical treatment, new findings concerning climate change, or countless other possibilities. If you are not sure where to find a news article, try looking on the home page of a favorite news source, or use a search engine to look for a specific topic of interest. After selecting a news article and reading it carefully, complete the following:

• Provide a brief summary of the article. What interested you about the topic?
• Do you agree or support the discovery or activity presented in your article? Why or why not?
• Did the author provide references and supporting facts in this article, or were you expected to just accept the findings without support?
• When reading about science, how important do you feel sources and references are in accepting the findings that are presented?