Student
Philosophical Chairs - Genetics
Science Grade 7 Performance Task
Student Name:_________________________________________________________________
Student ID:___________________________________________________________________
School:_______________________________________________________________________
Teacher Name:________________________________________________________________
Task Description____________________________________________________
Task Overview
You will be tasked to participate in a philosophical chairs discussion on the ethics of genetic
identification and genetic engineering. In this packet you have two articles and two graphic
organizers. Fill in the graphic organizers using the articles, saying your position, your reasoning,
and citing textual evidence. These sections should be completed before you come in to
participate in the philosophical chairs. You should also show evidence of reading the articles by
use of staring, highlighting, underlining, etc.
You will be required to participate, citing evidence from one or both of the articles
you’ve read on genetics. While your peers are participating, you should be filling in the provided
graphic organizer, stating new information you’ve learned and new perspectives you’ve heard
about. At the end of the philosophical chairs you will hand in your packet.
Prompts
1. Should the United States go back to old criminal cases where criminals are still being
held in jail and check for DNA fingerprints? Why or why not?
2. Should we genetically engineer food?
Benchmark Assessment
Page 1
Student
Rubric
Criteria
Basic
1 Point
Developing
2 Points
Proficient
3 Points
Exemplary
4 Points
Preparation
Summary or
opinion showed
little to no effort
and no evidence
was shown for
going over the
articles.
Handed in a
summary or only
stated opinion,
but no evidence
was shown for
going over the
articles.
Handed in an opinion
on the topics that was
supported by evidence
cited from both
articles.
Participation Participation did
not promote
discussion.
Participated, but
did not connect
to the
topics/discussion
or connection
was superficial.
Filled out a
small portion or
only one section
of the graphic
organizer and/or
filled it out with
superficial
information.
Reflection only
stated if your
opinion changed.
Handed in a
summary of
evidence from
the articles but
either did not
state opinion on
the topic or only
cited one article.
Participated and
connected to the
topics/discussion.
Filled out most,
or all, of the
graphic organizer
referencing
peers’ opinions
and responses.
Completely filled out
the graphic organizer
citing peers’ opinions
and responses with
their supporting
evidence.
Reflection stated
if your opinion
changed or not
and utilized
supporting
evidence.
Reflection stated if
your opinion changed
or not and utilized
supporting evidence,
including specific
quotes of peers from
the philosophical
chairs activity.
Graphic
Organizer
Graphic
organizer
showed little to
no effort.
Reflection
Reflection
showed little to
no effort.
Benchmark Assessment
Participated and cited
evidence from one or
more of the articles.
Page 2