Medical Conditions of the Human Body
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
HONORS HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY 2009-10
Mr. Mazza
READ THIS DOCUMENT VERY CAREFULLY!
This project entails each student giving an oral presentation about a particular human condition
(disease, injury, etc.) using a PowerPoint presentation. Each student will present in front of the
class for 8-12 minutes during the unit in which their topic is included. Students not presenting are
responsible for taking notes on the presentation since everyone will be tested on the information
on a test or quiz during the unit. Each presentation will be graded using the attached rubric and
will be counted as a test grade (100 points).
Important Due Dates:
 Email me your final Power-point file the week of September 21 – 25 (any day that
week – email to jmazzabiology@yahoo.com). Any presentations sent after that time
will receive a zero. You might not present your topic until May, but you must have
your FINAL PowerPoint presentation done by this time. No changes can be made
to your PowerPoint file after this due date has passed. This will be approximately
half of your presentation grade (see rubric)
 By the end of this week you also need to print out a copy of your presentation to be
passed in as well. There are directions on how to do this in this packet.
 I need a copy of the scientific/medical journal article that you use by the 25th as well.
CRITERIA FOR POWER-POINT PRESENTATION
This presentation will be worth 100 points (a test grade)
The following components should be addressed:
1. Etiology (causes or origin) – brief history of the disease (if documented), what
causes the condition (genes, environment, combination, etc.)?
2. Description - body system(s) and organs that are affected and specifics on how
they are affected, life-expectancy with disease, what is it like to live with the
disease, etc.
3. Treatments (at least three and explain each) – benefits, side-effects, etc.
4. Prevention (explain two methods of preventative care – see me if your
disease/condition does not fit this criterion)
5. PubMed or other professional journal article – you must use one article from a
professional journal and include it in your presentation (it should not take up a lot
of your presentation, but it should be worked in (and referenced) at some point.
An 8-12 minute presentation is expected. You will be graded on the criteria listed in the
attached rubric. Your classmates will be tested on what you present on the test/quiz for that
system, so make sure you strive for clarity in your presentation (NO HANDOUTS OF
SLIDES ARE ALLOWED!).
If you are absent when a presentation is given:
Get the notes from a classmate who was there the day the presentation was given
SOURCES
It is absolutely necessary to cite all sources that were used to create your presentation (text,
images, etc.). THERE WILL BE NO CREDIT WITHOUT THIS EVIDENCE! Put your
bibliography in AMA format on the last slide(s) of your presentation (see the class website
Honors A&P Links page for information on AMA format)
Five current (past 10 years) sources are required. More than 5 are recommended. The
following MUST be used as sources (See rubric for explanation of the AMA bibliography
assessment)
1. Class text (include page numbers)
2. Scientific/medical Journal article approved by me – search PubMed or any
professional journal (look at the Honors A&P links page of the website for guidance) – I
need a copy of this source to be passed in before the 25th as well
3. Newspaper article or interview with a knowledgeable person (health care professional,
person with the disease or condition)
4. “Reputable” internet web site - .gov, .edu, .org (NO .coms – unless it is approved (ask
me)
5. A scientifically accurate text (beside class text)
* NO WIKIPEDIA!
VISUALS
You are required to have at least 4 quality visuals with captions in your presentation. All
visuals should pertain to the information on the slide in which they appear (clip art type pictures
do not count) – see rubric for details
DAY OF YOUR PRESENTATION
Being absent on the day of your scheduled presentation is not acceptable, except in extreme
circumstances. You are responsible for arranging a date when class is in session, and a date
that you know you will be able to present since I plan the class around your presentation. I
will give you notice of your presentation date at least one week in advance but be prepared
when your system comes up (see the list of topics for approximate dates when your topic
will come up)
HOW TO PRINT OUT YOUR SLIDES
You must provide a hard copy of your slides by September 25th, the last date the electronic copy
of your presentation must be emailed to me. Please use the following directions to print out your
slides in 3 slides per page/”handout” format:
On a Mac (from school computers):
1. In PowerPoint, select FILE  PRINT.
2. On the print menu, find the drop down menu that says “Print What.”
3. From the “Print What” menu, choose “Handouts (3 slides per page).”
4. Click Print.
On a PC (from home):
1. In PowerPoint, select FILE  PRINT.
2. On the print Menu, find the drop down menu that says “Print What.”
3. From the “Print What” menu, choose “Handouts.”
4. Still on the print menu, find the Handouts section, just to the right of “Print What.”
5. Choose Slides per page: 3.
6. Click OK to print.
Your printout does not need to be in color, but must be in this 3-slide-per-page handout format.
Please do not pass in a packet with one giant slide per page, or 12 tiny slides per page!
If you have any issues/questions, please see me after school.
List of COMMON ERRORS for the presentation (from former students and me)
Not following directions from this handout, including
 Speaking too fast/slow or too loud/soft,
 Not defining unfamiliar vocabulary – ex. Using “big words” (aka. Medical and
biological terminology not commonly used in class) without explaining, even in a quote
 Putting too much information on each slide
 Giving too little information during the presentation
 not being able to expand verbally on information on your powerpoint
 Relying too heavily on note cards or reading from the screen during
the presentation
 Not making a backup copy of your presentation
 Not practicing your presentation beforehand
 Not reviewing the information on your presentation (especially important if you go late in
the year!)
 Mistakes with AMA format on bibliography (or no bibliography)
 Using a slide background (pictures etc.) that makes it difficult to read or a slide
background that is very distracting
 Using too many slides or sound effects
 Not showing understanding of sources
 No captions under visuals
 No visuals at all
 Not citing visuals
 Using font that is too small
 Grammatical and spelling errors
4
3
2
Content –
Depth/Accuracy
All content
throughout the
presentation is
accurate and well
explained by the
presenter. There
are no factual
errors. Shows a
full understanding
of the topic.
Most of the
content is accurate
but there is one
piece of
information that is
not explained or
written accurately.
Shows a good
understanding of
the topic.
Content
Coverage
All required
content is
addressed (1-5 on
first page of this
handout)
Missing one
content area or
insufficient
information for one
area
Most of the
content is accurate
but there are two
pieces of
information that
are not explained
or written
accurately. Shows
an adequate
understanding of
the topic.
Missing two
content areas or
insufficient
information for two
areas
Sequencing of
Information
Information is
organized in a
clear, logical way.
Each slide has a
title and flows
easily into the next
topic
Some information
is logically
sequenced. Two
slides or items of
information seem
out of place or lack
titles.
Graphics/font
All graphics (4
minimum) are
attractive (size and
colors) and
support the
theme/content of
the presentation
and have captions
(clip art like
pictures will not
count although
they can be used)
Volume is loud
enough to be
heard by all
audience
members
throughout the
presentation.
Good posture,
looks relaxed and
confident.
Establishes eye
contact with
everyone in the
room during the
presentation.
Most information is
organized in a
clear, logical way.
One slide or item
of information
seems out of place
or lacks a title (Or
has title that is not
descriptive)
A few graphics are
not attractive (poor
resolution or
quality) but all
support the
theme/content of
the presentation.
(or 3 visuals)
All graphics are
attractive but one
does not support
the theme/content
of the presentation
or more than one
has very poor
resolution. (or 1 or
2 visuals)
Several graphics
are unattractive
AND detract from
the content of the
presentation.
Volume is too soft
to be heard by all
audience
members during
parts of the
presentation.
Volume is too soft
to be heard by all
audience
members about
half the time.
Volume too soft to
be heard by all
audience
members for
most/all of the
presentation
Establishes eye
contact with
everyone in the
room but does not
stand straight up
(leans on desk,
projector, etc. OR
does not look at
one area of the
room but posture
is good (ex.
Looking at me or
only to your right
while speaking
Minimal eye
contact (reading
from note cards or
screen for about
half of the
presentation)
and/or does not
show good posture
when presenting
(i.e. leaning on
desk or projector,
etc.)
Slouches and/or
reads off of the
screen during the
presentation with
little or no eye
contact with the
audience.
Volume
Posture and
Eye Contact
1
Content contains
more than two
factual errors.
Does not seem to
be able to explain
the information
adequately
reflecting poor
understanding of
the topic
Missing more than
two content areas
or insufficient
information in
more than two
areas
There is no clear
plan for the
organization of
information.
Slides are not well
organized with
titles
OR
No graphics are
used
In addition to the rubric points, please read the following:
 5 points will be deducted from your overall score for each minute under 8
 5 points will be deducted if you exceed the upper range of the time frame by
more than one minute (13 minutes or longer)
 2 points will be deducted for each spelling mistake from your overall score.
 10 points will be deducted for not including a bibliography slide in AMA format
at the end of your presentation
List of Possible Topics:
Integumentary (September)
1. skin cancer
2. burns (1st, 2nd and 3rd degree)
Skeletal (Early October to mid-late October)
3. Osteoporosis
4. Rheumatoid arthritis/ osteoarthritis
5. Knee injuries (ACL tear, torn meniscus, knee replacement)
6. Joint replacement surgery
Muscular (Late October/early November)
7. muscular dystrophy
8. fibromyalgia
9. anabolic steroid abuse (physiological and pyschological effects)
10. ALS
Nervous (Mid to Late November/December)
11. Alzheimer’s
12. Multiple Sclerosis
13. Depression
14. Spinal chord injuries
15. Tourette syndrome (guest speaker)
16. Parkinson’s disease
Senses (January)
17. Glaucoma or cataracts
18. Deafness
Endocrine (March)
19. Diabetes (type I)
20. Diabetes (type II)
Cardiovascular (Late Jan/early February)
21. Stroke
22. Cardiomyopathy
23. Congestive Heart failure
24. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
25. Anemia (overview of the different types or you may focus on a particular type)
Digestion and Nutrition (March/early April)
26. Obesity
27. Crohn’s disease
28. Celiac’s disease
29. peptic ulcers or diverticular disease
Respiratory (Late February)
30. Emphysema
31. Lung cancer
32. asthma
Immune*(April)
33. organ transplants (matching donors and recipients)
34. leukemia
35. lupus (systemic lupus erythromatosus)
Urinary*(April)
36. Polycystic kidney disease
37. Glomerular nephritis and/or glomerular sclerosis
38. End-stage renal disease
Reproductive*(end April/early May)
39. breast cancer
40. prostate cancer
41. any one of the following: cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, erectile dysfunction, testicular cancer

IMPORTANT If you are in the ACE program, you will have to present before April. (If
you are thinking of applying, do not choose anything from Immune, Urinary, or
Reproductive)

You may change your topic if you wish before it is due as long as your presentation is
completed on time. Just be sure to let me know if you decide to do this.