Activity R.6 ~ Describing vs Explaining

Turn to a partner and tell them the difference between IDENTIFYING, DESCRIBING, and EXPLAINING.

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IDENTIFY the bicycle: "The bicycle is the vehicle the person is riding."

DESCRIBE a bicycle: "A bicycle has pedals, two wheels, and a handle. The biker pushes the pedals to turn the bicycle wheels."

EXPLAIN why a biker uses a bicycle: "The biker is using the bicycle to go to school. Maybe they do not have a car or do not want to use the school bus."

Open response questions on the MCAS are tricky!

You need to make sure you are actually answering what the question is asking for.

Do you need to IDENTIFY, DESCRIBE, or EXPLAIN?

Remember, ANY ANSWER will get you at least 1 point on the test!

​IDENTIFY vs DETERMINE vs DESCRIBE vs EXPLAIN

Open Ended

IDENTIFY which molecule (A, B, or C) is a DNA molecule.

Fill in the Blanks

DETERMINE the RNA sequence that will be made by this DNA sequence:

TAC CGC GAA ACT

Open Ended

DESCRIBE the process that cells do in order to make RNA molecules.

Open Ended

EXPLAIN why a change to a DNA sequence can change the proteins that a cell produces.

IDENTIFY which molecule is DNA.
Molecule A is a DNA molecule.

DETERMINE the RNA sequence that will be made by the DNA sequence TAC CGC GAA ACT.
AUG GCG CUU UGA

DESCRIBE the process that cells do in order to make RNA molecules.
DNA nucleotides are matched with complementary RNA nucleotides. So A goes with U, T goes with A, etc.

EXPLAIN why changing the DNA will change the resulting protein.
DNA makes RNA, and RNA makes protein. So, if you change the DNA, that will change the RNA that it makes. A different RNA molecule could produce a different protein.

KEY

A student responds with: "DNA makes RNA through transcription, and RNA makes protein through translation."

Turn to your partner and tell them what is wrong with this answer!

​EXPLAIN why a change to a DNA sequence can change the protein that gets made.

A student responds with: "DNA makes RNA through transcription, and RNA makes protein through translation."

This is a description, not an explanation! It does not answer the actual question, which is WHY changing DNA will change the protein.

​EXPLAIN why a change to a DNA sequence can change the protein that gets made.

Now for some practice!

Open Ended

DESCRIBE the role of a primary consumer in an ecosystem.

Open Ended

EXPLAIN why the energy pyramid gets smaller as you go up the pyramid.

Open Ended

DESCRIBE the process that is happening in the model.

Open Ended

EXPLAIN why this process happens in the human body.

Open Ended

DESCRIBE what is happening in the model.

Open Ended

EXPLAIN why this process increases the genetic diversity of future offspring.

Open Ended

LDL cholesterol is called “bad cholesterol.” Excess amounts of LDL cholesterol in the blood mix with other substances and stick to the walls of arteries. The arteries become narrow and lose flexibility as these cholesterol layers build up and harden (a condition called atherosclerosis).

Blood carries oxygen to body cells.

IDENTIFY the process in body cells that directly requires oxygen.

Open Ended

LDL cholesterol is called “bad cholesterol.” Excess amounts of LDL cholesterol in the blood mix with other substances and stick to the walls of arteries. The arteries become narrow and lose flexibility as these cholesterol layers build up and harden (a condition called atherosclerosis).

Blood carries oxygen to body cells.

DESCRIBE the effect of atherosclerosis on the amount of oxygen supplied to body cells.

Open Ended

LDL cholesterol is called “bad cholesterol.” Excess amounts of LDL cholesterol in the blood mix with other substances and stick to the walls of arteries. The arteries become narrow and lose flexibility as these cholesterol layers build up and harden (a condition called atherosclerosis).

Blood carries oxygen to body cells.

EXPLAIN why cells die if they do not receive oxygen for an extended period of time.