Evaluation by Group 6

1.  Topic Selection:  20
Excellent; subject is of interest to broad segments of the audience.

2.  Newspaper and article selection:  9
Article from before 1-1-98; otherwise great.

3.  Quality of editorial comments:  8
Punctuation errors (commas); repetitive.  In addition, no supporting
information is given for the first sentence of paragraph 4.

4.  Organic Chemistry Content:  7
The organic chemistry issue was not fully explained in the editorial
comments.  Specifically, how does UV light create Thymine dimers?  What
characteristics of thymine allow it to form such a pair?  Adenine, guanine
and cytosine don't form such dimers; we were looking for an explanation of
the chemistry involved.  (Please note:  we realize that one of your
links did begin to explain this, but the point should have been at least
addressed in the editorial comments.)  Also, the enzyme responsible for
repairing the damage is PHOTOLYASE, not PHOTOLYSASE.  Please note that
your link uses photolyase two of three times -- the first is probably
just a typo.  Finally, important compounds were not explained
sufficiently.

5.  Selection and Quality of the Links:  19
Skin cancer link isn't very helpful.  Otherwise, great!

6.  Format, Number and Types of Questions:  10
Great.  It's all there.

7.  Quality of the Questions:  8
The structure of thymine and how the two thymines form a dimer should have
been addressed.

8.  8

Reevaluation by Group 6

1.  Topic Selection:  20
Excellent; subject is of interest to broad segments of the audience.

2.  Newspaper and article selection:  9
Article from before 1-1-98; otherwise great.

3.  Quality of editorial comments:  9
Punctuation errors (commas); repetitive.  In addition, no
supporting information is given for the first sentence of paragraph 4
(though no points taken off for this).

4.  Organic Chemistry Content:  8
The organic chemistry issue was not fully explained in the editorial
comments.  Specifically, how does UV light create Thymine dimers?  What
characteristics of thymine allow it to form such a pair?  Adenine, guanine
and cytosine don't form such dimers; we were looking for an explanation of
the chemistry involved.  (Please note:  we realize that one of your
links did begin to explain this, but the point should have been at least
addressed in the editorial comments.) (1 point)  Also, the enzyme
responsible for repairing the damage is PHOTOLYASE, not PHOTOLYSASE (1
point).  Please note that your link uses photolyase two of three times --
the first is probably  just a typo.  (1 point)

5.  Selection and Quality of the Links:  19
Skin cancer link isn't very helpful.  Otherwise, great!

6.  Format, Number and Types of Questions:  10
Great.  It's all there.

7.  Quality of the Questions:  9
Okay, but the structure of thymine and how the two thymines form a dimer
should have been addressed.

8.  9
 

Evaluation by Group 7

   (1) Topic Selection: 18 Points (0-20)
                        Topic is very interesting to many.  Everyone must deal with sun exposure.  Good organic chemistry correlation.

        (2) Newspaper and Article Selection: 8 Points (0-10)
                        The newspaper is of good quality.  However, the author qualifications to write about science were not clear, nor available.

        (3) Quality of the Editorial Comments: 9 Points (0-10)
                        The editorial comments were essential in establishing the solid connection to chemistry.  The grammar, English and organization were good.

        (4) Organic Chemistry Content: 8 Points (0-10)
                        The organic chemistry content was fairly clear.  Backgroung information was sufficient,  references seemed complete.

        (5) Selection and Quality of the Links: 19 Points (0-20)
                        links were of high quality and good stability.  They were relevent to the topic and placed well in editorial.  The DNA link was not available without a certain plug-in.

        (6) Format, Number and Types of Questions: 10 Points (0-10)
                       The required number of questions were used with varying categories.  The last question was a PSP.

        (7) Quality of the Questions: 9 Points (0-10)
                        Very good questions that address the central issues.  Clear and understandable.  May >
Group 24: Pi Bonded, Group Dynamics Report
Chapter 24. Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins.
DRUGS: NEW DANGERS FOR PARTY-GOERS
The Oakland Post, November 19, 1997.
Rape, Drug, Str    The topic of skin cancer is interesting and applicable to almost
all audiences.  At first glance it does not seem to be as pertinent to
chemistry as it is to biology, but that is in part because it is related
to a chapter in the textbook not covered in Chem 210.

        2. Newspaper and Article Selection:  9 points (0-10)

        The newspaper article was published in the Los Angeles Times, a
well-known newspaper.  There were no credentials, however, given by the
author, but she seemed to have good knowledge of the subject matter.  The
article was published May 14, 1997, not within the past year.  It was of
acceptable length, not too long, not too short.

        3. Quality of the Editorial Comments:  9 points (0-10)

        The editorial does a good job of extending the scope of the
article, as it gives a little more background knowledge.  It is in a
well-written format with few mistakes.

        4. Organic Chemistry Content:  8 points (0-10)

        No clear relation was made to organic chemistry.  However, the
background information provided in the editorial clarified the material
somewhat.  Important compounds were characterized and described and the
pertinent reference section seems to be complete.

        5. Selection and Quality of the Links:  19 points (0-20)

        The links seemed very pertinent and added greatly to background
information on different aspects of the topic.  The DNA link aids in
understanding its structure.  The repairing T-T dimers links was excellent
and related back to organic chemistry very well.

        6. Format, Number, and Types of Questions:  10 points (0-10)

        There are five questions including the required PSP question.
They cover a variety of mini-topics within the article.

        7. Quality of the Questions:  8 points (0-10)

        The questions are of good quality and address issues important to
preventing and curing skin cancer as caused by DNA mutations.  They are
reasonable, however, none of them are very chemistry-specific.

        8. Overall Impression:  9 points (0-10)

        This would be a good news item to use in an organic chemistry
class if a little more actual chemistry were added to it.  But overall, it
is very good.
 

Evaluation by Group 9
 (1) Topic Selection: 18 Points (0-20)
 

        (2) Newspaper and Article Selection: 9 Points (0-10)
 

        (3) Quality of the Editorial Comments: 8 Points (0-10)
 

        (4) Organic Chemistry Content: 6 Points (0-10)
                        The only time we felt that chemistry issues were really talked about was during the editorial comments.  The article was more of a biological article and did not get much into the chemistry aspect.

        (5) Selection and Quality of the Links: 15 Points (0-20)
                        Two of the links required viewing software, so it does not play on a computer that does not contain this software, thus it makes it irrelivent without the software.

        (6) Format, Number and Types of Questions: 7 Points (0-10)
 

        (7) Quality of the Questions: 7 Points (0-10)
                        Some of the questions are not too indepth, and they seem to deal more with sunscreen rather than chemistry.

        (8) Overall Impression. 7 Points (0-10)
                        This is based on the idea that the article was more biologically related than chemistry related.  There were a couple of links that did not work without viewing software, one of the links was a link to the home page of the American Cancer Society and thus did not direct us in a specific place that was related to the article, such as the link on Organic Photochemistry of DNA Damage and Repair.
 

Evaluation by Group 10

   (1) Topic Selection: 20 Points (0-20)
                        Good topic because it relates to everyone in the sun.  Everyone wants a good tan and may not know the risk of skin cancer.

        (2) Newspaper and Article Selection: 10 Points (0-10)
                        The article was good in information as well as length.

        (3) Quality of the Editorial Comments: 9 Points (0-10)
                        Editorial was good and informative

        (4) Organic Chemistry Content: 9 Points (0-10)
                        It related to organic chemistry

        (5) Selection and Quality of the Links: 19 Points (0-20)
                        Links were very informative by having good graphics and leading to other links.

        (6) Format, Number and Types of Questions: 10 Points (0-10)
                        Format looks good

        (7) Quality of the Questions: 9 Points (0-10)
                        Good questions that stimulated the mind and explore links

        (8) Overall Impression. 10 Points (0-10)
                        This was an overall good web page.  Good job!!