T2 Criterion D Summative Task:

Reflecting on the Impact of Acids and Bases

GOAL In this task, your goal is to reflect on the impact of a chemical reaction that
involves acids and/or bases as reactants and/or products.

ROLE You are a writer for an online magazine that features articles about the impacts
of science on people’s daily lives.

AUDIENCE General population / all readers of the magazine

SITUATION Your boss, the editor of the magazine’s features section, has given you a task -
to write an article that focuses on the positive and negative impacts of a
chemical reaction that involves acids or bases or both as reactants or products
of the reaction.

PRODUCT An essay OR magazine article that contains no less than 1,000 words for a two-
page spread on the magazine

STANDARDS Your work will be evaluated using the MYP Science Criterion D descriptors
shown in the next page.

IMAGE SOURCE:

Johnson, Doug. “Uses of Acids & Bases.” Sciencing, 2 Mar. 2019, https://sciencing.com/uses-acids-
bases-6824504.html.

 RUBRIC FOR T2 CRITERION D TASK

Achievement Task-specific descriptors
Level

0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.

The student…
i. outlined the ways in which the chemical reaction is used to address a specific
problem or issue.
ii. outlined the implications of using the chemical reaction to solve a specific
1-2 problem or issue, interacting with a factor (moral, ethical, social, economic,
political, cultural or environmental).
iii. attempted to apply some scientific language to communicate understanding.
iv. showed limited documentation of sources, showing only in-text citations or
works cited.

The student…
i. summarized the ways in which the chemical reaction is used to address a
specific problem or issue.
ii. described the implications of using the chemical reaction to solve a specific
3-4 problem or issue, interacting with a factor (moral, ethical, social, economic,
political, cultural or environmental).
iii. applied some scientific language appropriately to communicate understanding.
iv. correctly documented some sources, with incomplete inconsistently formatted
in-text citations or works cited.

The student…
i. clearly described the ways in which the chemical reaction is used to address a
specific problem or issue.
ii. discussed the implications of using the chemical reaction to solve a specific
problem or issue, interacting with a factor (moral, ethical, social, economic,
5-6
political, cultural or environmental), and using several references from the
work of experts in the field as evidence.
iii. mostly applied scientific language appropriately to communicate understanding.
iv. correctly documented most sources, with almost complete or inconsistently
formatted in-text citations or works cited.

The student…
i. clearly explained the ways in which the chemical reaction is used to address a
specific problem or issue.
ii. discussed and evaluated the implications of using the chemical reaction to
solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor (moral, ethical, social,
economic, political, cultural or environmental), and arrived at a clear
7-8
conclusion expressing his/her own opinion on the topic.
iii. consistently applied scientific language appropriately and provided
explanations when necessary to communicate understanding clearly and
precisely.
iv. correctly documented all sources, with complete in-text citations and works
cited page following the MLA format.
NOTE: The rubric does not include any descriptor for the format of the essay/article. Accuracy of content and clarity of
communication will be the focus of evaluating your work.

Command terms
Apply: use knowledge and understanding in response to given situations or real circumstances
Describe: give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process
Discuss: offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses, with
opinions or conclusions presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence
Document: credit sources of information used by referencing (or citing), following one recognized referencing system,
where references are included in the text and also at the end of the piece of work in a reference list or bibliography
Evaluate: make an appraisal by weighing the strengths and limitations
Explain: give a detailed account including reasons or causes
Outline: give a brief account
Summarize: abstract a general theme or major point(s).

















CHOOSING A TOPIC
In choosing a topic for your essay/article, remember that the focus is on how
a specific chemical reaction involving acids or bases is used to solve a real-life
problem. It is ideal for you to identify and mention the specific chemical
equation involved in the reaction if you can.

Here are some possible areas to explore for this summative task:

TOPIC POSSIBLE INQUIRY QUESTION

WATER
How are acids/bases used in water purification?
PURIFICATION

How are acids/bases used in agriculture (e.g.,

AGRICULTURE fertilizer production)?

FOOD How are acids/bases used in food production?

How are acids/bases used in maintaining personal

HEALTH/MEDICINE hygiene or in treating health/medical conditions?

How are acids/bases used to produce clothes,

LIFESTYLE/FASHION shoes, or cosmetics?

How are acids/bases used in manufacturing

OTHERS products such as batteries, explosives, etc.

DO NOT limit yourself to these examples. Feel free to explore your own
areas of interest.