SUBJECT:
TYPE:
DUE DATE:
WEIGHT:
BIOP211 Pharmacology
Toxicology Essay
Week 6
WORD LIMIT:
20%
TOTAL MARKS:
800 words +/- 10%
40 marks
Identify and analyse the principles underlying Toxicology (exposure, dose-response and other risk
characterisation, risk management) and determine what constitutes a toxic agent.
• This assignment will expand on the students’ knowledge of Toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics,
Human Biology, Biochemistry and other relevant concepts;
• The research will concentrate on specific agent(s) that can be toxic in the environment around
us; and the mechanisms that this / these toxin(s) use to cause harm to the body.
TASK:
Topics
Research a toxicology issue. Obtain clearance from your Online Academic or Lecturer first regarding
the specific agent or agents relevant to that issue. Discuss exposure principles, dose-response or
margins of safety data and toxic mechanisms of relevant agents and describe their effects on health or
ecology as well as management. Choose ONE (1) topic only from:

Toxic effects of pesticides, or

Toxic effects of metals, solvents and vapours, or

Toxic effects of radiation and radioactive materials, or

Toxic effects of prokaryotes or eukaryotes or similar. You will be encouraged to choose Plantbased toxins.

Air pollution - acid rain or

Air pollution - particulate matter or

Air pollution - CO2 greenhouse effect or

Ecotoxicity - coal seam gas or
 Ecotoxicity - algal blooms
30 marks, 800 words – marks as per the rubric

In-text References (Harvard System as per Assessment Policy /Endeavour Referencing
Guide)

Reference list, as per Endeavour Referencing Guide, which includes at least two (2) primary
(journal) sources and only one (1) non-peer reviewed source (newspapers etc)

Professional Writing (see further explanation below)

Word counts (see rubric for penalties)

Presentation (see further explanation below)
10 marks
Recommended readings:
Klaasen, CD 2013, Casarett & Doull’s Toxicology- the basic science of poisons 8th edn. McGraw Hill, NY.
Klaasen, C.D. and Watkins, J.B.(III). 2015. Casarett and Doull’s Essentials of toxicology 3rd ed, McGraw
Hill, NY.
Your reading for risk management will depend on your agent/issue. As an example using chemicals:
Safe Work Australia. 2012. Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace: Code of Practice
July 2012. Viewed at
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/697/Managing%20Risks
%20of%20Hazardous%20Chemicals.pdf
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Instructions - BIOP211 Pharmacology Assignment
Academic Writing and Student Integrity
Writing on all assessments is expected to be of an academic standard and presentation, and all nonoriginal work must be properly referenced.
For assistance in ensuring this academic standard, please refer to the Communication Skills
Handbook, 4th edn (2014) by Summers & Smith. Where there is a difference between the assistance
in Summers and Smith (2014) and your organization’s guide, these authors state to always follow
your organization’s guide first.
For assistance with proper referencing, Mendeley citation software, and plagiarism please refer to
the Referencing page on the Endeavour LibGuides:
http://endeavour.libguides.com
A tutorial video on referencing is available here:
http://media.endeavour.edu.au/endeavour/Library/Referencing%20tutorial%202/Referencing%20tu
torial%202.html
Additional support can be found at the top of the LMS Main Page under the Academic Writing tab.
Note that all forms of plagiarism and cheating are taken very seriously at Endeavour. Please ensure
that you are familiar with the Student Integrity Policy (http://www.endeavour.edu.au/docs/policiesand-handbooks/Student_Integrity_Policy.pdf) and that you are mindful of avoiding the use of any
work that is not your own without proper attribution as well as never allowing your work to be used
by another student.
Word Count
The word count must be clearly displayed. A title page or cover sheet is optional. The required
word count does not include text appearing in tables, graphs, figures, captions and the reference
list. Tables, graphs, and figures can enhance assignment presentation if used to convey directly
relevant information. In-text citations are included in total word count. Tables, graphs and
figures should enhance the synthesis or interpretation of the material in the text of the essay and
should be referred to directly in the text of the essay by their Table number (heading) or Figure or
Diagram number (caption). Include Tables, graphs and figures directly in the text of the essay; but
you can use Appendices if relevant. If you have questions about this, please consult with your
lecturer before you complete and submit your assessment.
Late Submission
Assessments must be handed in by the stated time. Students submitting an assessment
after the due date, and without an approved extension of time, will lose 10% of their mark on
the assessment, per day it is late (as per the Assessment Policy).
So long as five days or less extension is all that is required, the Online Academic/lecturer will
confirm the appropriateness of the third-party confirmation of the extenuating
circumstances given in the application. Extensions must be written, ie submitting the required
“Application for Extension” form or email with a Statutory Declaration and relevant evidence
attached. Ensure that you send a completed and witnessed statutory declaration, available
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on the web by searching under your state or country or available from Student Services at
your nearest campus. If you require longer than five days, the application for extension will
be dealt with according to the Assessment Policy (>5 days but less than two weeks) or
Special Circumstances policy (> two weeks extension required) as appropriate.
Presentation and Professional Writing

The assessment should be completed in your own words with the information being clear, concise and
easy to understand. The information should be presented in sentences and paragraphs, as appropriate.

Information presented in the Assignment must be correctly referenced following the Harvard style as
directed by the College. A direct quote should only be used to illustrate a point and not to explain a
concept. Page numbers must be given or estimated as per the Endeavour Referencing Guide.

Be aware that you are not awarded marks for giving a direct quote; you are only given marks for your
ability to show the relevance of the quote to the concept that you are researching.
Remember
paraphrasing must be referenced appropriately within the text. See the marking rubric for penalties where
paraphrasing has not been done appropriately.

Any diagrams must also be properly referenced as separate pieces of information.

As you have access to library electronic resources the expectation is that you will source at least one of
the recommended texts or similar materials (texts tend to be tertiary sources) and at least two (2)
primary sources (usually journal articles). Peer-reviewed sources or sources that also reference their
data are preferred, but only one (1) non-peer reviewed sources such as a newspaper paper/online
article can be used as references to illustrate impacts on society. As a guide to the reliability of webbased resources, extensions of .gov or .org or .edu are more reliable and tend to be based on peerreviewed information
Presentation

Type your assignment in essay format as a Word document Arial at least [11] font, 1 ½ line spaced. A
cover page is optional. Your student name and number should be in the “header” on every page. See
the marking grid for marks allocated to Presentation and Reference List.

Headings are not needed in essay format but essays require a title. Discuss with your Online Academic
or lecturer beforehand if you wish to use Report format, which does use headings, or other appropriate
formal presentation format.
The presentation must be word-processed; pdf documents are not
acceptable.

Use of correct spelling and grammar is expected and marks can be deducted as per the marking gird
when work has not been edited appropriately. Formal documents require third person grammar.
Submission of the Paper

Assignment Topics will be available for downloading via the BIOP211 subject website, under the
Assessment section.
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
The assignment is to be submitted electronically no later than Sunday 11:55 pm AEST Week 6.
Your
draft and final assignment will need to be submitted to Turnitin™ (preferably 24 to 48 hours prior to the
final date for upload, to allow you time to refine your paraphrasing). Your final draft which you upload
must comply with anti-plagiarism clauses in the Assessment Policy (e.g. <25% similarity index, no
inappropriate (non-peer reviewed) websites).
Professional Writing includes these requirements:

Essay format (no headings, each essay has only a title) – negotiate other professional writing formats
with your Lecturer /Online Academic beforehand.

Present your research in essay format with an Introduction, Body and Conclusion e.g. a 40 word
introduction (approximately 5%), 720 words body, a 40 word conclusion (approximately 5%). If you
exceed the word count by more than 10% or if your essay is below the word count, you can
only be given 2 out of 10 for the Professional Writing component. See marking rubric for
penalties

Give in-text references using the Harvard format given in the Endeavour Referencing Guide, available
from the library. Integrate in-text references using the helpful hints given in this guide.

In your essay title and introduction, clearly identify the toxic agent(s) which you have chosen
and in your introduction, clearly outline the risk characterisation / management or ecology
issue(s).

Only identify this/these agent(s) in the introduction and give detailed description of it/them in the body
of the essay. Detail means a description of the effects produced either at the biochemical,
cellular, tissue, organ, system or whole of body level or society (toxicodynamics, as
appropriate to your topic).
Integration of this detail earns marks at the “integrated” or
“comprehensive” level. Integration also means:
o
Use of flow charts, tables and other literary devices, to illustrate the range of agents,
mechanisms and toxic effects or exposure principles for living things and environmental issues
(words in these types of diagrams do not count towards the word count);
o
Make reference to your literary devices in the body of the essay and by number as Tables,
Figures etc. Explain their relevance. In your body of your essay, if you cannot explain/link
the relevance, then omit that diagram as unnecessary.
o
Diagrams are not compulsory; but if they are of your own compilation, higher marks can
be obtained, as per the rubric.

Use of margins of safety data, dose-response curves, antidotes or similar i.e. concepts from
the BIOP211 Toxicology lecture/tutorial, contribute to the level of description and the
integration of key concepts.
PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING MARKING GRID (RUBRIC) TO CRITIQUE AND
EDIT YOUR OWN DRAFTS:
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Integrated level
Comprehensive level
Developed level
Acquired level
Under-developed level
Introduction of the issue and identification of the toxic agent(s) ______________________________ with introductory level
of description
5 to 4.5
4 to 3.5
3 to 2.5
- with clear identification of the
agent(s) and issue/risk
characterisation or risk
management in the introduction
Introduction showed good
communication skills
- with identification of the agent
- and a clear description of the
issue(s) in the introduction
1 to 0
- Minimal identification of the
agent
Introduction was impactful
- but adhered to professional
writing principles (succinct,
intriguing, innovative),
2 to 1.5
An introduction was attempted
-with identification of the agent
- and omissions from the
description of the issue
-and some description in the
introduction
- or few paraphrasing skills
shown
- Failure to recognise the
importance of an introduction,
- serious omissions in the
identification and description
of the agent(s) and the issue
- but some introductory ideas
were discussed
Depth of research and relevance, use of evidence-related research and use of, tables, figures, diagrams or flow charts (referred to
within body of essay) to support in-depth description
5 to 4.5
4 to 3.5
3 to 2.5
2 to 1.5
1 to 0
Thorough research that was
relevant to
- mechanisms & toxic effects
- with application of margins of
safety or dose estimates, doseresponse curves, antidotes or
other concepts from BIOP211
Toxicology Lecture
Tables, figures, flow charts etc
(optional but not part of word
count) were an original
compilation and enhanced the
flow and cohesion of the text
- with adherence to professional
writing (evidence-related,
accurate use of terminology and
data)
Significant research mostly
relevant to
- Mechanisms of toxicity & - toxic
effects
- With few omissions of important
concepts from the theory and
some use of data to explain key
concepts
Tables, figures, flow charts etc
(optional but not part of word
count) were an original
compilation and relevance was
shown
Some critical research of
-mechanisms of toxicity
- toxic effects
- Developing skills at use of
evidence-related research
Some ability to summarize
information with optional use of
tables, figures or flow charts etc
of the student’s own compilation
that were functional and not just
merely decorative
Minimal research on
No research of
- Mechanisms of toxicity
-mechanisms of toxicity
- Toxic effects
-toxic effects
- or few paraphrasing skills
shown
- little understanding shown
about the toxic agent(s) and
how it/they can cause harm to
the body
- some misconceptions about
the toxic agent or the harm it
causes
Some use of conventional
illustrations that are used in
technical writing to
accompany the text (optional)
If diagrams etc were used,
their use was only decorative
(no reference to them in the
body of the essay and no
relevance shown)
Discussion of mechanism(s) and toxic effect(s), appropriate to the issue
5 to 4.5
4 to 3.5
Significant discussion
Thorough discussion of several
mechanisms (toxicodynamics)
- and at the level appropriate to
the chosen toxicity issue
- integration of concepts in
Science, Health Safety and
Environment, Healing or other
areas relevant to the student’s
chosen topic
- including biochemical, biological
mechanisms or sociological
importance of the toxic agent
- developing the ability to
integrate information from
different areas of study relevant
to the student’s chosen topic but
only a few mechanisms
discussed or discussion omitted
some important data or level of
detail
3 to 2.5
Some discussion of the
interrelationship between
toxicology and other areas of
human endeavour in either the
body of the essay or the
conclusion
- omissions in relevant
biochemical or biological
mechanisms appropriate to the
agent chosen
- or approach only described the
toxic effects rather than
integrating biochemical or
biological mechanisms
2 to 1.5
1 to 0
-Minimal discussion of
interrelationships
- descriptive rather than
integrative approach to some
of the relevant mechanisms of
toxicity
or few paraphrasing skills
shown
-No discussion of
interrelationships or
- no integration of ideas
- or no mechanisms of toxicity
given
-
Illustration of exposure principles to example agent(s) with use of tables, figures, flow charts (referred to within body of essay)
5 to 4.5
4 to 3.5
3 to 2.5
Thorough discussion of
exposure and clearly linked to
mechanisms and toxic effects of
any relevant agent(s)
Significant discussion exposure
and with more than one link to
mechanisms of toxicity & toxic
effects
Some critical discussion of
exposure and at least one link to
a mechanism of toxicity & toxic
effect
- full understanding shown of
relevant theory with no
- With few omissions of important
concepts from the theory
- developing skills at use of
evidence-related research
© Endeavour College of Natural Health
Last updated on 3-Aug-15
2 to 1.5
1 to 0
No discussion of exposure &
Minimal discussion of
exposure & mechanisms of
toxicity or toxic effects
-mechanisms of toxicity
- some misconceptions about
the toxic agent or the harm it
causes or little use of
evidence
-toxic effects
- little understanding shown
about the toxic agent and how
it can cause harm to the body
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Integrated level
omissions about timing of
exposure
Comprehensive level
Developed level
- and some use of data relevant
to the toxin
Acquired level
Under-developed level
Or little paraphrasing skills
shown
- with adherence to professional
writing (evidence-related,
accurate use of terminology and
data such as but not limited to:
LD50, TD50, margins of safety,
NOAEL, LOAEL, maximum
tolerable dose, Sieverts etc))
Environmental impacts / Health impacts with other relevant risk characterisation/management concepts
5 to 4.5
Thorough discussion of risk
characterisation/management
-showing deep understanding of
the chosen toxicology issue and
the relationship with exposure to
toxic agent(s) for living things
- integration of concepts about
environmental impacts of toxic
agents involved or other relevant
aspects of risk characterisation
or management that is current
and the context clearly given
4 to 3.5
Significant discussion of risk
characterisation/management
- showing importance of the
toxicology issue and some
knowledge of exposure principles
- developing the ability to
integrate information about
environmental impacts or other
relevant aspects of risk
characterisation or management
3 to 2.5
Some discussion of the
interrelationship between
toxicology, exposure and
environmental impacts or health
impacts
- with at least one regulatory
method given
- omissions in relevant areas or
discussion was more descriptive
than integrative
- omissions in discussion of other
relevant risk characterisation
methods
2 to 1.5
1 to 0
-Minimal discussion of
interrelationships
- descriptive rather than
integrative approach to some
of the relevant areas:
toxicology issue, exposure,
environmental impacts, health
impacts risk
characterisation/management
-No discussion of
interrelationships or
- no integration of ideas
or little paraphrasing skills
shown
Serious omissions of
concepts about exposure or
environmental impacts or
health impacts and or risk
characterisation /
management
Conclusion
5 to 4.5
4 to 3.5
3 to 2.5
2 to 1
1 to 0
Summary skills that were
demonstrated were of a
thorough standard with
integration of all toxicology
concepts: exposure, dose,
mechanism(s) of toxicity, health
or environmental impacts, risk
management within context or
applications / future studies
Summary skills were
demonstrated that mentioned
research on toxicology concepts
and gave context to risk
characterisation and risk
management for the agents or
issue chosen
Some summarizing done of some
toxicology concepts
Little summarizing done
No conclusion
Professional Writing, a title, Use of Harvard referencing system (Harvard in-text citations done and Harvard Reference List)
10 to 8
7.5 to 6
5.5 to 4
Excellent presentation and
following of instructions
Very good presentation that
follows instructions and is
- well organised, links sections
and paragraphs within the one
topic
- organised, shows some
cohesion between paragraphs
within the one topic
- shows extensive editing i.e.
grammatically correct, spelling
- shows some editing i.e. mostly
grammatically correct, spelling
- shows editing i.e. some control
of grammar and spelling
- and meets the word count 800
words ± 80 words not including
tables etc
- and meets the word count 800
words ± 80 words not including
tables etc
- and meets the word count. 800
words ± 80 words not including
tables etc
- Integration of in-text
referencing (citations) with at
least two (2) primary sources
- Use of in-text referencing
(citations) with at least two (2)
primary sources
- Use of in-text referencing
(citations) at least two (2)
primary sources
- and demonstrates a high level
understanding of Harvard
referencing using the Endeavour
Referencing Guide
- and demonstrates use of the
Harvard referencing system using
the Endeavour Referencing
Guide
- and demonstrates use of the
Harvard referencing system using
the Endeavour Referencing Guide
© Endeavour College of Natural Health
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Good presentation, that follows
instructions and
- uses paragraphs within the one
topic that cover similar concepts
3.5 to 2.5
2.0 to 0
Presentation is inadequate,
showing little attempt at
following instructions
Presentation is adequate,
showing some attempt at
following instructions
- sentence and paragraph
structure not used to effect
- paragraphs
- grammar and spelling errors
detracted from the readability
of the essay
- editing of grammar and
spelling
- and meets the word count.
800 words ± 80 words
- word count must be met to
receive higher grades
within this level
- Uses in-text referencing
(citations)
- and an attempt at use of the
Endeavour Referencing Guide
for sources that included more
than merely the set texts
- Used some system of
acknowledging sources
- major errors in application of
the Endeavour Referencing
Guide
Or insufficient sources used
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Student Name:……………………………………….Student Number:…………………………..BIOP211 Cohort:………………………………..
Toxicology Topic: Agent ………………………………………… or Issue:…………………………..
Introduction: identified agent(s) and described issue(s). Quality of Title (or if other formats
negotiated previously with Lecturer, format was followed correctly)
Depth of Research/ evidence-related research and use of, tables, figures, diagrams or flow
charts (referred to within body of essay and preferably of the student’s own compilation to
achieve at the “developed” or higher standard) to support the description of the toxic agent or
issue
Discussion of mechanism(s) and toxic effect(s), appropriate to the issue or the agent chosen
and not merely a list of associated signs and symptoms
Illustration of exposure principles, which includes timing of exposure, to example agent(s) with
use of tables, figures, flow charts (referred to within body of essay and preferably of the
student’s own compilation to achieve at the “developed” or higher standard)
Environmental/health impacts or other relevant risk characterisation concepts, quality of the
management concept(s) discussed
Conclusion: exposure(timing), dose-response and other risk characterisation such as dose
estimates, risk management – summary or future studies
Following all instructions (Presentation, Word Count 800 words ± 80 words)
In-text references and Reference List (as per Endeavour Referencing Guide.pdf), at least 2
primary sources used along with other appropriate sources and only one(1) non-peer reviewed
source
Professional writing: spelling, grammar, sentences, paragraphs, cohesive links, all conventions
followed, quality of editing; quality of integration of in-text references as per the Guide.pdf
© Endeavour College of Natural Health
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/5
/5
/5
/5
/5
/5
/10
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