Creative Writing Story
"When Photosynthesis Stopped"
Please write a fictional story about the "Day Photosynthesis Stopped." Use the information that
you have learned about photosynthesis to create a story with you being a witness to the crisis that
would occur if the process of photosynthesis was halted. Give your best thoughts as to what you
would witness in the last days of the human race, and complex life as we know it, cease to exist.
Please include the following components to your story:
1. What occurred that blocked one or more of the reactants (CO2, H2O, or sunlight) or required
the components (NADPH, Chlorophyll, ATP Synthase, ATP, glucose…) of the light
reactions or Calvin cycle from doing their jobs in the chloroplasts of leaves and algae. You
need to give an explanation as to what knocked that component out that then caused the
process to stop worldwide. Make it believable. Do not use supernatural explanations (Harry
Potter said "Photosynthesis Stoppus World Widous" or "the sun god was disappointed in
human behavior and commanded all halt to all photosynthesis!”). In this section, you need to
explain both the light reactions and the Calvin cycle - be very clear about what is now NOT
going to happen. Using the words chloroplasts, chlorophyll, thylakoid, and stroma would
definitely be a good thing at this point!
2. What events began to occur? Remember, Earth’s atmosphere is normally 21% oxygen. The
only process that restores it is photosynthesis. Algae in the ocean accounts for about 70% of
your oxygen and the plants on land, the other 30%. Also, photosynthesis is the only natural
process that reduces carbon dioxide (Earth-warming greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere.
Respiration and fossil fuel burning increase it. Bummer! Help us to understand your
concerns/terror, your sufferings, and your first-hand dealings with the declining world around
you.
3. Please end the story with your death. (That’s right – we can’t study the science of life
without acknowledging Biology’s evil alter ego!) Please be descriptive about your demise to
the end. Just stop writing and don't finish this story because, of course, you couldn't. The last
sentence needs to be incomplete. A person with an oxygen mask, a scuba tank business, and
a granola bar warehouse evidently came by and collected your story after pushing your
decomposing corpse from the keyboard (can’t say this in your story for obvious reasons).
4. While the majority of your grade will depend upon scientific accuracy, a small part will also
involve correct grammar and sentence structure, so please proof read your final copy before
submission.
5. Lastly, limit your word count to 800 words (about 2-3 pages typed) and your story should be
in a shared Google doc when completed. Make sure you drop box Miss Lynn the URL to the
Google Doc. Save as lastname_photosynthesis story.
adapted from http://kenpitts.net/hbio/6photosynthesis/day_photo_stopped_narrative.htm
Rubric for Evaluation
NAME: ___________________________
Exemplary Quality (3)
Good Quality (2)
SCORE: _______ / 15 POINTS
Developing (1)
Poor Quality (0)
Reason given for
Reason given for
Reason given for
Reason given for
photosynthesis
photosynthesis stopping
photosynthesis stopping is
photosynthesis
stopping is somewhat is not detailed OR is not
detailed, is believable, and
stopping is pretty
detailed, is somewhat believable, and it appears
correctly incorporates
detailed, is pretty
believable, and
the writer was busy
information from class and
believable, and uses
somewhat uses the
making Twitter updates in
any relevant readings about information from class
information from class
class or using the
photosynthetic processes.
and relevant readings.
and relevant readings.
textbook as a pillow.
Person reading this paper
could gain a very good
understanding of the two
main stages of
photosynthesis.
Person reading this
Person reading this
Person reading this paper
paper could gain a
paper could possibly
could not really gain a
good understanding of get some understanding very good understanding
the two main stages of
of the two stages of
of the two stages of
photosynthesis.
photosynthesis.
photosynthesis.
The writer gives a VERY
detailed description of the
The writer gives a
chain of events that occurred detailed description of
because the base of the food the chain of events that
chain and oxygen
occurred because the
replenishing was eliminated. base of the food chain
This writer obviously
and oxygen
understands ecological
replenishing was
concepts concerning food
eliminated.
chains and webs.
The writer gives some
description of the chain
of events that occurred
because the base of the
food chain and oxygen
replenishing was
eliminated.
The writer really helps you
to feel his/her pain as he/she The writer helps you to The writer sort of helps
ceases to live. (Teardrop
feel his/her pain as
you to feel his/her pain
stains on the paper are
he/she ceases to live. as he/she ceases to live.
evident.)
Organization and word Organization and word
Organization and word
choice make the flow choice make the flow
choice make the flow of this of this paper somewhat of this paper somewhat
paper very smooth to read.
smooth to read.
bumpy to the reader.
Writing is done without
Writing has few
grammar and spelling errors. grammar and spelling
errors.
The writer gives a VERY
incomplete description of
the chain of events that
occurred because the base
of the food chain and
oxygen replenishing was
eliminated.
The writer just died and
we don't really know
what it was like for
him/her.
Organization and word
choice make the flow of
this paper like traveling in
a downtown area with
heavy traffic, crazy cab
drivers, jay-walking
pedestrians, no stop
lights, and terrified pets
off leash.
Writing has noticeable
grammar and spelling
errors throughout.
Writing has many writing
and grammar errors, it is
difficult to read and
understand.
adapted from http://kenpitts.net/hbio/6photosynthesis/day_photo_stopped_narrative.htm