Part 1: Initial Blog Post on Prokaryotes in Society
Prokaryotic organisms like bacteria and archaea have a variety roles in society from causing foodborne illnesses (i.e. Salmonella, E.coli and Listeria), being involved in symbiotic relationships (Rhizobium and nitrogen fixation) and they have medicinal purposes (i.e. production of antibodies) to name a few. For Week 1, after you have completed the readings (Chapters 14 – 17 and specifically Chapter 17), research the internet and use reliable and credible scientific resources to investigate a specific prokaryotic organism (a bacterial or archaea species) and discuss it and its role within society.
Please select a prokaryotic organism (a bacterial or archaea species) which has not been blogged about by another student. This will diversify our Week 1 Blog with information on different species of prokaryotic organisms. [NOTE: Duplicate topic initial blog posts will have a 10 point deduction for not discussing a specific prokaryotic species that has not been discussed]. [NOTE: Neither open resources nor open blogs can be used as sources of information; see 'Researching Information' within the class for more information on appropriate credible/reliable sources of information]. This is not an opinion assignment; therefore information presented about Prokaryotes in Society must be supported by reliable academic/scientific resources (facts supported by research). [Not citing a specific reliable academic/scientific resource is an automatic 10 point deduction].

Write a full paragraph (a 150-words minimum) for your initial blog post discussing a specific species of prokaryotic organism and the role it has within society. Be sure to describe what the prokaryotic species is. Where is it found? How does it interact with humans and/or other species (i.e. harmful, beneficial or mutualistic relationship) ? What role does it play in the ecosystem, etc.?

Also required within the initial blog post is sharing the website (specific URL) and what you have learned from this resource and/or have found particularly helpful when reviewing the website.  Do not copy and paste directly from the website. This blog should be written in your own words.  Any content and paraphrased information from the resource (URL) must be properly cited per APA including the specific URL (website) you are recommending.  The blog post must be directly posted in the classroom; please do not upload a Word document only.  

The initial blog post is strongly suggested to be posted by 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday of Week 1.

Part 2: Blog Response Post
Peruse some of the Blog entries made by your fellow classmates. Choose at least one that you found useful and comment on how the website helped you with your understanding of a specific prokaryotic species and its role within society.  The comment should be 100 words minimum.

For Part 2 – posting the Blog Response Post to a fellow classmate, click the “Week 1 Assignment – Prokaryotes in Society Blog” to enter the assignment.  The screen will refresh and on the right side will be a black bar with “Blog details” on it and below that will be your name and a down arrow. Click the arrow and all the people who have posted blog posts will be listed. Read through the post by selecting the fellow student’s name and the screen will refresh – scroll to bottom and on the bottom left will be the student’s blog post. When ready to respond, click “Comment” at the end of the blog post and then a space will open below the blog post you are responding to. When done with the response blog post, click “Add”. Then the response blog post is posted.

Both parts (1 & 2) of the Week 1 Assignment must be posted on separate days. 

The Week 1 Assignment (both Parts 1 & 2) are due and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday of Week 1.

The Week 1 Assignment – Prokaryotes in Society Website Recommendation Blog is worth a potential total maximum of 100 points and there are two components: (1) Part 1: your initial blog post, 150 words minimum, discussing a credible and reliable, scientific website (10 points maximum) that augments what you have already learned about that specific prokaryotic species. The initial blog post will be scored on topic (10 points), grammar and spelling (10 points), content and discussion of the prokaryotic species (40 points maximum), submitted on a different day than Part 2 (5 points) and meeting the minimum blog post length of 150 words (5 points) (2) Part 2: response blog post to a fellow classmate and it will be scored on grammar and spelling (2.5 points), content and discussion of what was learned about the specific prokaryotic species from the blog post and resource (15 points maximum) and meeting the minimum blog post length of 100 words (2.5 points maximum).