The essay needs to answer the questions here:
Membrane-mediating enzyme Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) allows COVID-19 to enter a host cell when the COVID-19 spike protein binds to the receptors of the enzyme (Ni et al., 2020). Patients infected with COVID-19 then showed reduced ACE2 activity (Attademo & Bernardini, 2021).
This enzyme is also found on dopamine producing neurons, and reduced dopamine production was also noticed in COVID-19 patients (Attademo & Bernardini, 2021). This hints at the idea that COVID-19 lowers ACE2, and that might affect dopamine production. However, in patients with Parkinsons –a disease characterized by dopamine deficiency– reduced ACE2 activities were also noticed, yet these patients weren’t infected with COVID (Attademo & Bernardini, 2021).
With this in mind, what is the link between ACE2 and dopamine production: does ACE2 affect dopamine levels, the other way around, or is this a mere correlation? Furthermore, what might this reveal about COVID’s relation to dopamine levels: does one affect the other, or is it also just a correlation? Lastly, how can we use the COVID-dopamine relation (if there is one) for applications in future treatments?
How to write the essay?
Some tips for better answers:
When citing articles, cite in-text so you are attributing the right source to the right sentence, so we know where you got the idea if it is not your own. This can also lead to very strong arguments if you use your own words but have the article to back up your own point. You should use APA style for the referencing.
Make sure you are paraphrasing very well, changing 1 or 2 words, or punctuation is not enough. The sentence structure should change and there should no more than 4 words that match the source sentence (major words), and higher concept words should be attributed to their source.
You can state facts without reference, but only very well-known solid facts like Mr. Trudeau is Canadas current Prime Minister, not for example “this substance causes cancer” (you would need to find a source for this, whether it is a study or the world health organization). Similarly, you can state opinions without citation (unless the idea came from somewhere else) but be clear in stating that it is an opinion.
The best answers I received go beyond websites (sometimes referred to as secondary sources) and actually look at a study (primary sources as long as it is not a review paper) that is relevant or supports their answer. This avoids using someone elses words because you cannot think of a better way to describe it.
In summary; paraphrase and use your own words, read sources but dont claim them as your own, cite well, properly, and often. If its not your original idea it needs to be sourced. Being influenced/inspired is okay but copying is not.
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