Inappropriate Language Usage in the Schools

A WebQuest

Minerva Mirabelle MS

Mr. Russell

INTRODUCTION:

You and your classmates have been selected to investigate the increased use of profanity on our school campus. Students have been observed and heard during their everyday conversations (e.g. cooperative group work in the class, lunchroom and hallway conversations) speaking or using language that, according to the school Discipline Policy, is not acceptable. Additionally, and more importantly, though, has been the effect of this language usage on students’ written academic work. Increasingly, it has been observed that students tend to write the way they talk. The use of inappropriate language in classroom assignments affects the quality of the work submitted.

TASK:

As a member of Students Against Profanity (SAP) you have been asked to begin an inquiry into MS321’s current situation. Your team’s job is to not only record the students’ use of profane language at your school, but to look at the existing School Discipline Policy and develop at least three solutions that will decrease the use of profanity.

Using the Public Policy Analyst you will prepare a paper outlining your findings. Your team will investigate and evaluate the social problem . You will prepare a minimum of three type-written pages following the PPA outline.

Your group will present an ORAL REPORT to the School Leadership Team and your classmates.

PROCESS:

(How do you actually accomplish what is in your task?)

A. Follow the PPA Steps:

Step 1: Define the Problem (WS)

Step 2: Gather the Evidence (WS)

Step3: Identify the Causes (WS)

Step 4: Examine the Existing Policy (WS)

Step 5: Develop Policy Solutions (WS)

Step 6: Select the Best Solution (WS)

B. Meeting in your groups you will use the PPA process to analyze the amount of profanity currently used in school. You may need to first define what exactly profanity is. For that you may want to consult the school Discipline Policy.

C. Your group will be divided into specific roles:

· A Chairman who organizes the group and assigns tasks

· A Recorder, who takes notes for the group

· Researchers- who seek information to answer the questions posed by the PPA

· A Presenter who oversees the oral reports

D. Your group will plan an effective oral report to the class on this topic. This may be in the form of a panel discussion, a debate, a roundtable discussion or even a role play. The goal of this presentation is to communicate the seriousness of the problem to students and offer a realistic solution that students can understand and apply.

E. Your written work will consist of a report of at least three (3) pages that discusses the nature of the problem and its seriousness. You should follow the outline that you have created by using the worksheets. Be sure to include the solutions that your groups discussed and adopted as the best solutions.

Resources:

Research websites for the topic

Watch Your Mouth!: An Analysis of Profanity Uttered by Children on Prime Time Television –This article deals mostly with
profanity used in television shows- concentrate on the sections dealing with
the impact of profanity on children.

New York City Schools Discipline Code

Rubric for Marking:

Rubric

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Six-Step Public Policy Analyst	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.
Paper	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.
Oral Presentation	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.

4= A

3= B

2= C

1= D

Major Parts Missing or Unsatisfactory= F

CONCLUSION:

As a result of your efforts there is a better understanding of the problems involving the use of profanity and unacceptable speech at our school. Hopefully, there will improvements in school tone that will benefit everyone and make our school a better place to attend, work and study.

STANDARDS:

This project addresses the following New York State English Language Arts Standards:

Standard 3:   Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for critical analysis and evaluation. As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to present, from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues.

Standard 4:   Language for Social Interaction

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for social interaction. Students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.

This project also addresses the following New York State Social Studies Standard:

From Social Studies Standard 5

Value the principles, ideals, and core values of the American democratic system based upon the premises of human dignity, liberty, justice, and equality