There
is an Extremely High Incidence of Asthma, and Other Respiratory Diseases in the
Bronx
A WebQuest
for 9th Graders
Why does the Bronx have a higher asthma and respiratory disease rate than the rest of New York City?
Designed by
LaVerne R. Williams, TIPPS 10/2001 CCHS
(AP Photo/Gail
Burton)
Introduction: You are a detective. Instead of a gun or brute force, your weapon is the Internet! You and your agency investigate, question, and keep accurate data on all research, and observations.
Problem: Your cousin, age three, has been diagnosed with asthma. Your sister, 17, has asthma and your mother states a neighbor, John aged eleven is in the hospital again. You visit John in the hospital and ask the doctor if you will get asthma too, since so many people you know have it. He told you “people don’t catch it from people,” but since he has practiced in the Bronx his colleagues have told him more people suffer from asthma in the Bronx than elsewhere in New York City. In fact, statistics show that the Bronx stands out as having the highest incidence of lung disease.
Task: Mission
Possible Detective Agency, Your firm, is quite Thorough, and well known for
adhering to the ‘Scientific Method.’ At your team meeting it was decided to
find out all you could about asthma, and the related respiratory diseases, and,
just how it affects the human body. Next you would research the higher
incidence of disease in the Bronx. Armed with this information you would be
better able to propose a public policy law to prevent such high rates of
disease.
Your cover,
Project Legal, will guide you through this most important assignment. You are
to make contact with their Public Policy Analyst who will aid and advise
your team step by step in accomplishing your task. Check in with your PPA as
soon as possible, and remember, failure to follow the of your PPA will cause
Project Legal to disavow any knowledge of you, and put your team in danger.
The Process: You must
contact your cover for instructions at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ (Click twice on the yellow spot to get your
PPA, then click twice again on yellow box for additional information.) Read and discuss carefully.
All Five teams
of the Mission Possible Detective Agency have been asked to help in this quest
to eliminate the high incidences of asthma here in the Bronx. Former ‘A Team’ retirees have worked diligently
through the night in developing the following leads to the Internet which your teams
will use to research necessary
information. These URL’s are locations
where your team will investigate, and keep accurate data before writing your
response and conclusion ( A public policy to help the Bronx solve the Asthma
crisis) to the task.
1. Your assignment: As part of a team of five, decide what each of you
will do to accomplish all aspects of the assignment. For help in completing your worksheets use www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/ppae1.html
From the Welcome Page, click twice on forward, and choose the graphics version
for first visitors, for assistance on how to do it. Your report card grade is dependent
on this research project, but don't be nervous because you have your PPA and
the internet, as well as your team mates to help.
·
After researching your task,
use the questions from the worksheets to guide you in writing an essay on your
research. Now you are ready to complete the worksheets.
·
Return to the welcome page
above, and this time click twice on I have used the PPA before. This is
a useful guide in completing the worksheets correctly. The six essays and
worksheets you will be responsible for are:
1. What is the social problem?
2. Gathering evidence for this
problem.
3. Identifying causes for this problem.
4. Evaluating the existing public policy.*
*(Follow
instruction sheet)
5. Developing public policy solutions.
6. Selecting the best public policy solution.
2. Report your part of the mission to Mrs. L. Williams after viewing the
research on asthma URL’s listed, and determining there will be no
complications.
3. Use your code number, which will be assigned to each group, and each
group member.
4. Each person is responsible for using a graph, chart and picture to
explain the information in his or her
final report. Your analysis, and
conclusion (A policy your group believes would help the Bronx in solving the
Asthma crisis) should be no less than 150 words each. Do not forget to include pictures, graphs and charts from each
individual. This information will be used in your PowerPoint presentation.
5. Use PowerPoint to show your group followed the scientific method in
investigating this disease, and to inform the public of the new proposed public
policy you created to help the Bronx reduce the incidences of asthma and
related respiratory diseases. (6
slides)
6. Be certain to check for clues, and work within the time frame by going
to the secret email which will be given to you.
Resources: Webquest
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal
Tips Public Policy Analyst
Sites for information on Asthma
(Submitted by the former “A Team” of the Mission Possible Detective Agency)
You must supply the name of the organization of each
‘Lead’ you visit!
1.
http://www.aaaai.org/images/photolibrary/asthmaad2.jpg
2.
www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/05/shell.htm
3.
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1700.50667
4.
www.chronicillnet.org/online/bronx.html
5.
www.salon.com/health/feature/2000/08/11/race_and_genes/index1.html
6.
www.africana.com/dailyarticles/index_20010430.htm
7. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/wad_2/index.htm
General Search Engines
Remember, you must hand in the sites you visit, and
what they were about before you leave the computer room.
Evaluation
You and your group will be graded on three parts of
your project.
1.
Your essay
2.
Your worksheets (group)
3.
Your PowerPoint presentation (group)
Guidelines for final essay
-
Your Three page typed report must include the six step
public policy analyst format.
-
Double space using font number 12
-
Be certain to cite references
-
State why you believe the public policy you proposed
is best.
-
Include statistics, a chart or graph, and a picture.
Guidelines for your groups’ worksheets
-
Discuss and compare your essay with group
members.
-
Decide upon the best answer for the worksheet.
Guidelines for your groups’ PowerPoint Presentation
-
No more than 7 slides. One slide must identify the group.
-
Your slides must follow the PPA format
-
Your work must be your own creation
-
Your group members must be prepared to speak about the
details of your investigation.
-
Back up the public policy you choose with facts.
v
Your typed report is due in 5 weeks
v
Your PowerPoint presentation is due two weeks later.
v
The final project is worth 300 points. See rubric.
Rubric
|
|
55 Points |
75 Points |
100 Points |
|
Essay |
Incomplete |
Answers all questions in worksheet, analyzes and
states statistics |
Complete with an excellent understanding of the PPA
format |
|
Worksheets |
Incomplete |
Not enough detail |
Thorough, clear |
|
PowerPoint Presentation |
Minimum amount of data |
Supports proposed policy |
Excellent PP presentation, supports policy |
Standards
This Web quest meets the following New York State
English and
Science Standards.
English
v
E1c: Read and
comprehend informational materials.
v
E2a: Produce a
report of information.
v
E2e: Produce a
persuasive essay.
v
E4b: Analyze
and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.
Science
v
S8a: Demonstrates scientific competence by completing
secondary research.
v
S7b: Argues from evidence.
v
S7e: Communications in a form suited to the purpose
and the audience.
v
S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop
descriptions, explanations, and models; and makes appropriate adjustments and
improvements.
v
S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and
critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.
v
S5f: Works
individually and in teams to collect and share information and ideas.
v
S6c: Collects
and analyzes data using concepts and techniques in Mathematics Standard 4.
Submitted,
LaVerne Randolph Williams - Tips
Christopher Columbus High School
This project was
prepared for my ninth grade Environmental Science class whose average reading
levels are below grade.