Steroids

The Problem

of Steroids

among Professional

and Student Athletes

A WebQuest for 8th Grade Science

Introduction

Many athletes today continue to use anabolic steroids, illegal drugs that enhance their performance on the field. However, there are several health hazards associated with steroids. It is considered extremely dangerous when used by teenagers. Beyond side effects detected in older users, teens can experience a halt in growth as the steroids cause development to shut down forever in long bones. There have been reports that three to five percent of high school students have used steroids at least once. Though there are no high school sports organization that test for steroids, there have been incidents of individual schools testing both athletes and students. A 2002 Supreme Court case, in fact, upheld a school’s right to test students involved in all after school activities- not just sports.

Knowing this, why do you think teenagers still choose to use steroids?

You are the sports reporter for a large high school newspaper. You are suspicious that some of the athletes on the football and baseball teams are using steroids, and you want to investigate. First, however, you must become an expert on the issue of steroids, including what public policies currently exist to address the problem. In addition, as part of your newspaper article you will put forth your own original public policy solutions.

Task

Your task in this WebQuest is to write a three-page article that will be printed in your high school newspaper. You will also make a 3-5-minute oral presentation emphasizing the main points in your article. Your oral presentation will be accompanied by a 3-5 PowerPoint slides or a large poster board visual.

Process

1. You will be divided into groups of four.

2. Using the websites provided below, summarize your research on the TIPS six-step Public Policy Analyst worksheets:

a. TIPS PPA Worksheet #1 (Defining the problem)

b. TIPS PPA Worksheet #2 (Gathering evidence for the problem)

c. TIPS PPA Worksheet #3 (Determining the causes of the problem)

d. TIPS PPA Worksheet #4 (Evaluating existing public policy solutions)

e. TIPS PPA Worksheet #5 (Developing original public policy solutions)

f. TIPS PPA Worksheet #6 (Choosing the best public policy solution)

3. Once all the information is gathered, you will prepare a 3-5-page (typewritten, double-spaced) newspaper article on the problem of steroid use and the public policies in place to address it. You will also give your own original public policy solutions to the problem in your article.

4. You will then prepare a 3-5-minute oral presentation to give before your class. You can choose between two forms of visual aides to accompany your oral presentation: a 3-5-slide PowerPoint slide show or a large poster board.

5. Be sure that your newspaper article (and oral presentation) emphasizes the history, the side effects on both males and females, the reasons for steroid use despite being illegal, and the public policies (existing and proposed) on this issue.

Resources

Anabolic Steroids

Use these sites to gather information on anabolic steroids to complete your assignment.

Cool Nurse
Anabolic Steroids
The Harmful Effects of Steroids
Drug Facts: Office of National Drug Control Policy
Steroids.com

Tips for Teens

Evaluation

Grades will be given by group.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Score
Newspaper Article	The article was vague and did not provide new information on topic. The writing was not clear, and the essay lacked organization and relevant information.	The article was informative. The writing was clear, and the essay had good organization and relevant information.	The article was highly informative. It provided new information on topic. The writing was extremely clear, and the information presented was above and beyond teacher expectations. Original conclusions were drawn by the writer.
Oral Report presentation	The presentation was vague and did not provide new information on topic. Speakers were not audible or clear in speech. Transitions and organization of presentation was poor. Speakers made no eye contact with audience.	The presentation was informative. Speakers used audible voices, but had no eye contact with audience. Transitions between speakers were good.	The presentation was highly informative. It provided new information on topic. Speakers were audible and spoke in clear voices. The speakers maintained good eye contact with audience. The presentation was well organized.
Use of graphics to enhance presentation	Few graphics were used or the graphics were poorly organized, distracting from the presentation. The graphics were not referred to or used in the presentation.	A sufficient number of graphics were used, but only some were referred to in presentation.	The graphics helped to explain the topic and were referred to during the presentation.
PowerPoint presentation	PowerPoint slides are too busy or too plain. Presentation is verbose and not arranged in a logical order. Slides did not enhance oral presentation.	PowerPoint slides are organized in a somewhat logical order. Slides helped with the the oral presentation.	PowerPoint slides are easy on the eye, concise in important information, arranged in logical order and enhance the presentation by outlining important topics.

The following Science Performance Standards are used in this WebQuest:

S5 Scientific Thinking

S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.

S5e: Identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; and evaluates the accuracy, design, and outcomes of investigations.

S5f: Works individually and in teams to collect and share information and data.

S6 Scientific Tools and Technologies

S6d: Acquires information from multiple sources.

S7 Scientific Communication

S7a: Represents data and results in multiple ways.

S7b: Argues from evidence.

This WebQuest also focuses on the following English Language Arts Performance Standards:

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

Conclusion

Having completed this WebQuest, you have learned that many individuals strive to achieve ideal bodies and super performance through the use of strength drugs. You are now able to list and identify the dangers that steroids pose to the human body as a result of taking steroids. You have also evaluated the existing public policies in place to combat steroid use, and have developed your own original public policies to address this problem.