Breathing in the Bronx: Asthma

Why is it so difficult for so many?

A WebQuest designed by Mr. Breitholtz

Teacher of Living Environment

For students at

Harry S. Truman High School

The assignment or project is called a

public policy analysis or PPA.

What’s included in this WebQuest?

Introduction

Tons of people in the Bronx have asthma-many more proportionally than the rest of the United States. Why is this? Some say it has to do with allergies to rats and roaches attracted by garbage and others say it has to do primarily with the poor quality of air polluted by industrial toxins and dirt. “It's the dirtiness of the South Bronx, according to the Times: exposure to dust mites, cockroach feces and body parts, as well as rat and mouse urine.” (http://www.chronicillnet.org/online/bronx.html )

It could even have to do with Herpes according to some scientists. “Hospitalization rates for asthma among people in the South Bronx are as high as 17.3 per 1,000 people, according to Nossiter; death rates from asthma are as high as 11 per 100,000. Both of these rates are eight times the national average. The rate of asthma among children here is twice the national average: 8.3 percent.” (http://www.chronicillnet.org/online/bronx.html) The Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has asked you to examine this issue more closely and to develop a community policy that would begin to deal with just one of the factors causing this problem.

Task

You will conduct a public policy analysis (PPA) which is just a fancy phrase for a way to go about learning more about a social problem and developing solutions, a policy, to the problem. In order to complete the PPA you will be guided by six steps on this website that begins with the “Define the problem” step. The steps are linked to descriptions of what they actually mean and a worksheet for the step. You will do the worksheet for each step. These are your notes that you will make a PowerPoint presentation from. In addition, you will conduct a short survey. If you simply follow the steps, you will complete your PPA and help Bronx residents learn how they may enroll for health insurance.

Process

As a researcher for the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases you are to discover possible reasons for why so many people in the Bronx have asthma. You are then to choose one of the reasons and examine it more closely. You will learn if any policy exists regarding the problem, and if so describe it and how you would change it, if not, you will propose one. You will then describe how the policy will effectively begin to counter this problem.

You must:

1. Complete the six worksheets-one worksheet
for each of the six steps. These follow this process:

a) Define the Problem

b) Gather Evidence of the nature of the problem

c) Identify the Causes of the problem

d) Evaluate the Policies now in existence

e) Develop a solution to the problem

f) Select the best solution

2. Use the worksheets to make a PowerPoint
presentation, write a paper, or do a poster.

3. Conduct a short survey

4. Present to the class

Resources

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t5prod/coomaraswamywq1.html

http://www.asthma-nyc.org/healthforce/resourcemanual.html

http://www.pulmonarychannel.com/PulmonologyWorld/docs.shtml

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t3prod/williamswq1.html

http://www.savvyhealth.com/disp.asp?doc_id=837

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/asthma/

http://www.chronicillnet.org/online/bronx.html

Evaluation

Q) How are you going to be graded?

A) On the following 2 criteria. Your average will be calculated.

Rubric

	55 Points	75 Points	100 Points
Worksheets	Incomplete	Not enough detail	Thorough, clear
PowerPoint Presentation, Paper, or poster	Minimum amount of data	Supports proposed policy	Creative and interesting presentation, supports policy

Conclusion

After your study you should now have a better understanding of the problems associated with the asthma problem in the Bronx today. Solutions are hard, but you have developed a strategy for dealing with this public problem that you believe can be successful. Good luck!

Our next study will continue to look at how environmental issues affect people in the Bronx and seek further solutions.

Standards

This WebQuest meets the following NY State English and Science Standards

English

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

Science

S8a: Demonstrates scientific competence by completing secondary research.

S7b: Argues from evidence.

S7e: Communications in a form suited to the purpose and the audience.

S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop descriptions, explanations,

and models; and makes appropriate adjustments and improvements.

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

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

S6c: Collects and analyzes data using concepts and techniques in Mathematics

Standard 4.