Ms. Fernandez

English Language Arts

Walton High School

FabiolaFernandez@WM.Connect.com

INTRODUCTION

Teenage Pregnancy is a serious problem that affects the community, the school process and society as well. It is very common to see pregnant young adolescents attending classes in the schools of the Bronx. Many of these students have not reached fifteen years of age. It is also very common to see how many of these adolescents leave school temporarily or do not return to school at all. Nearly 80 percent of these unmarried teen mothers end up on Welfare.

You are a social worker in your community. You are very concerned that this problem is harming the young people in your community. You know that the only way to reduce this problem is by investigating it and finding solutions. At the end of the investigation, your will present your findings to a special committee from the Mayor’s office.

TASK

Before beginning your research, the class as a whole will produce a 15-question survey on the important issues surrounding teen pregnancy.

As a member of a team of social workers, you will (1) give the 15-question survey on teen pregnancy to teen mothers and pregnant teens in the community, (2) write a four-page typewritten report on the problem of teen pregnancy, and (3) make a five- to seven-minute oral presentation about the findings in the survey and the report.

PROCESS

The class will brainstorm a 15-question survey that will be given to adolescent mothers in the community. The survey will have three parts:

1) Demographic information (age, ethnicity) (3 questions)

2) School performance (grades, grade levels) (6 questions)

3) Family life and issues (6 questions)

Using the results of the survey and the information provided by the websites below, each group will write a paper on the problems of teenage pregnancy. The paper will include the following PPA steps:

1) Define the Problem.

Using worksheet #1, restate the problem in your own words.

2) Gather the Evidence.

Using worksheet #2 and websites provided below, find evidence (statistics, expert analysis, case studies) that the problem really exists.

3) Identify Causes.

Using worksheet #3 and websites provided below identify three causes of teenage pregnancy.

4) Evaluate existing policy.

Using worksheet #4 and websites provided below evaluate two existing public policies regarding the problem of teenage pregnancy.

5) Develop solutions.

Using worksheet #5, develop your own original solutions to the problem of teen pregnancy.

6) Select the best solution.

Using worksheet #6, choose the best public policy solution(s) from existing policies and your own policies.

Resources

· www.TEENPREGNANCY.ORG

· www.kidshavingkids.org

· www.choicesforteens.com/teensaying.html

· www.robinhood.org/results/stories

· http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet2.doc

EVALUATION

The paper and the oral presentation will be evaluated according to the New York State Standards

English Language Arts Standard 1:   Language for Information and Understanding Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. Standard 2:   Language for Literary Response and Expression Students will read and listen to oral, written, and electronically produced texts and performances from American and world literature; relate texts and performances to their own lives; and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent. 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.

Problem Solving

A1a

Design a Product, Service, or System: Identify needs that could be met by new products, services, or systems and create solutions for meeting them.

A1b

Improve a System: Develop an understanding of the way systems of people, machines, and processes work;
troubleshoot problems in their operation and devise strategies for improving their effectiveness.

A2

Communication Tools and Techniques

a	Make an oral presentation of project plans or findings to an audience with expertise in the relevant subject matter.
b	Prepare a formal written proposal or report to an organization beyond the school.
c	Develop a multi-media presentation.

A3

Information Tools and Techniques

a	Gather information to assist in completing project work.
b	Use on-line sources to exchange information for specific purposes.
c	Use word-processing software to produce a multi-page document.

Your paper and presentation will be graded according to the following rubric

Teenage Pregnancy and its impact in the Bronx	Excellent Satisfactory Poor
Accuracy in research	Very Accurate Accurate Not Accurate 5 4 3 2 1
PPA Worksheets and research paper	Good Quality Average Quality Poor Quality 5 4 3 2 1
Oral Presentation	Clear and Concise Vague Not organized 5 4 3 2 1
Participation and conduct	Professional Reasonable Disorderly 5 4 3 2 1

100 – 90	A
90 – 80	B
80 – 70	C
70 – 65	D
below 65	F

As Always: No copying from any websites, books or other reference materials! Plagiarizing is a crime and will result in failure!

CONCLUSION

You have just completed an investigation about Teenage Pregnancy and its impact in your community. Your findings will be considered and new policies will be created. Your community will improve. You will also be able to:

1. Use the internet as a source of information.

2. Develop skills in how to use Microsoft word.

3. Apply critical thinking skills in order to make public policies that will impact your community in a positive way.