Medical Marijuana in the United States

A Web-Quest for Intermediate-Advanced ESL

High School Students

Sheila Krstevski

DeWitt Clinton High School

Bronx, New York

Introduction

arijuana is currently classified by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule 1 drug, a potentially addictive drug having no accepted medical applications. However, a number of states have legalized the cultivation, sale and use of medically prescribed marijuana. The contradiction between State and Federal law is creating medical, legal and financial problems for doctors and patients alike.

our group is a House of Representatives committee reviewing this situation in order to make a recommendation for public policy regarding the prescription, production, sale and possession of marijuana as a medicine to Congress. You will be using the six-step Public Policy Analyst to do this.

Task

You will report your findings in a 2-page persuasive essay. In your essay, be sure to:

Write an introduction with background information and a thesis statement stating your position for or against the reclassification and legalization of medical marijuana.
Give at least three reasons for your position. Support each reason in a unified, coherent body paragraph. Use Microsoft Excel to create at least one chart or graph with information relevant to one of your reasons.
Write a conclusion recommending what action should be taken by the Federal Government on this issue.
Use the conventions of written English regarding spelling, grammar and mechanics.

You will present your findings to the full House of Representatives using Power Point.

Process

Step one: You will be divided into groups of three. Using Public Policy Analyst, define the problem regarding the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Fill out Worksheet 1.

Step two: Gather evidence. Fill out Worksheet 2.

Step three: Identify causes. Fill out Worksheet 3.

Step four: Evaluate the existing Federal Policy. Fill out Worksheet 4.

Step five: Develop solutions. Fill out Worksheet 5.

Step six: Choose the best solution. Fill out worksheet 6.

Resources

Consumer Reports Marijuana as Medicine

Testimony of Dr. Lester Grinspoon...(Advanced ESL)

Research Findings (advanced ESL)

Patient testimony (all levels)

Letter from Dr Andrew Weil (All Levels)

Poll on Legalization of Marijuana Pie chart (all levels)

Poll on Medical Marijuana Pie chart (all levels)

State Law Map (all levels)

Medical Marijuana Growers to Sue DEA CNN Sept. 22, 202 (all levels)

Why it WasWrong to Prosecute a Man...CNN Wednesday, February 12, 2003 (all levels)

Federal Report Reignites Medical Marijuana Debate – CNN March 17, 1999 (all levels)

You can search for more articles using the following websites:

Google search engine

CNN

Evaluation

This rubric may be used for self-assessment and peer feedback. The project grade will be based upon the following evaluation scale:

A - Exemplary: 45-50 points
B - Proficient: 40-44 points
Partially Proficient or Incomplete: Needs to be resubmitted - less than 39 points

PowerPoint Rubric

ACTIVITY

Exemplary

Proficient

Partially Proficient

Incomplete

POINTS

Research

and Notetaking

12 points

Notes are organized and accurate,and indicate that group members accurately researched varied information sources, recorded and interpreted statements, graphics and questions and evaluated alternative points of view.

Completed all 6 Public Policy worksheets with relevant information.

8-11 points

Notes are organized and accurate, and show that group members recorded relevant information from multiple sources of information, evaluated and synthesized relevant information.

Completed 4-5 Public Policy worksheets with relevant information.

4-7 points

Notes show group members misinterpreted statements, graphics and questions and failed to identify relevant arguments,or are disorganized.

Completed 2-3 Public Policy worksheets.

0-3 points

Notes show group members recorded information from four or less resources, and ignored alternative points of view, or contain minimal information in a disorganized manner.

Completed only one or no Public Policy worksheet.

Preproduc-tion Plan - Storyboard

6 points

The storyboard illustrates the slide presentation structure with thumbnail sketches of each slide including: title of slide, text, background color, placement & size of graphic, fonts - color, size, type for text and headings, hyperlinks (list URLs of any site linked from the slide), narration text, and audio files (if any). All slides are numbered, and there is a logical sequence to the presentation.

4 points

The thumbnail sketches on the storyboard include titles and text for each slide and are in sequential order.

2 points

The thumbnail sketches on the storyboard are not in a logical sequence and have incomplete information.

0 points

There a very few thumbnail sketches on the storyboard and do not provide an overview of the presentation.

Introduction

3 points

The introduction presents the overall topic and draws the audience into the presentation with compelling questions or by relating to the audience's interests or goals.

2 points

The introduction is clear and coherent and relates to the topic.

1 point

The introduction shows some structure but does not create a strong sense of what is to follow. May be overly detailed or incomplete and is somewhat appealing to the audience.

0 points

The introduction does not orient the audience to what will follow.

The sequencing is unclear and does not appear interesting or relevant to the audience.

Content

8 points

The content is written clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information.

Includes persuasive information from *primary sources.

6 points

The content is written with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information.

Includes persuasive information from *primary sources.

4 points

The content is vague in conveying a point of view and does not create a strong sense of purpose.

Includes some persuasive information with few facts.

Some of the information may not seem to fit.

*Primary source use is not always clear.

0 points

The content lacks a clear point of view and logical sequence of information.

Includes little persuasive information and only one or two facts about the topic.

Information is incomplete, out of date and/or incorrect.

Sequencing of ideas is unclear.

Text Elements

3 points

The fonts are easy-to-read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text.

Use of italics, bold, and indentations enhances readability.

Text is appropriate in length for the target audience and to the point.

The background and colors enhance the readability of text.

2 points

Sometimes the fonts are easy-to-read, but in a few places the use of fonts, italics, bold, long paragraphs, color or busy background detracts and does not enhance readability.

1 point

Overall readability is difficult with lengthy paragraphs, too many different fonts, dark or busy background, overuse of bold or lack of appropriate indentations of text.

0 points

The text is extremely difficult to read with long blocks of text and small point size of fonts, inappropriate contrasting colors, poor use of headings, subheadings, indentations, or bold formatting.

Layout

3 points

The layout is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to the overall message with appropriate use of headings and subheadings and white space.

2 points

The layout uses horizontal and vertical white space appropriately.

1 point

The layout shows some structure, but appears cluttered and busy or distracting with large gaps of white space or uses a distracting background.

0 points

The layout is cluttered, confusing, and does not use spacing, headings and subheadings to enhance the readability.

Citations

6 points

Sources of information are clearly cited so that the audience can determine the credibility and authority of the information

4 points

Most sources of inform-ation are documented to make it possible to check on the accuracy of information.

2 points

Sometimes sources of information are not clearly identified.

0 points

No way to check validity of information.

Graphics, Sound and/or Animation

3 points

The graphics, sound and/or animation assist in presenting an overall theme and make visual connections that enhance understanding of concept, ideas and relationships.

2 points

The graphics, sound/and or animation visually depict material and assist the audience in understanding the flow of information or content.

Images are proper size, resolution.

1 point

Some of the graphics, sounds, and/or animations seem unrelated to the topic/theme and do not enhance the overall concepts.

Images are too large/small in size.

Images are poorly cropped or the color/resolution is fuzzy.

0 points

The graphics, sounds, and/or animations are unrelated to the content.

Graphics do not enhance understanding of the content, or are distracting decorations that create a busy feeling and detract from the content.

Writing Mechanics

6 points

The text is written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

4 points

The text is clearly written with little or no editing required for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

2 points

Spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors distract or impair readability.

(3 or more errors)

0 points

Errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage and grammar repeatedly distract the reader and major editing and revision is required.

(more than 5 errors)

TOTAL POINTS

/50

* Primary sources can include original letters and diaries, personal observations, interviews, first-hand accounts, newspaper articles, magazine articles, journal articles, Web pages, audio recordings, video productions and photography.

DeWitt Clinton High School

Persuasive Essay

Name: ________________________

Teacher: Ms. Krstevski

Criteria

Pts.

	4	3	2	1
Position Statement	Position is clearly stated and consistently maintained. Clear references to the issue(s) are stated.	Position is clearly stated and consistently maintained. References to the issue(s) at hand are missing.	Position is stated, but is not maintained consistently throughout work.	Statement of position cannot be determined.	____
Supporting Information	Evidence clearly supports the position; evidence is sufficient.	Evidence clearly supports the position; but there is not enough evidence.	Argument is supported by limited evidence.	Evidence is unrelated to argument.	____
Organization	Structure of work is clearly organized, with an introduction and thesis statement, body and conclusion. Transitions are used.	Structure developed reasonably well, but lacks clarity.	Some attempt to structure the argument has been made, but the structure is poorly developed.	There is a total lack of structure.	____
Sentence Structure	Sentence structure is correct.	Sentence structure is generally correct. Some awkward sentences do appear.	Work contains structural weaknesses.	Work pays little attention to proper sentence structure.
Grammar and Spelling	Grammar and spelling are correct.	Grammar and spelling are mostly correct, but there are 1-3 errors.	There are 4-6 errors in grammar and spelling.	There are more than 7 errors in grammar and spelling.
Punctuation & Capitalization	Punctuation and capitalization are correct. Paragraph format is correct.	There are up to three errors in punctuation and/or capitalization.	There are 4-6 errors in punctuation and/or capitalization.	There are seven or more errors in punctuation and/or capitalization.
				Total---->

Teacher Comments:

Conclusion

Students should have discovered the nature of the balance and the competition in American government between the federal government and the States. They have read text and graphs in order identify relevant information. Finally, students should also have evaluated the issue of the merits of medical marijuana on a scientific basis and proposed a public policy.

New York State Standards

English Language Arts

§ Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding

§ Standard 3: Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

§ Standard 4: Language for Social Interaction

Social Studies

§ Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government

New York City Standards

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.