The Causes and Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect

A Webquest

for Readers of Frankenstein

Introduction

Many children in the New York City School System suffer from emotional, physical, or mental abuse and neglect within their homes. As a result, these children often suffer consequences that affect them well into adulthood. Victor Frankenstein’s monster suffered from such neglect, also with negative short and long-term consequences.

You are a child therapist working for the New York City Department of Education. As part of a national initiative to study the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect, you will prepare a report focusing on the New York City area that includes the preceding information, and also offers viable solutions that address the social problem of neglect. You will research all of your information. When your report is complete, you will appear, along with your peers, on a news hour television talk show, similar to 20/20.

The Task

1. You will research ideas concerning the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect at home.

2. You will write a 3 - 5 page report on your findings.

3. You will present your findings in a talk show format.

The Process

1. You will complete an online survey exploring your thoughts about corporal punishment.

2. You will be assigned to a group of 3 - 4 students who will research expert opinions about the causes of child abuse and neglect in New York City, and both the short and long-term consequences.

3. As part of a group, you will investigate the sites listed. A minimum of three sources (sites) should be used from each of the two divisions.

4. Each group will answer the following questions through online research.

a. What is child abuse and neglect?

b. What are some of the causes?

c. What are the consequences?

d. How many children in New York City are affected?

e. What can be done to decrease child abuse and neglect in New York City?

5. Each group will complete the Public Policy Analyst worksheets:

a. Defining the Social Problem

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet1.html

b. Evaluating existing public policies

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.html

6. You will write a carefully organized three to five page paper.

7. You will add your findings to a group report that will be presented in the format of a serious news hour talk show.

Internet Resources

Note: I have only included some initial starting points for your web research. I expect you to use the following search engines to locate research of your own!

Causes of Child Abuse and Neglect

http://www.zipmall.com/moms-causes.htm

http://www.cfw.tufts.edu/viewtopics.asp?categoryid=2&topicid=25

http://preventchildabuseny.org/pcnynews.html

Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect

http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact150.html

http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cap/capques4.html

http://www.cisaustin.org/PebbleProject/html/consequences_of_abuse.html

Statistics for Child Abuse and Neglect

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/acs/html/getinvolved/abuseprevent_stats.html

http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/statefactsheets/2000/newyork.htm

Possible Solutions for Child Abuse and Neglect

http://www.preventchildabuse.org/

General Search Engines:

Evaluation Rubric

Name: ________________________

Teacher: ___________________

Date Submitted: ____________

Title of Work: ___________________

Criteria

Points

	4	3	2	1
Introduction	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.	____
Task	All areas of the task were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least one area of the task was not addressed. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least two areas of the task were not addressed. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a moderate level of thought.	The task is incomplete and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the task.	____
Process: Teamwork	It is evident that a mutual effort and cohesive unit created the final product.	The team worked well together, but could have utilized each other's skills to a better degree.	The team had problems working together. Little collaboration occurred.	The final product is not the result of a collaborative effort. The group showed no evidence of collaboration.	____
Process: Originality	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high degree of originality.	The ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original. The group may have improved upon a previous idea.	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a low degree of originality.	There were no original ideas expressed in this project.	____
Grammar, Format , and Spelling	The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 1 error related to either grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	____
				Total---->	____

Teacher Comments:

English Language Arts Performance Standards

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3b: Participate in-group meetings.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation

Conclusion

Hopefully this Webquest has not only provided you with an insight into an important issue in our society, but has enabled you to better to relate to the pain and suffering felt by the monster in Frankenstein. Please provide feedback to your instructor on any changes you feel that should be made