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Teenage Obesity:

A TIPS PUBLIC POLICY Investigation.

 

A WEBQUEST By Mr. Heanue

@ Grace Dodge Career and technical High School

Introduction             

NEW YORK — Eight obese teens and their parents are suing McDonalds    for causing them to get fat.  "I didn't know how much fat was in those burgers and fries," said a 270 pound teenager from the South Bronx.

"McDonald's made me eat them and get fat."
"She was rendered defenseless by the onslaught of McDonalds advertising," said one of her lawyers.

More and More Teenagers are reaching dangerous levels of Obesity.  Doctors speculate that obesity will be America’s next great health epidemic.  Teenagers are getting fatter and living unhealthier lifestyles.  What are the causes of this and what can be done?  How can we have a healthier generation of Americans?

 

 

Task            

You have been asked by the new york city Board of education to look into the health crisis of overweight teens who eat too much fast food.  The mayor and the city need to know why so many teenagers are so grotesquely overweight and what needs to be done to get america’s youth healthy again.  You and your group must Give an oral report that details the causes of teenage obesity (especially in the Bronx) and how you would implement a City-wide policy that aims to make healthier adolescents.     

 

                                            

Process

We will be following the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) method of examining a social problem. You will be working in groups of 4. For each step, you will need to record notes on your printed versions of the online worksheets (follow the links below and click on the MS word versions to print out the pages).  If you need help understanding one of the steps, follow the link under “more information” for that step.

 

1.Define the problem

In your own words, what is the social problem of overweight teens?  For example:  Obesity as a young adult leads to a greater risk of health problems later in life.

 

Fill out the worksheet located at: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet1.doc

 

More Information: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

 

2.Gather evidence

Investigate the causes and effects of your defined social problem. I have provided some websites below under “Resources,” but your group should also do some internet investigating on its own. Remember to think critically about the source of your information and whether it is reliable.

 

Fill out the worksheet located at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet2.doc.

 

More Information: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

How to conduct a search on the internet:

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

 

3.Identify causes

What do you think are actual causes of this social problem?  Base your ideas on the evidence you have collected, and remember to consider what actually causes this social problem.

 

Fill out the worksheet at: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet3.doc

 

More information: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

 

 

4.Evaluate a policy

What is NYC doing to remedy the social problem?  Research some of the policies that already exist and then decide on some good points and bad points of these policies.

Fill out the worksheet at: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.doc

 

More information: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/existing.html

 

5.Develop solutions 

As part of your action plan, your group is responsible for brainstorming different possible policy solutions for the problem of obesity.  Be creative – and try to think what ideas might be appealing to your fellow teenagers.  Be sure to also think about the effectiveness of your policy (is it an idea that can really do something about your problem?) as well as the feasibility of your policy (is this something that can work in the real world?)  

 

Fill out the worksheet at:   http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.doc

More Information: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/solutions.html

 

6.                       Select a solution

As a group, determine what you think would be the best policy solution for your social problem.

 

Fill out the worksheet at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.doc

More information: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/bestsol.html

 

 

 

RESOURCES

http://www.overweightteen.com/

Causes of Teenage obesity

Advice for Parents

There is a tremendous amount of information available on the internet that deals with actual cases of teenage obesity.  Use the search words “obesity,” “Teenage” and “overweight” to help you get to these cites.

 

Rubrics and Standards

 

You will use the PPA worksheets to create your written report. The following rubric will be used to grade that report.

 

CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

Organization

Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.

Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.

Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.

The information appears to be disorganized. 8)

Quality of Information

Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.

Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.

Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.

Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.

Internet Use

Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.

Mechanics

No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.

Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors

A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.

Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

 

Grades are given on the following point system:

14 points= A, 12 points= B, 10 points= C,

8 points=D, less than 8 points=F

 

Standards Used in the Project

 

English Language Arts

Standard E2a: Student Creates a Written Report

 

Standard E1c: Student Reads Informational Materials

 

Standard E3d: Student Makes Informed Decisions about Media Sources

 

Standard E4a: Student demonstrates an Understanding of the English Language

 

Standard E7a: Student Critiques Functional Documents

 

Social Studies

Standard S.S.4: Students demonstrate their understanding of how societies develop economic systems

 

Standard S.S.5: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments

 

Conclusion

After researching the problem of overweight adolescents in the Bronx and creating a valid proposal to try and change the pattern of youth obesity, you will understand the risks of over-eating and a lack of exercise.

 

You will see that neglecting one’s fitness is a health hazard. You will also understand the role of a public policy maker, by taking on that role in your own community. 

 

It is absolutely vital to be informed in a democratic society.  Public policy analyst gives you the opportunity to make a difference in your own community. You can actually make real and positive change.