M.Melchior

The Young Women’s Leadership School Bronx Campus

Everyday over 3,000 teenagers under the age of 18 become regular smokers. Cigarette companies continue to find appealing ways to target young people. The earlier an individual begins to smoke the harder it is to break it. Smoking can cause your skin to dry out and wrinkles. Some research has even link it to premature aging. You and your classmates will create a pamphlet on the effects that smoking has on teenagers.

You are to work in teams of four to create a health related pamphlet to aid you peers in understanding the health risks related to smoking. In order to accomplish this task you will become a public policy analyst to develop and analyze ways to prevent teenagers from smoking. You and your group will have to develop a health related pamphlet that will be distributed to you classmates.

You and your group will develop a health related pamphlet, Microsoft publisher can be used to help you to do this. Your pamphlet must include statistics, diagrams, the side effects to smoking and resources where teenagers can go for help in order to quit. To help you to research your topic you will follow the steps outline for you as a public policy analyst. When you click on the hyperlink a worksheet is provided.

1. Define the problem

2. Gather evidence

3. Identify causes

4. Evaluate a policy

5. Develop solutions

6. Select best solution

1	2	3	4
Problem not defined	problem defined but not clearly	Problem clearly defined in 3-4 sentences	Problem clearly defined in one paragraph
Evidence gathered from one source, not clearly defined	Evidence gathered from 2-3 sources, not clearly defined	Evidence gathered from3-4 sources, clearly defined	Evidence gathered from 5-6 sources, clearly defined
1 cause defined, unclear explanation	2 causes defined, slightly unclear explanation	3 causes defined, clearly explained	4 causes defined, clearly explained
No existing public policy evaluated	Existing public policy briefly stated, but not evaluated	Existing public policy stated and evaluated	Existing public policy stated and evaluated in detail
No solution developed	1-2 possible solutions developed	3-4 possible solutions developed	5 or more solutions developed
No solution selected	Solution selected, but not clearly explained	Solution selected, and clearly explained	More then one solution selected and clearly explained

Here are some websites to help you with your project:

1. www.cyberdyaryo.com/features/f2001_0817_04.htm

2. www.perkel.com/politics/issues/smoke.htm

3. www.coolnurse.com/smoking_why.htm

4. www.cancer.org/docnot/PED_10_14_How_to_Fight_Teen_Smoking.asp

5. www.healthlink.mcw.edu/article/968785908.html

Communication Arts:

E2a: Students produce a report.

E2e: Students will produce a persuasive essay.

E3b: Students will participate in group meetings.

Science:

S2a: Structure and function in living systems.

S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop description

S5f: Works individually and in team to collect and share information.

At the end of this project you will become more familiar with the causes, effects and resources that teenagers have when it comes to cigarette smoking. You will be better prepared to prevent your peers from smoking and provide information to those who do smoke to help them quit before its too late.