Estimados Estudiantes,
I've asked you to provide a 300-400 word definition discussion in your community profile. Based on your knowledge and research, what term best defines your profile subject or topic? Please use the chart below. Could you respond to a few of these writing prompts to help your readers better understand your your essay? Yes, you can!
Today I encourage you to DEFINE a Community Profile term in your own words. it can be from your research. Or, it could come directly from your Community Profile subject. Here we learn an important academic skill, and it's FUN. I provide you with a writing strategy that will help CLARIFY your TOPIC for your readers. It will be a great way for you to connect with your readers through your own words.
Jay's Tip: For more detailed instruction, please go to your Norton Field Guide - chapter 41 - "Defining." Pay close attention to "To write a formal definition" - page 434.
* Your formal definition will introduce your paragraph - like a topic sentence. It works great. (That's why I will grade it with emphasis.)
* You can chose ideas from the above chart to SUPPORT your definition. Detailed Examples are great. Quote Sandwiches are great. How do other people regard your term?
Jay's Tip: How to choose your term:
Think SCIENTIFIC. Think POLIITICAL. Think ABSTRACT. Think PERSONAL.
* For example: If I'm writing about Covid - I might consider AIRBOURNE VIRUS, HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, ISOLATION, FEAR - a definition paragraph focused on any of these term will be a meaningful addition to your Community Profile.
* For example: If I'm writing about Teen Pregnancy - I might explore the definition of ABSTINENCE-ONLY SEX ED. ( see Jay's Model below.)
* Please consider responding to 3-4 questions from above about your Community Profile term. ( Write 2-3 sentences for each response. The words add up!)
- Your responses should combine into a 300-word paragraph in your Community Profile.
Here is what you do: Follow Jay's Step-by-Step Model for Abstinence-Education
1. Define your term ( see page 434 in your Norton)
a. Clearly present your term (highlight your chosen word or phrase in boldfaced font.)
* Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs
b. State the general class it belongs too
* School Curriculum
c. Express the specific/special characteristics that distinguish it from other terms in the same class
* designed to stop or delay teen-age sex.
Jay's Formal Definition: Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs are school curriculums designed to stop or delay teen-age sex.
2. Provide Details/Characteristics - What does it look like?
Inside the Abstinence Only Classroom, the goal is nothing. The programs are highly restrictive. The instructors pay little attention to the effectiveness of contraceptives and safer-sex behaviors. Instead of introducing students to discussions of birth control, Abstinence-Only programs are based on the premise birth control does not work. Teens are told the only SURE way to avoid unwanted pregnancy is through their pledge to abstinence.
3. Explain what it is not ( Negation).
The designers of these programs may have the best intentions, but their results are the worst. The pledges are not realistic at all. And teens that break their pledges are most unlikely to use contraceptives in their future sexual encounters. Studies show sexually active teenagers who do not use contraception become pregnant with in a year. States who are the leading sponsors of Abstinence-Only Classrooms are also the leaders in the highest teen pregnancy rates.
4. What does it compare to - Can you make an analogy?
Abstinence-Only classes often resemble "Scared Straight" programs to frighten their students into submission. Instructors often use notorious sexist viewpoint. They proclaim girls that are having sex before marriage are dirty and disgusting. They compare them to “used chewing gum and candies that have been passed from hand to hand.” Many of the girls I see in my classes have grown up in harsh environments. Their families are broken. Their streets are dangerous. Some of them have lost their virginity before ever seeing high school.
5. What does it mean to you?
This is what I think: sex education should be integrated into the English curriculum to provide students with real opportunity to explore complex issues. No power points. No multiple choice tests. No crazy dioramas or posters. Students would benefit from speaking about sex as a normal part of the class. English class is the ideal environment to incorporate positive aspects of human sexuality into student learning
This is Jay's Definition Paragraph for his Community Profile Research Paper when he COPIES and PASTES EVERYTHING together.
Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs are school curriculums designed to stop or delay teen-age sex. Inside the Abstinence Only Classroom, the goal is nothing. The programs are highly restrictive. The instructors pay little attention to the effectiveness of contraceptives and safer-sex behaviors. Instead of introducing students to discussions of birth control, Abstinence-Only programs are based on the premise birth control does not work. Teens are told the only SURE way to avoid unwanted pregnancy is through their pledge to abstinence. The designers of these programs may have the best intentions, but their results are the worst. The pledges are not realistic at all. And teens that break their pledges are most unlikely to use contraceptives in their future sexual encounters. Studies show sexually active teenagers who do not use contraception become pregnant with in a year. States who are the leading sponsors of Abstinence-Only Classrooms are also the leaders in the highest teen pregnancy rates. Abstinence-Only classes often resemble "Scared Straight" programs to frighten their students into submission. Instructors often use notorious sexist viewpoint. They proclaim girls that are having sex before marriage are dirty and disgusting. They compare them to “used chewing gum and candies that have been passed from hand to hand.” Many of the girls I see in my classes have grown up in harsh environments. Their families are broken. Their streets are dangerous. Some of them have lost their virginity before ever seeing high school. This is what I think: sex education should be provided in a Safe and Positive environment to explore complex issues. No power points. No multiple choice tests. No crazy diaramas or posters. Students would benefit from speaking about sex as a normal part of the class. English class is the ideal environment to incorporate positive aspects of human sexuality into student learning.
Jay's Notes:
* I'm so happy I found that chart above. It works great. Pull out your ANNOTATED notes. Do you already have information to answer any of these questions? I bet you do!
* Please begin with your FORMAL - 3-Part -DEFINTION.
* Last semester my students contributed their definitions on a special class website: Jay's Movie Definition Dictionary. I share this with you because we worked on our Formal Definitions in class - they look good. Here is the link to the site: https://sites.google.com/site/jaysmoviedefinitiondictionary/
This is going to be great. You will see.
Paz,
JL