Have you ever been coaxed or pressured by a friend to experiment with cigarette smoking, alcohol, or drugs?  Because friends are very important, this temptation can become more and more of a problem as you enter your teen years.

Alcohol is the number one drug abuse problem for American youth.  Nearly a thousand high school and college students die of acute alcohol poisoning each year in the United States alone. (Drinking: A Risky Business) Among youth under the age of 21, statistics show that the cost of alcohol related problems is very high. (The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information)  This does not take into account cigarette smoking or the use of other drugs.  The good news is that most of you have been taught strategies for resisting this temptation.

What can be done to reverse this trend?  You can make a difference!
 
 

Last year, many of you received training in Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) At this time, the D.A.R.E. program needs your help!  This year there are not enough officers to reach every fifth grade student in Montgomery County, Maryland.  Because you are an official D.A.R.E. graduate, you have been selected to persuade those students not to become involved with drugs or other harmful substances.  You may work alone or with a partner.  If you missed the training, you probably should work with a partner.  Before you begin the job of persuasion, you will need to take a refresher mini course.

After doing some investigating, complete the following items:

1. Define substance abuse.
2. Identify the substance you will research.
3. Show that you understand the different persuasive strategies
    through illustration, definition, example, etc. – testimonials,
    bandwagon, emotional appeal, repetition, snob appeal, card
    stacking, and endorsement.
4. Select a persuasive strategy.
5. Review the parts of a friendly letter. (heading, greeting, body,
    closing, signature)
6. Review hamburger model writing strategies.







See Checklist



 


 

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INTERNET:

When you visit this Health site you will learn more about alcohol, nicotine, and drug abuse.

At this site you will find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)about alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Information alcohol, drugs and tobacco can be found here.

Here you will find information on Common Drugs of Abuse.

Drug and alcohol abuse are the topics at this site.

Ask Jeeves your questions about substance abuse.

This is your opportunity to ask the experts about your topic.
 

BOOKS:

Alcohol: Drink or Drug?, Hyde, Margaret O., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1974

Alcohol: What It Is, What It Does, Seixas, Judith S., Library of
Congress, 1977

Alcoholism, Silverstein, Dr. Alvin, and Silverstein, Virginia
B., J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia and New york, 1975

Drinking: A Risky Business, Pringle, Laurence, Morrow Junior Books, New York, 1997

Drugs: Facts on their use and abuse, Houser, Norman W., Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co., New York, 1969

Focus On Drugs and the Brain, Friedman, David, Twenty-First
Century Book, Frederick, Maryland, 1990

To Smoke or Not to Smoke, Terry, MD Luther and Horn, Daniel Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co., New York, 1969
 

SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER:
 
 

Working alone or with a partner, you will:

1. Research your identified substance, and write at least a five paragraph essay
    persuading a fifth grader not to become involved with that substance.  Your
    essay will be written in the form of a friendly letter to a specific student.  It will
    consist of the following:

•  Heading – your school or home address
•  Greeting – Dear…
•  The body of the letter is your essay.  It will include:

              * Details – Paragraphs 2-4 will include factual information gathered
                 through your research.  This might include: other names,
                 composition/ingredients, how it is used, the arguments for using
                 this substance, its legitimate use, effects – physical, social, emotional,
                 etc.

              * Conclusion – Paragraph 5 will sum up the information and make a very
                 strong appeal to remain free of harmful substances.

•  Closing – Yours truly, Sincerely, Your friend, etc.
•  Signature – first and last name

4	All of the requirements in section 3 have been met. Additional paragraphs have been added to support your position on the topic (for example, a paragraph may be added to discuss the relationship between the substance and violence). Additional paragraphs are well placed and have relevant information.
3	Proper letter format has been followed. The introduction grabs the reader's attention and clearly identifies the topic and your position on the topic. The details include at least three paragraphs, each containing three or more facts that clearly support your position. The conclusion restates the main ideas in an interesting way; it uses at least one persuasive strategy to support your position. The essay flows from one idea to the next in an organized and logical manner; facts within each paragraph relate to the topic. Opposing arguments have been thought of and addressed. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct.
2	Proper letter format has been followed. The introduction clearly identifies the topic and your position on the topic. The details include at least two paragraphs, each containing two or more facts that support your position. The conclusion restates the main ideas; it uses at least one persuasive strategy to support your position. The essay flows from one idea to the next in an organized way; facts within each paragraph relate to the topic. Most spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct.
1	Proper letter format has been followed. The introduction includes the topic and your position on the topic. The details include at least two paragraphs, each containing at least two facts that   support your position. The conclusion restates the main ideas. Some spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct.

After researching your topic, writing about it, and sharing it with others you have shown that you can make a difference.  In what other ways can you make a difference in your school and in your community?
 
 

Mini course completed:
 

Topic chosen:

List what you ALREADY KNOW about this topic :
 
 
 
 
 
 

There are 4 or 5 critical questions that you should have about your topic.  List the questions, then underline the KEY WORDS in the questions.  This is what you WANT to find out.
 
 

Create a graphic organizer for your topic.

Skim sources of information using your KEY WORDS.  As you skim, ask yourself, "Does this source have information about one of my questions?"

Record the sources that you use:
        Title:                                                Copyright Date:
         Author:                                             Pages:
         Publisher:                                          Key Word(s):

                                            OR

        Location of Site: (URL)
        Name of Site:
        Specific Source:
 
 

Write your notes and evaluate the information:

Organize your information:

Revise and Edit:
 

Revise and Proofread:

Publish your final product:

Create your visual aid: