You Decide

Public Policy

Directions to Students:

After searching both sides of the issue you will write a paper trying to persuade someone from the other point of view to support your position.

1.  As a class, choose a public policy issue that is controversial (has multiple perspectives).

2.  Identify at least 3 different stakeholders (individuals or groups) making sure you have representatives from each side of the issue.

3.  Research information that will help you understand the issue and the stake- holders perspectives.

4.  Complete the graphic organizer.

5.  Make an informed decision about the issue and support your decision with convincing reasons.

6.  Write a rough draft of my persuasive position paper, state your position in the introduction of your paper.  Include at least 2 accurate reasons supporting your decision.  In your conclusion, reflect about the constitutional rights and responsibilities of citizenship, revise and edit your work to make it easier for others to read.  Write a final draft of your persuasive position paper.

7.  Use the student check list and rubric to make sure you have completed expectations.

Possible Issues: 

1. Environmental
   • National parks
   • Recycling
2. Safety and Health
   • Smoking
   • Seat belts/helmets
3. Animal Rights
   • Endangered species: wolves, spotted owls, salmon
4. School Policies
   • Dress codes
   • Nutrition
   • Lunch menu’s
   • Cell phones

Do you need additional information? Use these words and phrases to search Proquest Magazine Index, E-Library, or the World Wide Web:

Resources:

Student Links:

• Yahoo Kids
• Environmental News Network
• National Wildlife Organization
• Proquest
• Fight Global Warming
• Environmental Kids Club
• Environmental Kids Students
• Environmental Education Kids
• Effective Letter to Capital Hill
• Planet Pals

Teacher Resources:

Theme 6 in Houghton Mifflin reading 5th grade series

Video Streaming:

Magazine Resources:

EALRs:

Social Studies Skills 1.1.1f: Create a product that demonstrates understanding of information and responds to central questions; present product to a meaningful audience.

History 1.1.1b: Identify and analyze relationships between historical events.

Civics 3.2.1a: Provide examples of conflict, cooperation and interdependence among individuals, groups, and nations.

Economics 1.1.1a: Recognize that wants exceeding available resources implies alternative uses of the resources and forces individuals into making choices. Every choice has an associated opportunity cost in both a personal and community context.

Design and information modeled from Trish Henry Mead School District