Jumping the Nail and Teenage Risk Taking North Syracuse Junior high Mrs. M. Brown mbrown@nscsd.org

Steps of the PPA Step 1 Define the Problem Step 2 Gather the Evidence Step 3 Identify the Causes Step 4 Evaluate an Existing Policy Step 5 Develop Solutions Step 6 Select the Best Solutions (Feasibility vs. Effectiveness)

Step 1 Define The Problem What is a dangerous risk? How would you define a “dangerous” risk?

“Dangerous Risk” DAngerous Risk dan·ger·ous –adjective 1. full of danger or risk; causing danger; perilous; risky; hazardous; unsafe. 2. able or likely to cause physical injury: a dangerous criminal. risk –noun 1. exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It's not worth the risk.

Did your definition meet the criteria? If not, stop and revise.

Step 2 Gather the Evidence Who was involved? Which characters took dangerous risks?

Using your book, gather and record the evidence for three characters from Jumping the Nail that took a dangerous risk. Character Risky Action(page) Why it was dangerous_(potential consequence) 1. 2. 3.

Step 3 Identify the causes Why? What caused each of these characters to engage in risky behavior?

Identify the causes for each character What was the cause of the dangerous risk taking for each individual? Character #1 Character #2 Character #3

Paragraph Writing Write a well developed and supported paragraph about one cause of dangerous risk taking in teenagers. Be sure to: Define “dangerous risk”. Identify a dangerous risk by a character Explain why it was dangerous Discuss and explain the cause, and how it relates to your own feelings and behavior.