A CRITICAL SAMPLE LESSON “DEFINING A SOCIAL PROBLEM” AN STUDENT INTERACTIVE APPROACH PRESENTED BY THE CRITICAL STAFF October 2007

Low student morale Smoking in lavatories Poor academic performance High dropout rate Vandalism High absenteeism/skipping classes Increased traffic fatalities Environmental problems Air or water pollution Solid waste disposal/landfills Poor sanitation High crime rates Violent crime Drugs Hate crimes CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE LISTS BELOW AND GIVE A TITLE TO EACH TITLE # 1________TITLE # 2______________

LET’S DEFINE A SOCIAL PROBLEM DEFINITION : ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________

FOR OUR PURPOSES WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE SOCIAL PROBLEM OF “ DRUGS IN AMERICA ”

CRACK COCAINE MAIJUANA ECSTACY CRYSTAL-METH ALCOHOL FIND A SOCIAL PROBLEM FOR EACH ?

PERCENT USING ILLEGAL DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES BY AGE FIND THE SOCIAL PROBLEM REPRESENTED BY THIS GRAPH

FINDING CRITCAL SKILLS for the PPA WELCOME PAGE WELCOME PAGE WELCOME PAGE WELCOME PAGE INFORMATION TOOLS INFORMATION TOOLS INFORMATION TOOLS INFORMATION TOOLS Surveys Surveys Expert opinions Expert opinions Interviews Interviews Knowledgeable people Knowledgeable people Internet search Internet search Case studies Case studies

EXPERT OPINION DRUGS AND TEENAGERS DRUGS AND TEENAGERS TESTIMONY TEENS AND DRUG USE EXPERT OPINIONS ON THE DRUG PROBLEM IN AMERICA TAKE NOTES ON ANY FACTS YOUR FIND TO BE RELATED TO THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE IN AMERICA

A CASE STUDYA CASE STUDY # 1 CASE STUDY # 2CASE STUDIES: Which step would you use?

STATISTICS ARE CRITICAL TO DEFINING A SOCIAL PROBLEMS 1: LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING STATICAL WEBSITES 2: TAKE NOTES AS YOU FIND KEY STATISTICS THAT PIN POINT THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABSUE DRUG ABUSE IN AMERICADRUG ABUSE IN AMERICA # 1 DRUG ABUSE STATISTICS IN AMERICA # 2 DRUG ABUSE STATISTICS # 3

Worksheet1: Defining the Social Problem Date: _________________ Group Members: ____________________________________________ 1.In one or two sentences, state the nature of the social problem that your group plans to study. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2: What is the specific community location of the social problem? Your answer should include both the governmental authority (e.g. school board, city council) and the particular geographic location (review Internet examples). ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3: List at least three undesirable social conditions that result from this problem: 1.. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2.. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3.. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Write a short phrase that summarizes the social problem and its geopolitical location. ______________________________________________________________________________________ In your groups complete the following work sheet

HOMEWORK INSTRUCTIONS: 1: Interview five of your friends 2: Make up questions that you would use to determine if there is a drug problem in the United States 3: Create an intelligent THESIS based upon your interviews 4: Be prepared to share your findings with the class