Webquest:

                   What is the truth about tobacco?          

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You are a news reporter for a nationally publicized young adult magazine.  The readers of the magazine have been writing the editor, demanding information about tobacco, its effects, the industry that makes tobacco products, and recent court cases involving the tobacco industries. You are one great article away from a big promotion and raise ($$$).  You know if you write an article giving the readers the information they are demanding, plus other interesting and important facts you will have a good shot at that promotion and raise!$!

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The Task

Gather the facts and issues about tobacco use and the issues surrounding its use, i.e.,  its effects,  the industry that makes tobacco products,  and recent court cases involving the tobacco industries.

*           Become an expert on tobacco use

*          the effects of tobacco on its users

*          the industry that makes tobacco products

*          recent court cases involving the tobacco industry

*          Report all of the facts you discover during your search in an article for the nationally publicized young adult magazine you work for.

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The Process

  1. Think about what you already know about tobacco uses and the surrounding issues. Think about what you and the readers of the magazine want to know about tobacco uses and the surrounding issues.
  2. Formulate and/or use the following questions that inquire about tobacco use, its effects, the industry that makes tobacco products, and recent court cases involving the tobacco industry.   (minimum of five questions)                       

*          What diseases are caused by smoking cigarettes?  smoking cigars? chewing tobacco?

*          What influences people to smoke?

*          What keeps them smoking?

*          What are the facts about nicotine?

*          What can you find out about the tobacco industry?

*          Identify and explain the significance of recent court cases involving the tobacco industry.

*          Find polls that record people’s opinions and reactions to court decisions involving the tobacco industry.

  1. Write these questions on the top of an index card, saving room for the answer(s) at the bottom of the index card.
  2. Conduct research and respond to your and/or the example questions.
  3. Search databases such as Health Source, Newspaper Source, MAS Premier, Medline etc.
  4. Search the Internet, specifically Inspire.

*          Check for reliability

*          Who is the author?

*          Do they have an opinion?  Are they taking a side?

*          When the site was last updated?

  1. Record your findings on the index card with the corresponding question.
  2. Cite where you found your information on the back of the index cards.
  3. After you have found all of the information about tobacco use and the surrounding issues write your article using a word processor.  The article should be at least one page long, but no more than five pages long (not including the bibliography).  The article should contain the following:

*          Facts about tobacco uses and surrounding issues.

*          A bibliography citing the different resources where you found your information.

*          A summary on how you think this effects you and your world.

  1. This has to be a great article!  You are very close to that promotion and RAISE!
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Resources

Below are some sites that will help you accomplish your tasks.  Many have links to additional sites.  Stay focused on your task and know what you are looking for, or you can waste a lot of valuable time!

Inspire (available for Indiana residents only)

American Cancer Society

The Learning Trip

Tobacco Organization

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

The Master Anti-Smoking Page

CDC

CNN

Washington Times

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Learning Advice

*          Think your questions through.  Know what you want to look for.

*          Stay focused.  It is very easy to get side tracked with unrelated information.

*          Be sure to check your sources for reliability.

*          Give credit where credit is due.  CITE WHERE YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION. http://www.landmark-project.com/citation_machine/index.php

*          After you have collected and recorded all of your information on to index cards, organize them in the order you wish to write about them in your article.

*          Write at least one rough draft.  Check for spelling, grammar, and readability.

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Evaluation

Use the following questions as a checklist and evaluate the quality of your work

*          Did you find enough information to write a good and thorough article?  Enough to earn a promotion and raise?$?

*          Did you cite your sources?

*          Does your paper make sense to the readers of the magazine?

*          Will you meet the reader’s demands for information about tobacco?

*          Did you describe how tobacco uses and the other issues surrounding it affect you and your world?

*          Did you find other interesting facts about tobacco, or the court cases involving the tobacco industry?

*          Will you get your promotion and raise?$?

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Extensions

1.  Find out about smoking laws in your state and city.  If there are laws restricting smoking, what are the restrictions?  Why do you think these laws were enacted?  What impact do they have on you and your community?

2.  Look at the examples of tobacco advertisement parodies.   Skim through old magazines and find a tobacco product advertisement that strikes you.  Design a parody of it, a similar ad the same size that tells the truth about the product.

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Written by Kathleen M Haeger

Last Update February 2005 by Trisha Armstrong