Stacia Linz
SLM521
Webdrop#4 (9-12 grade Language Arts)
SWINE
FLU (H1N1): To Vaccinate, or Not to Vaccinate?
This is a straightforward assignment. You will be comparing and contrasting a variety of websites for information on the H1N1 Flu Virus and Vaccination, and then make a decision about your own vaccination. The following sites contain a range of information: scientific, opinion, speculation, entertainment, alternative:
World Health Organization--WHO homepage on swine flu
2009 Flu Pandemic--Wikipedia
WHO
sees a few minor side effects from H1N1 shot—Salon.com
Tracking the
H1N1 Virus--Health Salon
Flu Trends –Google.org
ABC's of H1N1--
The New York Times
Links
to anti-flu public service announcements--Freakanomics Blog, NYT
Swine
Flu--Hype or Hazard?:--About.com
The Flu Vaccine--Natural News
Because
you’re never too old for some information…ENJOY!
Sid the Science Kid Gets a Flu
Shot--YouTube
Elmo's
Flu Plan: “Wash Your Hands” YouTube
The
Right Way To Sneeze --Elmo & Rosita--YouTube
*White House Press
briefing on H1N1—WARNING! LONG. But you can have extra credit if you watch
it.
THE ASSIGNMENT
This assignment is marked CONFIDENTIAL, as it
is a matter of your health. You will share with me, and with your parents, but
you are under no obligation to discuss your personal health decisions during
the class discussion!
1. Read
from as many sources above as you can, and wherever those lead you. Some of
these articles are short—the White House press briefing is about 45 minutes. I
expect you to watch all of the cute little videos from YouTube—they are geared
toward young children, but contain important, universal ideas to our
discussion.
2.
Do the Ben Franklin: fold a piece of paper in half, length-wise and make one
side PROS and one side CONS—this is your personal list of reasons why you would
or would not get the H1N1 Flu Vaccine. Some of the reasons may be emotional, or
seem irrational—but this is your list (by the way, you can never discount “pain”
as a legitimate con in many people’s eyes). You
need to list at least 5 Pros and 5 Cons.
3.
Use this list to form a cogent argument to your parents—or whoever makes legal
decisions for you—about whether or not you would like to receive the vaccine
when/if it is available. Use persuasive
language, but be careful to frame any emotional arguments within logical, even
factual support where you can.
4. Write a letter to your parents with your decision and your concerns, using proper letter format!
Remember, though your parents may currently make medical decisions for you, you are the ultimate advocate for your own health care. Every person must learn to make informed decisions about his or her own health.