Today, you will continue to consider the issue of abortion ultimately leading to a one page position paper on a question that you identify. Here are your tasks:
1) Read this article that summarizes the state of the abortion debates today.
2) If you are interested, there are other films with different points of view than "Unborn in the USA". This one and this one provide alternate perspectives and raise additional questions to consider.
3) Identify a question arising from either the film, Unborn in the USA or the article. Some examples of potential questions are:
- Are young people today for or against abortion? Why? (See this article referenced in the film)
- What kind of role should the government play in abortion?
- Should a man have any rights in regards to his partner’s decision to have an abortion or not?
- Should parents be notified if their minor child wishes to have an abortion?
- What requirements, if any, should abortion clinics and those attending them have placed on them in order to do the procedure (consider ultrasounds and waiting periods)?
- What are the risks associated with making abortions severely restricted or illegal?
- Should individual states be allowed to have differing abortion laws?
- Should people have the right to protest outside abortion clinics or on University campuses? Should there be any limitations on those protests?
- Should the ban on partial birth or late-term abortion be upheld?
- Should contraceptives be given to teenagers in schools?
- What is the relationship between abstinence only education and abortions?
4) Once you have identified a question (please note-those above are not an exhaustive list-both the article and film raised many additional issues), research the varying responses to it. You should use the library subscription databases (CQ Researcher, Issues: Understanding Controversy in Society, or Gale Opposing Viewpoints, JSTOR). You may do additional research on the web but be SURE that sites that you use are reputable, appropriate, and valid.You should keep track of the sources you use as well as how they answer the question.
5) Then, when ready, write a 1-2 page single spaced response to your chosen question. Your response should begin with an assertion that answers your question and includes a "why" or "because" clause. You should not use first person. If you have multiple paragraphs, each should begin with a topic sentence. You should cite your information using Chicago footnote style (just like the gun control essay). Your essay should include at least three reputable sources. You should not have any grammar or spelling mistakes. Essays are due to turnitin.com on Monday, 1/13.
