Persuasive Project

Thematic Controversies

12 CAI Spring 2003

Preparation

Research the controversy surrounding the issue.
Print AT LEAST 7 RELIABLE sources (make sure to include url).
Read each article and highlight FOR arguments in one color and AGAINST arguments in another.

Visual Illustration

Using a word processing program, create a one-page document which visually illustrates the controversy concerning this issue.
The purpose of this document is to present the issue thoroughly and objectively, at a glance.

Include opinions and information supporting each side, and all sources.

An effective document will have the following features:

CONTENT

a thorough overview of the issue
a balanced and objective presentation of various facets of the topic
concise, direct, and objective phrasing short sentences (20 word MAX) or phrases
evidence of research (documentation) reliable sources which support both sides of issue

FORMAT

a layout that illustrates the relationship between varius facets of the topic
an effective use of graphic elements (white space, bullets, line, dashes)blocks/chunks of information (a few sentences/phrases)white space for eye appeal bullets to highlight pieces of information horizontal & vertical lines to delineate sections

CITATIONS

at least 4 sources
correct MLA format for each source
works cited page

Attach an annotated bibliography (MLA format) on a separate sheet of paper, listing all sources from which you took information for your document
Attach all sources with highlighted information

Date DUE: BEST DRAFT: Friday, April 4, 2003

FINAL DRAFT: Monday, April 7, 2003

POINTS POSSIBLE: 100 points!

Should assisted suicide be a

LEGAL practice?

Assisted suicide: "A non-suicidal person who knowingly and intentionally provides the means or acts in some way to help a suicidal person kill himself" (Marker and Hamlon 1).

YES	NO
�The patient would die peacefully, at will, among family and friends.	�Death by suffocation is not peaceful. In the case of lethal injection, family and friends may be asked to leave the room to avoid seeing "violent convulsions and muscle spasms" (Marker and Hamlon 2).
�Those patients in severe pain find assisted suicide to be their only hope in relieving the pain.	�With present-day medicine, pain can be almost completely relieved in "virtually all circumstances" (Ohio Right to Life Society 1).
�Terminally ill patients feel there is nothing to look forward to in life; some are clinically depressed.	�Physician-patient information is private, so it would "make legal safeguards hard to enforce" (Tyson 4). Abuse of the law would be inevitable.
�For those who are terminally ill, and wish to die, assisted suicide could be a means of cost containment, rather than spending all the money to keep the patients alive.	�Health care organizations may pressure doctors to recommend that "no care is the best care" for their patients (Dart and Weinstein 3). Patients may unwillingly submit due to doctors' recommendations.
�Terminal can mean that "death is expected in six months or less" (Marker and Hamlon 2). For those who are terminally ill, death is inevitable, so it makes little difference when in six months they die.	�Fifty percent of Michigan physicians said they could not confidently "predict whether someone had less than six months to live" (Josar 1). Patients that may have survived would be killed prematurely.

Annotated Bibliography

Dart, John and Henry Weinstein. "Reactions Strong and Divided." Los Angeles Times. 7 March 1998. Http://www.latimes.com/archives/march1998.htm. (1 April 2003).

Public reaction was very mixed when the decision to make physician-assisted suicide legal was passed by the federal appeals court. Religious groups strongly opposed the decision because they believe human life has too much value to be thrown away by committing suicide. Individual doctors and AIDS groups are happy about the court's decision. They have seen the suffering of the AIDS patients, and are relived that they can choose to end their misery.

Marker, Rita L. and Kathi Hamlon. "Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Frequently Asked Questions." International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. 2003. http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/faq.htm. (1 April 2003).

This document was in a question and answer format, with all questions relating to euthanasia. The answers all condemn euthanasia as an immoral, unethical practice which should never become legal. The questions vary from very general, like, "What is euthanasia?", to very complex, like, "Since suicide isn't against the law, why should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?"

Josar, David. "Many Michigan Doctors Favor Assisted Suicide, Study Shows." Detroit News. 1 Feb 1998. Http://www.detnews.com/archives/feb98/index.html. (1 April 2003).

A study in Michigan reported that 39% of Michigan doctors want assisted suicide to be legal. Dr. Jack Kevorkian has been the biggest factor in the increased approval by doctors of assisted suicide. Half of the doctors said that they did not know what drug to prescribe for a suicide.

Ohio Right to Life Society. "Euthanasia." Ohio Right to Life: Promoting Life from Conception to Death. 1996-2002. http://www.ohiolife.org/euthanasia/index.asp. (1 April 2003).

There are too many practicalities that would make assisted suicide too difficult to become legal. Rational decisions are not always made, and even euthanasia supporters believe that severe pain is not a valid reason.

Tyson, Ann Scott. "Kevorkian Trial Renews Debate Over Euthanasia." Christian Science Monitor Online. 2003. Http://www.csm.org/articles/1996.htm

Dr. Kevorkian's trial for a number of assisted suicides has peaked public interest. Michigan supporters for legalizing assisted suicide has increased among the regular population and physicians. Supporters of assisted suicide believe that doctors will assist patients in suicide nevertheless, so it would be better to have restrictions than to have it done completely unregulated like it is now.

Persuasive Essay?

Using information from research, write a persuasive essay supporting your side of the issue

Persuasive Service Announcement?

Persuasive Project

Thematic Controversies

Visual Illustration Rubric

Element	Details	Points	Points Poss.
CONTENT	a balanced and objective presentation of various facets of the topic		30
	concise, direct, and objective phrasing short sentences (20 word MAX) or phrases		20
	evidence of research (documentation) reliable sources which support both sides of issue		15
FORMAT	a layout that illustrates the relationship between varius facets of the topic		15
	an effective use of graphic elements (white space, bullets, line, dashes)		20
CITATIONS	at least 4 sources		15
	correct MLA format for each source		15
	Bibliography annotated correctly		20
	Attach an annotated bibliography		no score for assign. If not
	Attach all sources with highlighted information		no score for assign. If not
TOTAL			150

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