Do you or someone you know have asthma? What
is it? What causes this disease? Some think
that increased levels of air pollution are
responsible for increasing numbers of asthma
sufferers. In this WebQuest you'll find out
the answers to these questions and also do
some research into the debate about what may
be causing increased incidents of asthma.
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Your job in this WebQuest is to develop an
educated opinion as to whether or not air pollution
causes higher rates of asthma. You'll need
to learn what asthma really is
- and what it isn't. You'll also need to find
out the difference between an asthma cause
and a trigger, and the factors that are involved
in the development of asthma, such as smoking
and genetic predisposition. And you'll look
at evidence that may link increased levels
of air pollution with increased numbers of
asthma cases in a population.
Once you've done your research and formed
your opinion, you'll create a project that
will reflect your opinion. It will be developed
and presented from the perspective of a specific
member of society, such as doctor, parent,
researcher, member of industry, etc.
Your project may be an informational brochure
or multimedia presentation. It should present
your opinion and be delivered from the perspective
you've chosen, keeping your specific audience
in mind. Your goal is to convince them that
your conclusion is correct, and to encourage
them to take appropriate action.
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Where does this Internet research lead you?
Once you've done your research, decide what
you think about this issue. Do you think that
increased levels of air pollution cause higher
rates of asthma?
Choose a perspective from which to develop
your presentation. This perspective may be
that of a doctor, parent, student, member of
industry, researcher, or another that you decide
upon. Remember that there is a specific audience
for each of these perspectives, and your job
is to inform this audience. For example, a
parent may be concerned either that their child
may develop asthma from air pollution in the
school and surrounding areas, or that there
is unnecessary money being spent on reducing
indoor air pollutants that are not a health
hazard. The parent's audience might be parents
of their students' classmates or members of
the local school board. An industry representative's
audience may be members of the community or
local government officials.
In the process of completing this WebQuest,
you've not only become informed about asthma,
you have developed important critical thinking
skills. You have learned that there are often
many factors involved in an issue and how to
examine these different aspects. You have read
information to answer key questions about a
topic, and you have formed your own educated
opinion. You've also learned about writing
persuasively in order to convince your audience,
and put that to work by creating your own presentation.
These skills will serve you well as you form
opinions on other issues in the future. Congratulations
on a highly productive endeavor!
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