By Ed McBain / Evan Hunter
The story: The Last Spin
A story about teenage street gangs and how they solve problems.
Task
Reporter 1 | Reporter 2 | Reporter 3 | Reporter 4
The following questions may help you:
1. Define teen gangs
2. Provide some statistics on teen gangs
3. What preventive measures are taken to fight teen gangs?
4. Describe the gangs mentality.
]5. Give reasons for joining a street gang
6. How do they communicate their message?
7. Describe one type of a gang
Check for background information on teen gangs: Write a profile of Danny based on your findings
1. http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/gangs.asp
2. http://associations.smsu.edu/nogangs/everything.html
4. http://www.gangwar.com/dynamics.htm
5. http://www.ecis.com/~noslo/gang.html#Background
6. http://associations.smsu.edu/nogangs/
7. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4111/nogangs.html
8. http://www.stedwards.edu/educ/eanes/whatare.html
Evaluation for Individual Team Members
Reporter 1 (25 points)
Aspect of work
Weak (1 point)
Fair (3 points)
Perfect (5 points)
Definition of teen gangs
One definition given
Two definitions given
Three or more definitions given
Statistics on teen gangs
No recent statistics given
Only one recent statistics given
Two or more statistics given
Sources provided name of website and URL added
One source provided but URL not added
Two sources provided and URL added
Three or more sources provided and URLs added
Preventive measures
One preventive measures stated
Two preventive measure stated
Three preventive measures stated
Danny's profile
Danny's profile is not clearly given. Two of the following is missing: Age, character and favorite past time
Danny's profile is not full. One of the following is not missing: Age, character and favorite past time
Danny's profile is clearly given. All of the following is provided: Age, character and favorite past time
Reporter 1 | Reporter 2 | Reporter 3 | Reporter 4
The following questions may help you:
1. Define teen gangs
2. Provide statistics on teen gangs at schools
3. What characterizes gangs at school?
4. Give examples of school involvements regarding teen gangs
5. What could be the reasons for greater gang prevalence in some schools?
6. What is Youth Crime Watch Program? Describe its basic philosophy?
Check the schools for information on how they deal with teen gangs: Write a plan on how to deal with the issue at school.
1. http://www.ncjrs.org/html/ojjdp/jjbul2000_8_2/contents.html
Evaluation for Individual Team Members
Reporter 2 (25 points)
Aspect of work
Weak (0-1 point)
Fair (2-3 points)
Perfect (4-5 points)
Definition of teen gangs
One definition given
Two definitions given
Three or more definitions given
School involvement
One example of school involvement
Two examples of school involvement
Three or more examples of school involvement
Sources: Name of website URL added
One source provided but forgot URL
One sources provided with name and URL
Three sources provided with names and URLs
School plans available
No school plan available
One school plan
Two school plans
Original plan on how to deal with the issue at school
No plan added
A plan added but not too clear
An original clearly stated plan added
Reporter 1 | Reporter 2 | Reporter 3 | Reporter 4
The following questions may help you:
1. Define teen gangs
2. Why do youth join gangs?
3. How can parents spot gang signs?
4. How can you protect your child from gang involvement?
Speak to Danny's parents: Write an interview with his parents based on your findings on parental involvement or lack of it.
How can parents help?
You may record the conversation or film it using video.
1. http://www.gangsorus.com/parents.html
2. http://www.high-point.net/police/high_point_street_gangs.cfm
3. http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/faq/protectgang.asp
Evaluation for Individual Team Members
Reporter 3 (25 points)
Aspect of work
Weak (0-1 point)
Fair (2-3 points)
Perfect (4-5 points)
Definition of teen gangs
One definition given
Two definitions given
Three or more definitions given
Parental involvement
One example of parental involvement or lack of it
Two examples of parental involvement or lack of it
Three examples of parental involvement or lack of it
The Interview with Danny's parents
Three questions and answers
Five questions and answers
Seven or more questions and answers
Neighborhood and family background
One example of a case showing family background information
Two examples of cases showing family background information
Three or more examples of cases showing family background
Conclusion on how parents can help
No conclusion
One idea on how parents can help
Two or more ideas on how parents can help
Reporter 1 | Reporter 2 | Reporter 3 | Reporter 4
The following questions may help you:
- Define peer pressure
- Give three real examples of peer pressure
- Why do teenagers give up to peer pressure?
- Why are girls attracted to gangsters?
- Give three or more description of street gangs and their friends
Speak to his girlfriend: Write the interview.
Can friends help? Could she have prevented Danny from belonging to the gang? What could she have
done?
How does peer pressure contribute to joining a teen gang?
You may record the conversation or film it using video.
1. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/youthdevelopment/components/6113-05-02.html
2. http://vanderbiltowc.wellsource.com/dh/Content.asp?ID=1599
3. http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/family/nf211.htm
4. http://members.aol.com/stringhamp/11-PeerPressure.html
5. http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d46/psy/dev/Fall99/peer_pressure/index.html
Evaluation for Individual Team Members
Reporter 4 (25 points)
Aspect of work
Weak (0-1 point)
Fair (2-3 points)
Perfect (4-5 points)
Definition of peer pressure
No definition given
One definitions given
Two or more definitions given
Peer pressure
Give one real example of peer pressure
Give two real examples of peer pressure
Give three real examples of peer pressure
The Interview with Danny's girl friend
Three questions and answers
Five questions and answers
Seven or more questions and answers
Description of friends
Give one description of street gangs and their friends
Give two description of street gangs and their friends
Give three or more description of street gangs and their friends
Conclusion on whether Danny's girl friend or friends could have prevented Danny's death
No conclusion given
A conclusion given but not very clearly stated
A clearly stated conclusion given
WebQuest template adapted from Spartanburg County School District Three
Questions for the reporters compiled by Limor Schnitzer (July 8, 2008)
Last updated January 1, 2005 by Nellie Deutsch