Teacher Resources

Suicide Awareness

Task, Product & Assessment | Step One: Questioning & Planning | Step Two: Gathering, Sorting & Sifting | Step Three: Synthesis & Evaluation 
Step Four: More Gathering, Sorting & Sifting | Step Five: Final Synthesis & Evaluation | Step Six: Presentation 

There are more suicides than homicides. Talking about suicide may give someone the idea. Suicide rates are higher for people of low income. For the truth about these statements and for more, visit the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Website.

 The Task

You have been asked to design an informational brochure about suicide that will be distributed at the upcoming Health Fair sponsored by your high school for both the students and for the surrounding community.

While researching the topic, include information about:

• suicide facts
• warning signs
• risk factors
• suicide intervention strategies
• other important information

Additionally, you have been asked to be a member of a panel discussion about suicide at the Health Fair. After analyzing the data from your research, prepare answers to the following questions for the discussion:

• Is one group of the population more susceptible to suicide than others? If so, which group and why?
• Which factors most influence teenage suicide?
• How have previous suicide prevention efforts succeeded or failed? Why?

The Product

You will design and produce a trifold brochure or a video public service announcement. It should be divided into sections that represent the information indicated above. Also include in written format the prepared answers to the questions for the panel discussion.

The Assessment

Daily (Formative)	Research Process - Summative (Student/Self)	Research Process - Summative (Teacher)
Items Used in the Research Process  (notes, outline, drafts,works cited, etc.)	Brochure Assessment	Panel Discussion Assessment

The Research Process

Step One: Questioning

As you look at the task above, list as many questions as you can that will help you to understand and investigate this topic. THINK ABOUT... What do you already know about the problem? What do you need to know: to begin your investigation? in order to suggest some solutions? to increase the awareness of others?

Jump start your thinking! Try these questions to getstarted; then add some of your own. A graphic organizer may be helpful to brainstorm questions and to plan research. What factors make someone at risk for suicide and why? What kind of help is available for people contemplating suicide? For survivors? For loved ones left behind?

Step Two: Gathering, Sorting, and Sifting

In this step you will be using a variety of library resources to find answers to your questions.

Tip: If you did not formulate questions in Step 1, go back and do it now. A topic is not a question.

Remember to cite your references. Check the MLA guidelines and examples for citing resources; however, your school may use a different format.

Sort your research findings by using note cards or a graphic organizer.

Sift through the resources, eliminating those that do not answer your questions.

To avoid risking plagiarism examine this website for acceptable uses of proper paraphrasing.

 

Step 4: Refined Gathering/Sorting/Sifting 2

Now that you have synthesized your information and evaluated your progress, you are ready to locate additional information to answer your questions and further develop your topic. Return to any of the resources mentioned earlier in Step Two.

Step 5: Final Synthesis and Evaluation

Synthesis is the act of pulling your research and ideas together to form a new whole.

Before you begin, recall the items you were asked to consider in your research. They were:

• suicide facts
• warning signs
• risk factors
• suicide intervention strategies
• other important information

Click here to see a template for planning your trifold brochure.

Consider using one of these software programs for creating your trifold brochure on a computer:

• Click Book
• Microsoft Word
• Aldus PageMaker

Step 6: Presentation

Are you ready to prepare your presentation?

Recall your task and product. Review all of your materials to prepare for your final product. Your product should reflect your efforts during the past steps in the research process: Questioning and Planning Gathering, Sorting, and Sifting Synthesis and Evaluation

Consider: Do you have enough to say? Are you able to explain your findings as well as your suggestions clearly? Are you able to cite the references from which you obtained your facts?