This task is an individual essay, but when you collaborate with others, you broaden your knowledge base.
Before you begin your research, brainstorm with your group. Answer these questions:
1. What do we know about driving distractions? Name some.
2. What do we know about the consequences of drivers being distracted? List a few.
3. What can we think of that would help us avoid driving distractions? Give two suggestions.
Make sure you are a group member who works with the group to accomplish the common goal.
Follow the time-line provided by your teacher as you complete each phase of this mission.
If you have questions, ask. Your teacher is there to help you complete your mission.
Be sure you follow all directions carefully and completely.
Make your presentation enjoyable and fashioned to keep your audience's attention. This is an important subject and your work might have a part in saving a life if you can convince your audience to avoid dangerous driving distractions.
Now that you have a basic idea of what you want to find out, begin your research. You may continue to work with your group or you may work independently. REMEMBER: The final essay for Task 1 will be your own work, not a collective work of the group.
While this task is a simple essay and not a full research paper, you need to do sufficient research to find enough information to complete the task.
Visit the resources page for suggested web sites you might visit to find the information you need to complete your essay. As you visit each web site, take good notes to keep up with information you get from each site. Be sure you summarize information rather than use direct quotes. You do not want to be guilty of plagiarism.
You need not cite your sources within your essay. However, on a separate page, do provide a list of your sources using APA format. Visit the APA Crib Sheet for information about how to cite your sources.
After you have completed some research and have found the answers to the questions in step one and you have made notes and have your source information, you should write a rough draft. Follow the suggestions on the ABC's of the Writing Process web site.
Include information about at lease five driving distractions, information about at least four possible consequences of driving distractions, and at least five suggestions of how to avoid driving distractions.
Look over what you have written and see what needs to be fixed. Review the revising phase of the ABC's of the Writing Process.
Here is where you really need to take a good look at your essay. Check it over for spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, word usage, etc. . . Review the editing phase of the ABC's of the Writing Process.
Once you have completed the editing phase, your essay should be ready to turn in. You will hand in all of your work from each step of this task. Prepare them in this order:
Finished copy
Sources cited
Rough draft
Notes from research
Brainstorming activity pages
on the Driving Distractions blog.
Expect to spend three to five days doing interviews.
When you contact a person on your list, tell him/her why you want to do the interview. Tell him/her about your mission. Explain that his/her identity will be protected. Ask the person to be honest with you so that you can complete your mission. Ask questions to obtain each piece of information required and fill in the form.
When you first contact your interviewee, he/she may not be able to think of any distractions he/she has encountered recently. Ask him/her to watch for distractions while driving over the next couple of days. You might give some examples of driving distractions you discovered during Task 1. Be sure to tell him/her when you will be in contact again. Make a note of your contact and be sure to follow up.
Conduct personal interviews and compile a chart with your group of the top five driving distractions based on your interviews.
on the Driving Distractions blog.
Prepare a list of at least 8 people you might interview about driving distractions they have encountered. Each person you interview must be a licensed driver.
Prepare a list of questions you will ask the interviewees in order to gather the required background information.
Each group member will interview at least four people. Be sure to gather the following required information from each interviewee.
1. The person's initials
2. How do you know this person? Friend, relative, etc…
3. How many children does the person have?
4. What city does the person live in?
5. How old is the person. (You can give an approximate age if the person does not wish to tell you his/her exact age.)
6. How long had the person been driving?
7. What kind of vehicle does the person drive?
8. Does this person smoke?
9. Has the person been involved in an auto accident that was a result of a driver being distracted?
10. What kinds of driving distractions has this person encountered during the past week? (You may need to give some examples of driving distractions. Include distractions inside the vehicle as well as those outside the vehicle. Try to get each interviewee to name at least three driving distractions.)
on the Driving Distractions blog.
on the Driving Distractions blog.
Prepare a chart showing the top five driving distractions from this tally sheet. You might consider making a second chart (or a section on your chart) that shows other driving distractions that did not make the top five list but were interesting or unusual.
Be creative. You should include drawings, photos, or other graphics to make your chart eye-pleasing.
With your group, prepare a grand tally sheet of the driving distractions your interviewees shared with each member of your group. This tally sheet is to be a composite of all the driving distractions from all the interviews conducted by the members of your group..
This is the chance for your and your group to complete your POSSIBLE MISSION - prevent an auto crash caused by a distracted driver. Through your research you found many driving distractions and the serious results that can occur when a driver is distracted. Now, you and your group will craft a presentation to share that information with a group of your peers in an attempt to help them determine not to be a distracted driver.
A. Brainstorm with your group about modes of presentation. You might consider these ideas:
Skit
Power Point Presentation
Speech
Full-page newspaper announcement
Public Service Announcement for a television spot
B. List concepts you want to present. Be sure to include at least the following:
1. Five driving distractions
2. Some possible consequences of driving distractions
3. Four or five ways to avoid driving distractions.
As part of your presentation, you might include information group members gathered through interviews, but you must protect the privacy of each person you interviewed. Do not include any names or other identifying information.
C. Assign duties/roles for each member of your group.
D. Prepare a draft of your presentation and seek approval from your teacher.
on the Driving Distractions blog.
E. Get your presentation ready for your audience. Revise your draft and rewrite as needed.
F. Edit your script, Power Point presentation, newspaper announcement, or other forms of writing you have used for your presentation. Be sure your group is prepared to make the presentation. Make sure your props, graphics, or other materials are ready and in order for your presentation.
G. When your presentation is ready to be presented, check with your teacher for the schedule and location of your group's presentation.
H. Make your presentation to your audience.
on the Driving Distractions blog.
Write a brief reflection of your thoughts about this unit. Prepare your evaluations.
Think over the past few weeks and your work related to this unit. Think about these questions:
How did the information you found while conducting your research affect your? Will it help you be a better driver? How did this project affect the other members of your group? Do you think your group presented the information in such a way that your audience will determine to be better drivers?
Step Two: Write
Write your down thoughts as you reflect on your experience with this unit.
Step Three: Revise
Read over your reflection and make any changes you wish to make.
Step Four: Edit
Edit your reflection.
Step Five: Publish
Turn in your reflection along with your evaluations.
