ETHICAL DILEMMAS

 

Lesson 6: "37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police"

 

OUTCOMES: Students will begin to work with stories and identify the ethical dilemmas the stories present. Activities will be presented to move students in the direction of completing the "Ethical Dilemmas Writing Assignment." They will also think about what they would do if faced with the same situation described in this story and understand why they come to such a conclusion. Students will apply class rules in group discussion.

 

CONDITIONS: The reading of the story and the pre-writing and post-writing activities that follow will encompass at least two class periods.

 

ACTIVITIES:

                        Teacher                                                                      Student

¨Before reading, activate the student’s thoughts concerning this story by utilizing the Pre-Reading Activities worksheet. Review all answers with the group and write all definitions on a chalkboard or flip chart before proceeding. Encourage students to help each other.

¨Before reading, also clue students in on the general details of the story to assist them with comprehension. 

¨Read the story aloud to students and encourage them to follow along and underline any important details in the story as they read. They should focus on the following details:

Reading Questions:

What are the facts?

What ethical decisions do people make in the story and how do they back them up?

What are the outcomes of their decisions?

What options do you see are available to resolve this dilemma?

¨After reading the story remind students of the class rules for discussion.

¨Focusing on the questions presented above, ask students to answer them as a group. Recognize any differences in opinion. Write student answers on the board or a flip chart.

¨Each student will have notes to answer the guided reading questions. These notes should be written on the post-reading worksheet for this story. 

¨Ask students to return to their pre-reading activity journal entry. After reading this story, ask them to answer the following post-writing question: If you were posed with the same situation as the one detailed in the story "37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police," what would you do? Identify at least one ethical reason for why you would make this decision.  Direct students to the ethics checklist if necessary.

¨Have students share their answers with the group. Focus on the different decisions students made and their reasons.

¨Complete the pre-reading worksheet and have any answers about vocabulary answered. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¨Read the story "37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police" with the class.  As you read, underline or highlight any details you see that answer the following questions:

Reading Questions:

What are the facts?

What ethical decisions do people make in the story and how do they back them up?

What are the outcomes of their decisions?

What options do you see are available to resolve this dilemma?

¨Remember class rules for discussion.

 

¨Work together with the class to answer the questions on the Post-Reading worksheet. What is your opinion about what happened in the story? 

 

 

 

 

 

¨Returning to your pre-reading journal entry, think about what you wrote and compare it to what you learned from this story. Answer the following question in writing: If you were posed with the same situation as the one detailed in the story "37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police," what would you do? Identify at least one ethical reason for why you would make this decision.  Use the ethics checklist if necessary.

¨Share your thoughts with the group.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES: Copies of the story "37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police" on colored paper. Copies of companion Pre-Reading and Post-Reading Worksheets for this story, printed on the same colored paper as the story. One copy of the story and response sheet must be copied for each student in the class. Highlighters, markers or chalk, flipchart or chalkboard.

MODIFICATIONS/ACCOMODATIONS: Having students take part in pre-reading activities will help activate their thoughts concerning the main ethical dilemma presented in the story. Students will also have the opportunity to understand the vocabulary in the story before reading it. All work printed on colored paper will help alleviate vision problems for particular students. Going over all the work as a group in spoken and written form will address both auditory and visual learners.

ASSESSMENT: Students may be assessed using the Life Skills Rubric for teamwork, completion, and problem solving. It will be possible to assess comprehension of the readings by reviewing what the students underlined in their stories. They can also be assessed through their involvement in post-reading discussions and their completion of all the companion worksheets and writing activities.

STANDARDS:  Language Arts, grade 9/10, Word Analysis…1.1, Writing Applications 2.2, 2.4, Listening and Speaking 1.1.