By Ed McBain / Evan Hunter

A Bio and Interview of Evan Hunter

The story: The Last Spin

A story about teenage street gangs and how they solve problems.

Student Page | Teacher Page

 

Task

Reporter 1 | Reporter 2 | Reporter 3 | Reporter 4

 

Reporter 1

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

3.  http://www.iir.com/nygc/

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)

(printed version)

 

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

 

Reporter 2

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

2.  http://www.stedwards.edu/educ/eanes/schools.html

3.  http://www.ycwa.org/

 

Evaluation for Individual Team Members  

Reporter 2 (25 points)

(printed version

 

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

Reporter 3

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)

(printed version

 

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

 

Reporter 4:

The following questions may help you:

  1. Define peer pressure
  2. Give three real examples of peer pressure
  3. Why do teenagers give up to peer pressure?
  4. Why are girls attracted to gangsters?
  5. 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)

(printed version

 

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

 

Reporter 1 | Reporter 2 | Reporter 3 | Reporter 4

Student Page | Teacher Page

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