The Teen Issues Unit is a media-based two week unit in Grade 11 College English exploring the issues of youth crime, drug and alcohol addiction, as wells as teen anxiety, depression and self-esteem. These are major themes that can be found in either Rats Saw God or Monster. 

     During this unit, Students will watch three documentaries (Secrets of the Teenage Brain,Dying to Be Thin, Cry for Help, and When Kids Get Life) pertaining to these issues and complete a Public Service Announcement storyboard and/or video assignment.

Classroom Notes:

• What Are The Biggest Issues Facing Teens Today?
• Secrets of the Teenage Brain Worksheet
• Cry for Help Worksheet
• When Kids Get Life Worksheet
• Dying To Be Thin Worksheet 
• Alcohol and Marijuana Discussion Questions
• Alcohol: What Does It Do?
• Effects and Risks of Alcohol Abuse 
• Alcohol Fact Sheet
• Marijuana Fact Sheet
• Cocaine and Crystal Meth Fact Sheet 
• Signs of Teen Depression
• Effects of Teen Depression 
• Depression: Common Cold of Mental Illness 
• Anxiety, Depression and Self-Esteem 

Assignment:

• Public Service Announcement Storyboard Assignment 
• The Language of Film and Video 
• PSA Storyboard Template
• Example of Storyboard 
• Example of Rationale 
• PSA Rubric I, Rubric II 
• Exemplar of Storyboard  

LEARNING GOALS:

• read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of informational and literary texts (documentaries, newspaper articles, statistics and fact sheets)

• use knowledge of the characteristics of media forms to analyse a variety of documentaries about teen crime, teen drug abuse and teen depression;

• demonstrate an understanding of the interactions among form, purpose, audience, and production options by designing a public service announcement storyboard based on issues explored in this unit.