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Part One Personal Development
Building Academic Skills
11. Writing. How does your heredity and environment influence who
you are? What inherited and acquired traits do you possess? Write a
one-page essay about the factors that shape your personality. Check
your essay for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
12. Health. Suppose you knew that a serious hereditary disease ran in
your family. Would you want to get tested to know whether you
were likely to develop the disease? In small groups, debate why or
why not.
13. Reading and Writing. Using Internet or print sources, locate several
articles about ways in which your response to your environment
can modify some hereditary tendencies. Read the articles and
then write a one-page essay describing how these changes can be
benefi cial or detrimental to your well-being. Check your essay for
correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
14. Social Studies. Read your local newspaper or watch the news for
one week. What is occurring in your local community that could
impact the world? What is happening in the world that could have
an impact on your community? How can learning more about local,
state, and national government help you meet your citizenship
responsibilities? Prepare a report of your fi ndings and place it in
your portfolio.
15. Math. Conduct a survey of the students in your school on goals
teens set. Make a list of the fi ve most common goals. Ask students to
rank the goals in order of importance. After tabulating the results of
the survey, prepare a graph of your fi ndings.
Linking to Technology
16. Using presentation software, create a presentation outlining the
ways in which responsibility can be reflected in work habits,
personal relationships, dating, family relationships, sports activities,
and school government. Share your presentations with the class.