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1. COMPANY’S CHEMICALS
CAUSE CANCER
REAL WORLD PROBLEMS
BY DEAN BERRY, ED. D.
1

2. THE PROBLEM
A chemical company that employs 2,000 local workers has been
dumping toxic waste into the Colorado River for the last 10 years.
During that time, a nearby city has experienced a huge increase in the
number of cancer cases in its population. So far, hundreds of children
have died from cancers linked to the toxic waste in the river. The
owners and managers of the chemical plant knew that the toxic waste
was dangerous. However, they saved millions of dollars by dumping
the waste into the river rather than paying for proper disposal..
2

3. PAIR SHARE
Meet in pairs
or small
groups and
discuss the
issues.
3

4. THINK & DISCUSS
•Should the company be
punished even if it results
in job losses?
•Should the people in town
be asked not to use the
river?
•Are the officers of the
company guilty of a crime?
•If so, how should they be
punished?
4

5. REPORT BACK TO CLASS
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
.
1. Let’s summarize possible
answers to our questions.
2. Include these ideas in your
notes.
3. You may choose to use a
graphic organizer.
5

6. PREPARE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUES
•Now it is time to research various points of
view and legal positions. Include any court
cases or rulings that may lend support to
your position.

7. RESEARCH
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• 1. Can chemicals in the soil cause
cancer?
• 2. Are companies libel for damage
caused by toxic pollutants and
chemicals?
• 3. Why is cause and effect proof
important in chemical pollution
cases?
• 4. What is the extent of liability in
cases involving chemical spills?

8. USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET SOURCES TO
GATHER INFORMATION ON YOUR RESEARCH
TOPIC.
See the PowerPoint
version of this unit
in order to quickly
access hyperlinked
sources.

9. RESEARCH NOTES
•Collect a minimum of 2-3 pages of notes
•Gather information that will enable you to write
a short two page essay

10. EVALUATE AND VERIFY
RESEARCH SOURCES
• Internet sources will vary greatly in accuracy and
reliability
• Consider the expertise and reputation of each website
• Compare facts and information of different internet
sources
• Select information that is supported on several reliable
websites
• Question or refute information that lacks consistent support

11. USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET SOURCES TO
GATHER INFORMATION ON YOUR RESEARCH
TOPIC.
See the PowerPoint version of this
unit in order to quickly access
hyperlinked sources.

12. CHEMICAL THAT CAUSE CANCER
3 MIN
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=U_zwv8d60ag

13. 7 HOME PRODUCTS THAT CAUSE CANCER
3 MIN
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i
kScp0BkzYs

14. ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF CANCER
•http://www.cancer.gov/cancert
opics/understandingcancer/env
ironment/AllPages

15. BRAIN CANCER DEATHS REVIEWED AS
CHEMICAL
COMPANY IS SUSPECTED AS POSSIBLE
SOURCE
•http://www.nytimes.com/1981/0
3/03/science/brain-cancer-
deaths-in-chemical-plants-spur-
intense-inquiry.html

16. MINERS EXPOSED TO CANCER
CAUSING CARCINOGENS ON THE JOB
•http://www.illinoisinjurylawyerblo
g.com/2012/03/new_study_show
s_miners_at_sign_1.html

17. COCA COLA REMOVES
CARCINOGEN FROM DRINKS
•http://naturalsociety.com/coca-
cola-removes-carcinogen-to-
avoid-cancer-warning-label/

18. ERIN BROCKOVICH AND PG&E CANCER
CASE:
SUMMARY OF THE FILM’S PLOT
•http://en.wikipedia.org/wik
i/Erin_Brockovich_(film)

19. GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION CASE
AND CANCERS (ERIN BROCKOVICH)
•http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi
nkley_groundwater_contaminati
on

20. THE LIES OF ERIN BROCKOVICH AND
CANCER CAUSING CARCINOGENS AT PG&E
•http://www.weirdrepublic.com/
episode13.htm

21. WEST VIRGINIA WATER CONTAMINATED
BY CHEMICAL SPILLS
•http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/
13/us/west-virigina-chemical-
contamination/index.html

22. CHEMICAL SPILL CONTAMINATES
WEST VIRGINIA
•http://greenpeaceblogs.org/20
14/01/10/what-is-the-
chemical-that-just-
contaminated-west-virginias-
drinking-water/

23. DISEASES CAUSED BY
POLLUTION OF THE SOIL
•http://www.ehow.com/list_606
4235_diseases-caused-soil-
pollution.html

24. PREPARE TO WRITE
USING YOUR RESEARCH
NOTES
•What should happen to the
chemical company?
•Are the officers of the
company guilty of a crime?
What kind of punishment
should result from their
actions?
•Explain your argument by
giving reasons with
supporting details.
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25. Organize your
ideas and
prepare to
write an essay
about the
issue.

26. DEVELOP A WRITING PLAN
• Determine what your main point
will be, and write a topic sentence
that provides focus for your essay.
• Choose several main ideas that
support your topic sentence.
• Sort your information into
supporting details with facts and
examples. 26

27. ORGANIZE
•Review all of your notes from
the group discussion.
•Select the most important ideas.
•Choose facts and examples to
support each important idea
27

28. Organize your
ideas and
prepare to write
an essay about
the issue.

29. DETAILS MUST SUPPORT
THE MAIN IDEAS
Provide specific facts,
examples, and reasons
for each main idea in the
body of your essay

30. ESSAY
FORMAT
30
Essay-Case 11
Introduction
Clear statement of main
idea
Body
3 supporting reasons with
details
and examples
Conclusion
Review your main idea and
summarize your best
reasons

31. PREPARE TO WRITE
•Write a five paragraph
essay about the issue.
•As you write your
rough draft, it will be
very important to use
special words that
enable you to
transition smoothly
31

32. TRANSITION WORDS
As you view these
words, select the
words that help you
make transitions
smoothly from one
idea to the next.
• as a result
• such as
• for example
• nevertheless
• for that reason
• finally
• at this time
• therefore
• furthermore
• in addition
• in conclusion
• as well as 32

33. WRITE THE ROUGH
DRAFT
Use the Five
Paragraph format
that includes an
Introductory
Paragraph, Body,
and Conclusion

34. PAIR SHARE
EDITING
Work in pairs to edit
and improve your
essay. Read each
other’s essays “out
loud” and offer
specific suggestions
for improvement.

35. REVIEW, EDIT, AND REWRITE
1. Re-read your essay several times.
2. How can you improve your sentences to communicate
more clearly?
3. Are your main ideas supported by examples and details?
4. Exchange papers with another student and read each
other’s essay out loud.
5. Make final corrections and write a final draft of your
polished essay. 35

36. FINAL
DRAFT
Use what you
have learned from
your review
process and write
your final draft.

37. BRING YOUR COMPLETED PAPER
TO THE NEXT CLASS SESSION.
The next step will
be to present your
ideas to your small
group for review
and analysis.
37

38. MEET IN SMALL GROUPS TO CROSS EXAMINE STUDENTS AS THEY
PRESENT THEIR PAPERS
• Analyze solutions and evidence presented by group members.
• Ask challenging questions when group members present their positions. Look
for evidence that is sufficient to support clear, logical arguments.
• Ask group members to defend the credibility and reliability of their
sources.

39. SHARE YOUR IDEAS
WITH THE GROUP
During this evaluation phase, class members will
share ideas, analyze arguments, and review the
main issues of the problem. Students will be
prepared to participate by contributing their ideas
and supporting evidence.
39

40. DEFEND YOUR POSITION
As you present your paper to your group,
clearly state your position on the issue and
review the main points of your argument. Be
sure to cite specific facts and examples that
support each point you are making. Include
evidence that substantiates all claims.
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