Kids Face Risks Taking Antidepressants

Newspaper Component
The article in today's Newsday titled "Kids Face Risks Taking Antidepressants" provides a glimpse at the dangers facing depressed teenagers. The very medicine being offered to help them might be causing some of these troubled youths to commit violence and possibly suicide. Read the article and using the facts and details within, complete the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle.

Language Arts Component
Over 11 million prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed to teenagers last year. Doctors are only now becoming aware of the risks these kids take. These pills may be doing more harm than good and few are aware of the dangers.

Situation
Write a CAUTIONARY ESSAY about the risks teenagers take when they use antidepressants to cope with their problems.

The Nature and Structure of a CAUTIONARY ESSAY
A CAUTIONARY ESSAY seeks to warn readers of some threat or situation that may be dangerous. It uses facts and details to present the situation and advises precautions to take to lessen the risk and danger. A CAUTIONARY ESSAY is usually written in 3 sections.

INTRODUCTION
This paragraph begins the essay and starts off with a STATEMENT OF TOPIC. In the opening sentence DESCRIBE the dangers associated with antidepressants. Present details about the SETTING, where and when this story takes place, and the CAST -- the people placed most in danger. End this section with your OPINION about pills and their possible benefits and risks.

BODY
This section of the essay offers SPECIFIC DETAILS -- new findings on the dangers of antidepressants. Organize this section in ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, with the most critical facts coming first and the less important ones later in the paragraph. The point of this style of essay is to WARN and INFORM people about a dangerous situation, so be very clear on what people can and should do to remain safe. Only at the end of this section should your opinions and feelings be revealed.

This section may be longer than just one paragraph, depending upon how many facts and details you gather from the article and television news story. Use the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle and the answers to the Multiple-Choice Quiz as a RUBRIC, so you can see if all the important facts have been included and described.

CONCLUSION
The final section of the CAUTIONARY ESSAY is where you TELL your readers how you feel about the situation. What options do these troubled teenagers and their parents have, to fight the problems of depression? What are the risks and what are the benefits? What would you do if depression sank you so low you needed help? In the final few sentences, be short and clear, so your opinions will have a lasting effect and will be remembered.

Related topic galleries: People, Depression, Medicine, Mental Illness, Illnesses, Game Playing, Medical Research