CBC Archives

There are few issues as divisive as abortion. Whatever side you are on, chances are your feelings are strong. Some people are willing to risk jail and even death to defend their views. Because abortion is a political issue as well as a personal one, proponents on both sides would like to convince society that their view is not only the right view, but the only view. With the advent of new technology, they are taking their arguments to the Internet.

Students will prepare a presentation analyzing how proponents on each side of the abortion debate use the Internet to spread their message. Students will visit both pro-abortion and anti-abortion sites. In their research, students will view the sites critically and focus on understanding what each site is trying to convey. Their research may uncover “fringe” or controversial sites, and the students should view these as well to understand how the Internet can be used to educate and convince or to inflame and deceive.

Students will create a presentation focusing on two sites from each side of the debate. Their presentation should analyze the techniques that the sponsors of the site use to bring people to their side of the abortion issue. Students should display the pages from the sites and should highlight specific elements that are particularly effective, intriguing, or inflammatory.

Over the course of several days, have each group deliver its presentation to the class. Students should explain why they chose their four sites. After each presentation, ask: Were the sites effective or ineffective in conveying their views and convincing the public. Why? After all the presentations, lead a class discussion on which sites were the most effective, the most educational, the most inflammatory, and why.