Bullying

Hey you ! Stop right there! Dont you think schools should have a anti- bullying
awareness month? Think about it, this could save lives! Bullying is something that people
should be aware of at all times. Harassment is getting worse and we can help prevent
bullying. We should dedicate a whole month to it because there needs to be a lasting
impression on the importance of what to do when someone is being bullied, why bullying
is bad, what bully can do to a person, and what to do if you're being bullied. Think about it
if its one major lesson kids should learn besides be educated is to not bully.

We should have an anti-bullying month every school starting in September

basically to show that bullying is not acceptable and what happens when people do it. At
the end of the month have a pep rally to show what the students learned and if need be
take an anti-bullying pledge to show the seriousness of it. We could do a huge project about
it and have class competitions. Each grade would take on a certain topic and present that
information in different ways. Basically the whole point of it would be to make students
aware of how much people are affected by it and how just one word can be the difference
between life and death. We need to step up because it really is a problem. Some people are
not even aware that bullying is occurring around them because they don't know what it is.
If every school is aware of what is going on then just maybe we could decrease this
problem. Bullying rates will go down. I personally know the effects of bullying and how
others react to it. I've lost family and friends because of it. Others should see how people
react to it and just might think twice about doing it or watching it happen.

Bullying is a serious matter in and out of school. It doesn't matter if its abuse, name
calling, emotional, mental, or cyber bullying it is still a problem. Its getting worse and we
all should do something about it. Statistics show that Only four out of 100 adults will step
in to stop it. And only 11 percent of the childs peers might do the same. The rest 85
percent will do nothing. Every day in America, more than 160,000 children miss school
out of fear of being bullied, according to National Education Association estimates(Richie
Bernardo) This is not acceptable. People should feel safe coming to school and not have to
worry about being picked on. We can show students that bullying others is not fun and will
affect both the victim and the bully.

PERSONAL /OTHER'S EXPERIENCE

It's not a good feeling to be bullied. It makes people very self conscious and wonder
why they are like that or why no one likes them. Some victims of bullying are not even
aware it's going on some of the time. They think it's all fun and games until someone gets
hurt or end up doing something they regret. I didn't even know that I was being bullied
when it was happening until they said things to me that really hurt my feelings and made
me cry. Lots of people feel this way and sometimes it too late to stop it. Bullying can have
people question who they are, who you have to be. It makes you feel like you dont belong,
like youre an outsider. That's why when people get bullied it leads to bad things because
the victim feels like its their fault like if they could have been this way. I have them
thinking What if?

HEALTH PROBLEMS
Did you know that sometimes bullying could lead a person into doing bad things.
Some people have turned to smoking, substance abuse, drinking, self harm , drugs, and
even thoughts or attempts of suicide to cope with the fact that they are bullied for no
reason or just because they're different. It doesn't matter how much you don't like that
person you shouldn't push them to that point. Especially if they do something very harmful
you will feel terrible and the guilt would probably eat you alive. The minor problems
sometime build up to be bigger things and you cant control it. People need to know what
actually happens when a person is being bullied. It also causes low self esteem

EMOTIONAL EFFECT / physical

People take everything that the bully says and it becomes personal. They even
believe it when they hear it enough times. Bullying can also cause depression. Depression
is when you feel severe despondency and dejection. Most people have felt sad or
depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or
an injured self-esteem.
But when feelings of intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -
- last for many days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression
may be something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression -- a treatable
medical condition. More studies are beginning to confirm the sometimes serious
psychological effects of bullying, particularly for the bullied, like increased risk for
depression and anxiety; others have hinted at what might be going on in the mind of the
bully. Both groups seem to be at increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The
problem with many of the past studies is that theyre often short-term, or in some cases,
the connections between bullying and psychological health (or unhealthy) seem to fade
away after other variables are taken into account. Both of these things are very serious and
we could help it lower the numbers by keeping bullying rates down.

STATISTICS
why statistics are important
What to use them for
How will I use them

WHAT IS BULLYING
People see bullying as teasing, spreading rumors, hitting on someone, threatening,
leaving out someone on purpose but it's much more than that. Fellow student named Issa
Benoit said that bullying is when someone is making fun of somebody else. But That's not
all. There are many different kinds and I think people should be aware of all. What are
some of the things that people do when this happen? How do they handle this? Why do you
think that they don't go to a parent?

WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY

I asked 6 people from my class plus my mother, why do you think people bully? What do
they think bullying is... here were their responses
JAMAL
Bullying is being a coward. When you pick on someone who won't do nothing back.
INDIA
"Bullying is mean. I think it happens when someone is having problems at home and take
it out on others."
IAYANNA
"I think it's to see someone else suffering because they are suffering too. I also think that it
happens when they get peer pressured.
MOM
Because their jealous because of what they think you have, Intimidating someone that you
may think is less than you. People's friends encourage bullying. Misery loves company.
Bullies have miserable company.
I agree with their responses because there's always a reason

WHO ENCOURAGES IT
The bully gets encouraged by the reaction of others. They can feel bad about doing
what they did but as long as their friends laugh and support them they still do it. Some of
them are being peer pressured into doing it. they think its cool, like that's what they are
supposed to do. So many people think that being cool or popular is everything, they think
that if they have friends and messing with other people will make them feel better about
themselves, for a couple hours they feel like they are on top of the world, but we never
know whats going on inside. What do they really feel? What goes on when bullies arent
with their friends. Maybe something serious is going on with them and that's how they let
their anger out but at the same time not letting anyone know how they are feeling.

WHEN DOES OTHER START

I am currently reading this book called Sticks and Stones and I believe that when
someone higher up in the social ladder pickson one person others will follow after to
prove themselves as a loyal friend even if it's wrong. To me it starts when they don't do
anything and laugh at it. When they laugh that can make matters worse because that
encourages the bully to keep bullying because of attention. I think student should be aware
that bullying is not cool and it's not cooler to bully because someone else does it.

WHERE DOES IT OCCUR THE MOST

Bullying occurs in lots of places. For instance it could either occur at school, to and
from school or at the playground for kids. It happens anywhere an adult isnt, bullies like to
bully around other kids and they make sure adults are nowhere to be found. It Or it could
be at home too. Family members can also count as bullies. It's the same concept with other
people who bully. I think it hurts much more when it comes from a family member. They
are suppose to love and care for you, but if all they do is hurt you I dont think thats fair or
right.

If I was being bullied I personally wouldn't want to tell anyone because first either
they don't care or they won't listen. Why waste my breath on someone who doesn't care
about me being bullied. Second I wouldn't want to burden someone else with my problems.
From my perspective it would feel wrong to push my problems onto someone else if they
are already having trouble. I think other student could learn how to be open minded and
put themselves into someone else's shoes. If they understand where some people are
coming from or their situation they would hopefully stop the bullying. Parents show talk to
their kids and check up on them in school to make sure they're ok. My mother sometimes
go through my things to make sure i'm safe and nothing's going on and to check if i'm being
bullied. Its annoying sometimes but it shows that she cares and wants be to be safe. Mostly
for the teachers and staff I think they should step in as soon as they feel like things are
serious or can be potentially threatening. Tell the principal about what happened but just
don't have the victim there because they would feel like they were being set up and put out
on the spot.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

During the four weeks it takes place the schools should hand out information about
where to go if you need help or if you need to talk go to a counselor or peer. It's not good to
keep that stuff bottled in and not tell anyone. They need to introduce the bully hotlines and
place go search up. If someone is being bullied get another student they are comfortable to
talk to sit them down so they could hopefully talk about what happened. You should notify
the parent because most of the time they are clueless if the kid never tells them. I might be
best to talk to the person who bullies and let them know the consequences of their actions.

Kids should be aware of bullying and the affects of it. 160,000 children stopped
going to school because they are scared of the bullying. Trust me it's not fun at all to be
bullied and not even know that you are. Some teens turn to drinking, smoking and do drugs
to deal with that stress. We should want to help limit that in schools and teach others how
words do have the power to hurt so choose what you say wisely. I feel very passionate
about this because i've lots to many friends due to bullying so I want to change lives. Those
are my reasons to why we should have a bullying awareness month.

xx
xx
xx Commented [1]: Great start. I hope you use the Emily
Bazelon book as a way of getting more sources for this
xx paper.

(TC: its not just in school -- it can be other places as well. Commented [2]: Grade 18/20
Commented [3]: Second draft: I'm a little worried at
http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Bullying_Re how little progress you seem to have made.
Rubric: 7.8/10
source_Center/Home.aspx Change 5/10

http://www.stopbullying.gov/ I know you're having a rough day (rough week?) but

don't forget about the work. Sometimes working can
help you forget about things.

Grade
Thesis/Focus 3 out of 4: There is a clear claim and position noted from the very beginning of the
essay. You do a good job of explaining why you are writing this essay.
Organization 3/4 There is clear evidence of an organizational strategy in this essay. In fact, its too
clear! You need to delete the subject headings (theyre not necessary)
Content 3 /4 There is good content and evidence of supporting details. For this to score better, you
would have to link paragraphs to each other.

Style 2/4 At points this essay is a bit too informal; youll need to work on that as you move forward
as it might cost you with the Keystones. The other thing you want to watch out for is switching
from first person (I believe that the) to third person (there is a great deal of research on this
topic). Pick one and stick with it throughout.

As presently constructed, I believe this essay would enable you to pass the Keystone exam.

(Remember -- Im not grading these for growth. Im grading these as if you had submitted it as an
essay for a Keystone Exam. In other words, if you had six weeks instead of twenty-five minutes to
write this essay, what would you come up with? And you should ask yourself this: if the government
mandates that you pass this test, what kind of writing will you need to do in order to pass it? )
Persuasive Essay Research Notes
Proposed Topic #1: Bully awareness month
Bibliography
Q1: Why is it important to consult multiple sources as you gather information on your
topic?
(four sentences)
I think it is important to consult multiple sources when I gather information on my topic
because I can see the different ways that same topic can go. I could find many different
sources to help me with it.
Q2: How will multiple sources help you make your argument, i.e., persuade people of your
point of view?
For today, you want to find an article on your topic from each of the following places:
Article from the New York Times
Title Hazing=Bullying
Date Published Sep. 24 2012
URL (address) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/opinion/hazing-bullying.html?_r=0
Q1: How will this article help you? Be as specific as possible in listing details or arguments
that might help you...
Article from the Washington Post
Title Mother says bullying led to slain 16-year-old sons depression, drug use
Date Published Nov. 12 2014
URL (address) http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/mother-says-bullying-led-
to-slain-16-year-old-sons-depression-drug-use/2014/11/12/c5741fe0-6a9d-11e4-a31c-
77759fc1eacc_story.html
Q1: How will this article help you? Be as specific as possible in listing details or arguments
that might help you...
Article from Time Magazine
Title
Date Published Jan. 20 2015
URL (address) http://time.com/3675602/russell-brand-defends-jenner-sex-change/
Q1: How will this article help you? Be as specific as possible in listing details or arguments
that might help you...
Article from Title National Bullying Prevention Center
Date Published Jan. 30 2015
URL (address) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/teen-vogue/the-bystander-effect-why-
_b_6277886.html
Q1: How will this article help you? Be as specific as possible in listing details or arguments
that might help you...
Article from anywhere around the internet:
What search terms did you use for this article?
Why did you use these search terms?
What do you know about this site?

URL (address)
Q1: How will this article help you? Be as specific as possible in listing details or arguments
that might help you...