58 pages 1 hour read

Dave Pelzer

A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1995

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Activities

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

Research Paper on Abuse Globally

Although the subject of child abuse has received more attention in the United States since Pelzer wrote his book, many countries in the world are still varied on their approach and reporting mechanisms towards combating abuse in general. Write a research paper in which you select a country (other than the United States) and research its response to abuse. Use the following questions to guide your research:

1. What is the recorded percentage of abuse in your country? Are different types of abuse recorded?

2. Were the statistics easy or difficult to find?

3. What measures has the country introduced to combat abuse?

4. How does this country compare to the United States in its reported abuse cases?

Follow these steps for your paper:

  • Select one country for your research paper on child abuse.
  • Conduct research on statistics and information related to reported child abuse in that country.
  • Prepare an annotated bibliography on five of your sources.
  • Write your thesis statement.
  • Create an outline highlighting your thesis statement, main points, and corresponding sources.
  • Write your rough draft.

Teaching Suggestion: Introduce the importance of reliable, credible sources of information, as well as primary versus secondary accounts of information.