Sex education Research question: Should kids be taught sex education in public schools? Comment by Vincent Reusch: Nice, clear research question. Introduction and Thesis: Sex education is one of the most controversial topics to be taught in school. There are divergent ideas as to whether they should or should not be taught in schools. We will take a look at why sex education should be taught in schools. Comment by Vincent Reusch: This seems already evident in your first sentence when you point out that the topic is controversial. Comment by Vincent Reusch: I like that your position is clear. As you progress with your paper, however, I would like to see you work to make your main claim more specific, such that it gives readers a better sense of the grounds upon which you will be arguing in favor of teaching sex ed. Detailed outline I. Helps in the avoidance of adverse health conditions A. 25% of AIDS infections are among young teenagers (Long on Sex and relationships education in schools, np) B. More than 750,000 teens have bared pregnancies. Comment by Vincent Reusch: Where are you getting this number? What is the source? II. Helps in distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy relationships A. One can avoid violent relationships B. One is taught on how to manage conflicts in a relationship (Kantor on Parents’ views on sex education in schools np) C. 10% of students have engaged in violent relationships Comment by Vincent Reusch: Source missing here as well and for other subheadings throughout. III. Protecting academic success A. Students who do not engage in these acts perform better in education. Comment by Vincent Reusch: Is this assuming that students who receive sex ed remain abstinent? I’m not sure what “these acts” are. B. Cases of school dropouts are lower Comment by Vincent Reusch: Again, lower among what population? Those who have received sex ed? Or those who are not sexually active? This seems an important distinction since the paper is about sex ed, not abstinence. IV. Saying No does not change the opinion. Comment by Vincent Reusch: A bit vague here. What opinion? By whom? A. It is not good to teach abstinence education only. B. Sex education is efficient in discouraging people from engaging in sex until they are older. Comment by Vincent Reusch: If some of your research is supporting the benefits of abstinence, then you might want to put this point earlier so that sex ed is clearly linked with lowered sexual activity. V. Promotes sexual respect and dignity irrespective of sexual orientation Comment by Vincent Reusch: Nice, important point. A. Reduces the harassment of transgender individuals (Trudel on Doing sex education). B. Boys are able to respect girls. VI. Conclusion: Sex education in schools is very important. A. Starting safe helps children to remain safe. B. It promotes respect among the different genders. C. Teenagers are able to talk about sexual matter more freely. REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. .

1. Sex education
Research question: Should kids be taught sex education in
public schools?Comment by Vincent Reusch: Nice, clear
research question.
Introduction and Thesis: Sex education is one of the most
controversial topics to be taught in school. There are divergent
ideas as to whether they should or should not be taught in
schools. We will take a look at why sex education should be
taught in schools. Comment by Vincent Reusch: This seems
already evident in your first sentence when you point out that
the topic is controversial. Comment by Vincent Reusch: I like
that your position is clear. As you progress with your paper,
however, I would like to see you work to make your main claim
more specific, such that it gives readers a better sense of the
grounds upon which you will be arguing in favor of teaching
sex ed.
Detailed outline
I. Helps in the avoidance of adverse health conditions
A. 25% of AIDS infections are among young teenagers (Long on
Sex and relationships education in schools, np)
B. More than 750,000 teens have bared pregnancies.
Comment by Vincent Reusch: Where are you getting this
number? What is the source?
II. Helps in distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy
relationships
A. One can avoid violent relationships
B. One is taught on how to manage conflicts in a relationship
(Kantor on Parents’ views on sex education in schools np)
C. 10% of students have engaged in violent relationships
Comment by Vincent Reusch: Source missing here as well
and for other subheadings throughout.
III. Protecting academic success
A. Students who do not engage in these acts perform better in
education. Comment by Vincent Reusch: Is this assuming

2. that students who receive sex ed remain abstinent? I’m not sure
what “these acts” are.
B. Cases of school dropouts are lower Comment by Vincent
Reusch: Again, lower among what population? Those who have
received sex ed? Or those who are not sexually active? This
seems an important distinction since the paper is about sex ed,
not abstinence.
IV. Saying No does not change the opinion. Comment by
Vincent Reusch: A bit vague here. What opinion? By whom?
A. It is not good to teach abstinence education only.
B. Sex education is efficient in discouraging people from
engaging in sex until they are older. Comment by Vincent
Reusch: If some of your research is supporting the benefits of
abstinence, then you might want to put this point earlier so that
sex ed is clearly linked with lowered sexual activity.
V. Promotes sexual respect and dignity irrespective of sexual
orientation Comment by Vincent Reusch: Nice, important
point.
A. Reduces the harassment of transgender individuals (Trudel
on Doing sex education).
B. Boys are able to respect girls.
VI. Conclusion: Sex education in schools is very important.
A. Starting safe helps children to remain safe.
B. It promotes respect among the different genders.
C. Teenagers are able to talk about sexual matter more freely.

3. REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Learning to conduct research is important because it is a skill
you will use both in academia and in your professional life. It
improves critical thinking and empowers you to find
information for yourself. Consider the process of researching as
a whole. What was the most challenging aspect of the process
for you?
The most challenging part was to research on the reasons as to
why sex education should not be taught in schools. I could not
believe some of the answers I got. Comment by Vincent
Reusch: I wonder if you might want to include a counter-
argument section that shows some of what you saw.
2. The working thesis statement is a proposed answer to your
research question. It should clearly identify a debatable topic
and take a position on one side of that topic. Analyze the
effectiveness of your working thesis statement.
The Thesis is effective because of various reasons. It shows the
stand of the topic and comments on the position of the topic. It
also tells the reader what the research is about. Comment by
Vincent Reusch: Might it also preview the claims you’ll be
making? For instance, “Sex ed should be taught in schools
because doing so . . .”
3. A detailed outline is an effective tool for laying out the
progression of an argument. It allows you to consider the
arrangement and organization of your ideas, as well as choose
places to incorporate outside source materials. Review your
detailed outline and summarize the argument you've presented.
The outline is very effective as it outlines all the requirements.
It focuses on the importance of teaching sex education in
schools. They include but not limited to, promoting respect and
academic success. The outline also has a reputation that focuses
on the recent mode of clothing and social media exposure.
Comment by Vincent Reusch: This is the information that

4. might be added to your thesis statement. Comment by Vincent
Reusch: ?
4. You will use the same topic on three of the remaining
Touchstones in this course. What kind of feedback would be
helpful for you? What are specific questions you might have as
you go deeper into the research process?
Some of the questions that I would ask are what is the right age
of teenager who should be exposed to sex education? How
should we tame social media influence on sexuality?
References
Long, Robert. "Sex and relationships education in schools
(England)." (2017).
Kantor, Leslie, and Nicole Levitz. "Parents’ views on sex
education in schools: How much do Democrats and Republicans
agree?." PloS one 12.7 (2017).

5. Trudell, Bonnie. Doing sex education: Gender politics and
schooling. Taylor & Francis, 2017.
Touchstone 1.2 Rubric and Feedback
Rubric Category
Feedback
Score (acceptable, needs improvement etc.)
Research Question
Simple but clear and compelling
10/10
Working Thesis
States position but might do better to preview your logic or
grounds upon which you will be arguing.
8/10
Detailed Outline
Broadly, on the level of headings, I can see the paper. The
relationship of claims or subheadings to the thesis statement are
a bit unclear in places, however, and source information is
missing in many places.
10/15
Style
Voice is appropriate, but exhibits a bit of ambiguity in places.
4/5
Conventions
Grammar and usage is appropriate with only minor exceptions.
5/5

6. Reflection
Prompt 3 might be clearer, but other responses are appropriate
and enlightening.
4/5
Overall Score and Feedback:41 /50
This feels like a solid start assuming that you are finding
credible sources for all your claims. Do be mindful of being
clear with your claims and how they fit the argument you
present in your thesis statement.