Research Proposal Essay

Kiersten Harris
March 25, 2014
Dr. Hall
Research Proposal
Topic: Abstinence-Only Programs: Do They Works?
Purpose of the paper
Today, teen pregnancy is at an all-time high and has increased to more than forty-two percent in the past years. This is most likely due to the lack of education, poor judgment, and the misunderstanding of many teenage minds. This research paper will examine the effects of abstinence programs and if they are really proactive enough to bring the teen pregnancy epidemic to a close. This paper will also present data collected from the statistics on teen pregnancies in the last year. By reviewing the effectiveness of the programs, this project will prove whether these programs are effective or obsolete.

Research Questions
1. Are abstinence programs effective in helping prevent teen pregnancies?
2. What kind of message do these programs send to teens?
3. Does the abstinence message have any relevance for teens that are sexually active?

Annotated Bibliography

1. Thomas, Megan. "Abstinence Programs: Do They Work?" Washington Post. The Washington Post, 03 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
As we know, sex education classes focuses on encouraging children to continue to practice abstinence until marriage. Debates over how to reduce teen pregnancies among children and teenagers where researched by the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. A high school student, Megan Phelps, conducts a live question and answer article to note the different views on abstinence and its programs. Another source from this article comes from a college graduate from Arkansas, Thomas Askew that focuses on asking questions from a specific program Aspire. Using this article, this paper will have facts and opinions from many different sources and will give background knowledge to my subject.

2. "The Pros and Cons of Celibacy." The Pros and Cons of Celibacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
In this article, Crawford takes a different approach of abstinence. She weighs the pros and cons of celibacy. Crawford looks at abstinence in a different light. Celibacy is a choice and also a way of life, but if you choose to take another route just know that there are consequences along the line. No sexually transmitted disease, no accidental pregnancies, and many more things all tie in to the pros that Crawford gives you in her health article. Missing out, loss of motivation, and relationships are also cons and big part of someone’s life when they decide to live the life of celibacy. This article will allow this project to take the pros and cons of this topic and further explain the effectiveness and significance of abstinence-only programs.
3. Brody, Jane E. "THE RELIGIOUS CONSULTATIONon Population, Reproductive Health & Ethics." Abstinence-Only: Does It Work? N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.

Brody states that sex educations has taken a new meaning today. Only institutions that accept government funding, are the schools that take extra precaution in abstinence-only programs. In this article, Brody takes pieces of other studies and puts her comment on it. The teen definition of sex is also a concern. The author feels as if these programs that advocate abstinence do not specify what complies with sexual activity. Brody researches how the government’s view about abstinence and how they take precautions to fix the recent inclines of teen birth rates. Using this article, my research paper will be able to present views and statistics of the government and a personal view from a person that works in a abstinence program unit.

4. Young, Micheal, and Tina Penhollow. "The Impact of Abstinence Education: What Does the Research Say?" The Impact of Abstinence Education: What Does the Research Say? (2009): n. pag. Print.
In this scholarly journal, both authors, come together to predict that these programs do not work when it comes to American teens today. Young and Penhollow feel as if the programs focus on the wrong things. Promotion of religion,

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