Preventing Cruelty to Animals

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Cruelty to animals or animal abuse is the infliction of suffering or harm upon animals, other than humans, for purposes other than self-defense. More narrowly, it can be harm for specific gain, such as killing animals for food or for their fur. Diverging viewpoints are held by jurisdictions throughout the world.

Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to the issue. The animal welfare position holds that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals for human purposes, such as food, clothing, entertainment, and research, but that it should be done in a humane way that minimizes unnecessary pain and suffering.

Animal rights theorists criticize this position, arguing that the words "unnecessary" and "humane" are subject to widely differing interpretations, and that the only way to ensure protection for animals is to end their status as property, and to ensure that they are never used as commodities. Laws concerning animal cruelty are designed to prevent needless cruelty to animals, rather than killing for other aims such as food, or they concern species not eaten as food in the country involved, such as those regarded as pets.

SIRS Leading Issues provides more than 300 real-world issues that engage students. Common Core Standards in English Language Arts were adopted by a majority of the states, which emphasize persuasive writing and presentation skills. Each Leading Issue provides students and teachers with an effective way to develop these fundamentals. Scientific research indicates that students, who are engaged in real-world issues that affect them, learn more.

Assign students to select one of the three Leading Issues from the Pathfinder listed below. Students should then decide to support either a Pro or Con side of the issue. Have them write a report of at least 150 words or a presentation of at least seven slides that cites at least three resources. Student reports should address the essential question for the Leading Issue:

Click SIRS Issues Researcher link > Select VISUAL BROWSE tab >
Environment and Science > Animal Rights > Select 1 of 3 Issues

Make students aware of the Notes Organizer tool that helps them copy/paste significant information from their research as well as the original thoughts about their conclusions on the issue. Students should open the issue and locate the Research Tools section.

Click the icon to open Notes Organizer > Select the template "Writing to Persuade-1."

Make sure learners don't miss our interactive research tutor: iTutor.

ProQuest provides four unique models to promote differentiated instruction.

When you open the issue, click the "My Analysis" icon in the Research Tools section and look under "Additional Resources" for links to these models: Research Guide for the Critical Thinker; Writing a Mini-Research Paper; Creating a PowerPoint Presentation; and Mini-Debate Guide.