Abstinence Plus-Education

Thesis Statement:

Abstinence-only sex education tells teenagers not to have sex at all; however, there is more to sex education that teenagers need to know about besides "no sex" as the only alternative.

Working Outline:

I. Teaching abstinence-only to teenagers is unrealistic.

a.Telling teens to not have sex at all actually encourages them to do it just to prove they can.

b. This type of education has resulted in riskier behavior by teenagers.

c. This program stresses to teens that this is the only acceptable behavior.

II. Abstinence-only education does not stop teens from having sex.

a. Teenagers from ages fifteen to nineteen have had sexual intercourse.

b. The percentage has risen 11% to 19% from 1988 to 1995.

III. What needs to be taught in sex education?

a. The combination of abstinence-only and other safe methods.

b. Positive discussions of contraception use should be taught along with abstinence-only education.

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Condom in the shape of an AIDS ribbon. AIDS awaren...

IV. The different types of contraceptives that teenagers should be taught and how to use them.

a. The use of condoms properly.

b. The use of birth control pills by teenage girls, how to use them, what they protect against and what they do not protect against.

c. The consequences if condoms and birth control pills are not used properly.

V. Inconclusive studies on comparing sex education and abstinence-only.

a. Research available on the different sex education programs.

VI. How sex education should be taught and by whom.

a. Teachers.

b. Parents.

Abstinence-only education tells teenagers not to have sex at all; however there is more to sex education that teenagers need to know about besides being taught "no sex" as the only alternative.

Roffman (2001) argues that, "abstinence-only sex education programs are unrealistic because they fail to properly educate teens in how to protect themselves from the risks...