Thursday, October 20

Hello! As you come in, here are your TWO vocabulary assignments. Make sure you do both before you ask me to check your blog.

Blog Title: Week 10 Vocab Cloze Reading & Paragraph Practice
Assignment:
*** Copy and paste the reading selection below into your blog and fill in the blanks using this week's vocabulary words: criteria, emphasis, and consent.
*** Once you complete the cloze reading, you need to complete the paragraph practice. In your paragraph, you must write FIVE SENTENCES that includes a topic sentence, three reasons to support your decision, and a concluding sentence. You must use all THREE OF YOUR ACADEMIC VOCABULARY WORDS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH. BOLD THESE WORDS.

Should doctors be allowed to help critically ill patients commit suicide?

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate focus word and/or its word form.

The word euthanasia was coined in the 17th century by Francis Bacon who defined it as “an easy, painless, and happy death.” Today, it refers to when a doctor 1) __________ to help a critically ill patient commit suicide by injecting him or her with a drug that causes death; critically ill means that they have a disease or illness which will result in death.

Supporters of doctors who assist critically ill patients to die say that people have the right to end their lives in a painless and dignified way. One could say that a person’s right “to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” includes the right to decide to free oneself from a painful disease or illness. Doctors who support euthanasia 2) __________ that the 3) __________ for 4) __________ to help a patient die is that the patient is suffering from a terminal illness, has a poor quality of life, and has made a conscious decision to end his/her life.

Critics of euthanasia say that doctors take an oath to protect patients. Assisting them to end their lives goes against that promise. Opponents also 5) __________
the possibility of doctors taking this too far by helping the poor and disabled end their lives. Religious critics say that doctor-assisted suicide goes against God’s will. Others fear that a patient's age and inability to pay medical bills may be used as 6) __________ to determine who lives and who dies.

As of 2011, the Supreme Court has ruled against euthanasia, but many patients are still asking doctors for assistance.