Human Rights Research Sample Introductions
Here are some sample introductions written by 9th graders last
year. Notice how each student came up with some clever and interesting way
to “invite the reader into the report” by gradually introducing
the general idea/topic first. Then some of the writers go on to discuss
background information about the human rights issue and activist that will
be the subject of the report. ALL OF THE WRITERS end their
introductions with their thesis statements.
Also notice that each report has a title (some more jazzy than
others) and a couple even included pictures and other graphics to
make their reports more professional and appealing. Keep in mind
that any images added must also be cited.
Color Key: This color = lead up to the thesis
This color = the thesis
Kailash Satyarthi
Imagine growing up dirt poor, with no hope, no dreams, and no
future. From the age when you should be starting school, instead, you
will work long hours in dangerous conditions. You will have no
opportunity to get an education. In fact, many children in third world
countries don’t even understand the concept of education. Kailash
Satyarthi has dedicated his life to giving children in underdeveloped
countries the education they deserve and to free them from bonded or
slave labor. This situation typically results when a destitute family
borrows much-needed money and gives up a child as collateral. If the
money is not repaid, the child may be sold to another owner, be forced
to work in dangerous conditions, or even be sold as a prostitute or an
organ donor (University of Michigan). This is the fate of millions of
children in India and other countries, and it is an issue that troubled
Kailash Satyarthi even as a young child. From the time he was in
grade school, he wanted to help those less fortunate. In his efforts to
end bonded labor and child servitude, Satyarthi has organized and led
many important organizations. Without courage and motivation,
Satyarthi would not be the leader he is today.
An Artist’s Choices
Freedom of speech is something that we take for granted everyday.
We can open a window and shout out our beliefs without fear of oppression.
No one can oppress our thoughts. They can’t decide for us. It’s a human
right, but this doesn’t happen everywhere. There are places where a
different way of thinking could be a major transgression. China is one of
these places. It almost seems like everyone is being watched by someone.
However, in the case with Ai Weiwei, the phrase is no longer figurative; it is
reality. He is under constant surveillance with cameras stationed right
outside his house. “‘That’s our real life,’ he said. ‘Everybody is under some
kind of surveillance camera. It’s not beautiful’” (Osnos 1). Basic human rights
are taken away in more ways than one. In a video at a TED conference, Ai
Weiwei explains, “Some basic values such as freedom of speech and human
rights are still in poor condition. Many people, only because they speak their
mind, can be put in jail or put in a very difficult situation.” Most people don’t
speak up due to this, yet Ai Weiwei is different in that regard. He actively
works on informing people through his artwork, blog posts, and tweets that
China needs to change. “Most other artists I know, have gone on to having
very nice houses and fancy cars, but I don't think they would do anything to
damage their lifestyle. Weiwei would put his life on the line for something he
believes in” (“Who’s Afraid of Ai Weiwei?”). Ai Weiwei is fighting against
these conditions. His past experiences have helped him to be creative, to
persevere, and to be dauntless, in order to be a successful human right’s
activist.
Seeker of Truth
Note: Do you see some material in this one that should have been cited?
Could you imagine if you were taken to a factory to work
because your family has gone into debt? This is happening to as many
as 12 to 60 million children in India today. Their childhoods and hopes
for education are being crushed by the greedy, more wealthy factory
owners. They intimidate the families of young children to work for
them while in poor conditions and for long hours. Kailash Satyarthi is
a human rights advocate who has devoted his life to helping these
children, saving more than 60,000 children so far. All his life, he has
been trying to help children, even when he was only a child
himself. As a child who grew up in Vidisha, India, Satyarthi has been
exposed to uneducated, working children every day. His childhood
experiences have had an important impact on Satyarthi becoming an
activist. Satyarthi is extremely caring, determined, and fearless, and
he used these traits to become a successful children's rights activist
No Rights, No Say, and No Freedom, Oh My!
When you were a child, I’m sure you made mistakes. Perhaps you even
got in trouble here and there. That’s what children do. We all did. Now, try to
think back to when you were a child and to that time you got in trouble. You
probably got a timeout. Maybe you got no television for a week. However, I’m
assuming you weren’t sent to jail to be executed. Minors make mistakes. Minors
get in trouble. Minors are minors. They’re only children, under eighteen, and
they’re getting punished. Prisoners in Iran are currently being executed for a
crime committed when they were children. Additionally, women have always
been the minority in Iran. Could you envision yourself with no rights and no say?
Not having any opportunities to do anything? Being an Iranian woman with two
children herself, the determined, inspirational, hardworking, and fearless Nasrin
Sotoudeh is not only fighting for women’s rights in Tehran but for prisoners not to
be executed for crimes committed when they were under eighteen, merely
minors.
The Voice of Burma
Slaughter is the only word that could describe August
8,1988, a day thousands of people gathered to protest the
dictator of Burma in their capital, Rangoon (As Myanmar
Opens Up, A Look). For years, the dictator, U Ne Win, ruled
with fear and enforced his superiority with little to no protest.
U Ne Win was trying to isolate Burma from the outside world,
putting Burma in a state of serious economic decline.
Eventually, the people of Burma had enough of U Ne Win
and organized a peaceful march in Rangoon against Win’s
rule. “Daw Aye, Daw Aye! (Our cause, our cause),” were the
cries of many rallying at Rangoon (As Myanmar Opens Up,
A Look). Sadly, the protesters’ efforts for democracy were
met with bullets. Almost 5,000 people were killed on August
8,1988 fighting for their freedom of democracy ("A Biography
of Aung"). If your rights were in jeopardy, would you stand up
and fight for what is right, or would you be watching the
protest from the safety of your house? Aung San Suu Kyi
had to make the choice whether to stand up or sit on the
sideline in the fight for Burma. Thankfully for the Burmese
citizens, Aung San Suu Kyi chose to stand up not only for
her rights, but for the rights of a whole nation. No ordinary
person would just defy a whole government in the name of
human rights. Aung San Suu Kyi was molded from her early
life to be selfless, persistent, and courageous.
A Life or Death Situation
Picture this. . . a world where people can not be who they are
and can not be open about who they like. There is nothing worse in life
than feeling that you could not express your true feelings. What would
you do if you felt so embarrassed to be open about who you are that
killing yourself seemed like the best solution? The Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender community suffers through this
everyday. For Kevin Jennings, those feelings were so strong that he
decided to bravely fight to demand rights for the Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender(LGBT) community. Without his personal
experience, his selflessness, his experience in The Gay Straight
Alliance(GSA), and his determination, he would not be the human
rights activist that he is today.
Rana Husseini and Honor Killings
“Imagine your sister or daughter being killed for chewing
gum, for laughing at a joke in the street, for wearing make-up or
a short skirt, for choosing her own boyfriend/husband or
becoming pregnant.” Rana Husseini paints a very dark picture as
she opens her novel, Murder in the Name of Honor. Women who
are raped are being blamed. Around the world every year, 5,000
women are being murdered because of their so-called
reputation.
Women
are
being
beaten
and
brutalized. The worst part is they’re being murdered by
their own family members. As a woman who noticed so called
“honor killings,” Rana Husseini was the first to speak out about
the truth of this issue in Jordan. This is because of her bravery,
determination, and intelligence.
Fire, Murder, and Four Foot Soldiers
Seven years old and he had already seen his home set to flames, his
family killed and cut to pieces as he was forced to watch. This child was rescued
by the Save the Children Organization. He was emotionally unstable, with
bipolar-like conditions. One minute, he was crying, the other, he was not. This
child is the child who set Abubacar Sultan on his journey to help child soldiers.
Abubacar Sultan put his life on the line to save these children, willingly facing the
harshest conditions to save these children. He would not and will not stop until
he finds a solution to this problem. His selflessness, bravery, and determination
all contribute to his success to help out Mozambique, Africa’s horrid problem.
Figure 1
The Life of Dr. Paul Farmer
It’s two o’clock in the morning and your baby is crying. You go in to
check on your baby, and you see he has a rash. What do you do? Call
the doctor, right? But imagine that you are living in the slums of Haiti
and you don’t have the money to get your child the care he needs. For
thousands of people in Haiti, that’s in fact the reality. For decades,
people having been living with the fear of not being able to pay for
medical help. But now, with the help of Dr. Paul Farmer, health care is
going to change. Dr. Paul Farmer started off with nothing and has
made a name for himself by helping poor people with their health care
all around the world. He grew up in Florida with his parents and five
siblings, living in extremely poor conditions such as trailer parks,
buses, and even on a boat with no running water. As a boy, he and his
whole family worked together on a citrus farm in order to make
enough money for them all to live. While laboring on the farm, he
worked alongside many Haitian migrant workers who shared their
stories with him as they worked. He became intrigued with their
culture and with the people themselves. Dr. Paul Farmer worked hard
in school and graduated as Valedictorian of his class. He received a full
scholarship to Duke University, to study medicine and attended
Harvard for graduate school (Paul Farmer Biography). While studying,
Dr. Paul Farmer decided he wanted to visit Cange, Haiti to witness the
culture first hand. In 1983, while on his first trip to Haiti, his
fascination developed into passion, and he decided he needed to help
make a difference for these people. Dr. Paul Farmer’s mission became
to help people without health care in third world countries receive the
care that they needed. He established the program “Partners in
Health” in 1987 and has since helped people in over 12 different
countries around the world including both Haiti and America ("Partners
in Health"). Dr. Paul Farmer is hard working, passionate and
inspirational, and his work has touched the lives of many. He is
continuing to spread his vision around the world today as he makes his
dream come true.