The document discusses abstinence and choosing not to engage in sexual activity as a teenager. It notes that more teenagers today are choosing abstinence compared to the recent past. Abstinence is defined as refraining from sexual activity and other risky behaviors like drugs and alcohol. The consequences of failing to be abstinent include unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and emotional issues. Some advantages to abstinence include self-respect, faithfulness, better relationships, and freedom from worries. The document provides an assignment for students to write a letter to their future self about their goals, plans to remain abstinent, and advice on achieving this goal.

1. Choosing Abstinence
Unit 6:6
Mrs. Ngawaka

2. Does it seem like your friends are
starting to talk about sex?
 This
is a different answer for everyone.
 Some would say YES
 Some would say NO
 Some would say KIND OF

3. Do you think more teens these
days choose abstinence or not?
Why?
Abstinence
or
Risks

4. The truth is more teens your age
choose...
Abstinence

5. Some change for the good
 Teens
are waiting longer to have sex
than they did in the recent past. In
2006–2008, some 11% of nevermarried females aged 15–19 and 14%
of never-married males in that agegroup had had sex before age 15,
compared with 19% and 21%,
respectively, in 1995

6. What is abstinence?
 Choosing
to refrain from something.
– Drugs
– Alcohol
– Sexual Activity

7. What are some consequences of
failing to be abstinent?
Physical...
 831,000 pregnancies occur each year among



persons aged 15 ﾐ 19 years. 7% of all teens will
become pregnant as a teen.
9.1 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases
occur each year among persons aged 15 ﾐ 24 years
½ of all sexually active people will have an STD by
age 25
An estimated 4,842 cases of HIV/AIDS occur
annually among persons aged 15 ﾐ 24 years...

8. What are some consequences of
failing to be abstinent?
Emotional...



More likely to experience regret.
Two-thirds of sexually experienced teens
wish they had waited longer to have sex.
Teen girls who had sex, took drugs,
and/or started drinking were up to three
times more likely to be depressed a
year later than girls who did not take
those risks.

9. What are advantages to
abstinence?





More self respect and respect for others
Greater chance of faithfulness in marriage.
Better relationships
Freedom from memories or regrets
Don’t have to worry about
–
–
–
–
–
STD’s
Pregnancy
Getting hurt
Feeling used
Loosing self esteem

10. What are benefits for waiting
until you are married?

11. Why are teens sexually active?







Physical/Emotional Gratification
Identity formation
Peer pressure
Response to stress or abuse
Rebellion
Substance abuse
Curiosity

12. Why do teens choose not to be
sexually active?
 Religious
views/morals (#1 reason)
 Avoid STD’s
 Avoid Pregnancy
 Avoid Guilt
 Wait until married

13. Do the following factors make
you more likely to be sexually
active at a young age or less
likely?
Thumbs up for more likely
Thumbs down for less likely.

14.  Drugs
and Alcohol
– MORE
 Girls
participating in sports?
– LESS
 Doing
well in school?
– LESS
 Teens
who have been sexually abused
– MORE
 Attending
kind.
– LESS
religious services of some

15. How can we achieve the goal of
abstinence?
 Make
good habits
 Identify ways to show caring
 Avoid bad situations
 Set your goal early
 Recognize any problems you are
having early and fix them.
 Communicate with those you date

16. Assignment

You are going to write a letter to YOU in the
year 2011. It’s a letter to the future you. Your
letter is going to be regarding your hopes,
knowledge, and advice for your choice to be
abstinent. Include your future goals, plan to
reach those goals, how you feel about
yourself, choices you hope you’ve made,
advice for how to keep it up, a reminder of
why you think the choice to remain abstinent
is important.

17. 
Introduction
– Hey this is ... And I’m writing you from Mrs.
Ngawaka’s class in 2013. Explain why you’re
writing
– Talk a little about your present Life

Explanation
–
–
–
–
–

Talk about future goals and plan to reach them
Choices you hope you’ve made
How consequences of sex could affect your goals
Advice on how to avoid sexual activities.
How you feel about yourself and why you deserve
to be abstinent and be free from worries.
Last word
– Explain why you think abstinence is important.

18. Grading



Points...30
Turn it into the basket and I will correct it and
give it back to you by Friday.
Grading...
A... Ideas are well explained. Letter contains
interesting details and thought. No Grammatical
Errors
B... Ideas are explained but lack detail. Few
grammatical errors.
C... Ideas are present but not explained well.
Several grammatical Errors
D.. Relatively few ideas. Several grammatical errors.