After reading the story “Everything to Live For” in Freshman Seminar, students had many questions about HIV/AIDS.  It became obvious that there is a need for information and understanding of the disease, it’s causes, and it’s prevention.  In order to answer all of your questions you are going to research both the epidemic and the disease itself.  You will be researching the answers to the following questions and will be asked to present your research in class using a method of your choice.  Please use the websites provided, as the accuracy of the information has been reviewed by an adult.

“Everything to Live For” Non-Fiction Research Project

You will be using the following website to answer the research questions:

www.avert.org/aids (for some questions you will be asked to visit a specific page) 


1.  How long ago did the AIDS epidemic begin in the United States?



2.  How many people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS today in the United States?



3.  How many new cases of HIV/AIDS are reported each year?



4.  What does the term AIDS stand for?



5.  What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?



6.  Looking at the table at www.avert.org/america which ethnic background had the largest percentage of new diagnoses?



For the answers to the next 2 questions visit: http://www.avert.org/howcan.htm


7.  What are some ways you CAN contract the AIDS virus?



8.  What are some ways you WILL NOT contract the AIDS virus?



9.  Explain the stages of HIV infection:

(visit www.avert.org/hivstages)



10.  What are some ways you can prevent the spread of AIDS?



11.  There is currently no cure for AIDS.  What are some ways HIV/AIDS is medically treated?



12.  Visit the “quizzes” section of the website you have been using and describe one quiz that you took and at least one thing you learned from the quiz that you didn’t know before taking the quiz.