U.S. Government

ARTICLE ASSIGNMENTS

(Revised)

 

You are going to do three of these assignments

 

-         2 Essays (35 Points each)

-         First One is due on Friday October 11^th

-         Second One is due on November 12^th

-         1 Oral Report (30 Points)

-         Due the week of December 16^th to 20^th 

-         All 3 of these should be on 3 different topics

Instructions:

           

STEP 1 (Due Tuesday, October 8^th 2002)

• You pick a topic you would like to study
• Find a summary of a Court Case that pertains to your topic

·        I can provide summaries to you about many of these topics. (See me before school or at lunch)

·        You can also find many of them on your own.

·        See “Places to find Documents” below

• Print out the section of the constitution related to your issue.

o       Most often, the issue is in the bill of rights. (Amendments 1 to 10)

o       Link to the Constitution: http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html

STEP 2 

• Paraphrase the Supreme Court summary into your own words.
• Print out 3 articles regarding the topic
• A neutral summary of the issue (which should help you paraphrase the summary)
• One supporting the issue
• One opposing the issue
• They must be reliable sources, from a solid organization. Do not provide me with the rambles of some hermit in North Dakota!

STEP 3

            WRITE THE ESSAY

• Briefly, summarize the issue and the court case.
• Explain how it relates to an aspect of the constitution.
• Apply and analyze how it relates to the present or future of the country. If it does not apply to the present or future, then explain why.
• Present both sides of the argument (Mention your 3 outside articles)
• Briefly, provide Give your opinion
• Must be 2 to 4 FULL pages.
• Must be typed, double spaced,12 point font, with margins no more than 1.25 inches.
• For more information, see the Essay Rubric.

 

STEP 4

 

TURN IN …

·        Your Essay

·        Your paraphrase of the summary

·        A bibliography that mentions the 3 other articles you read about the issue

o       Mention title, author, date written, and web address (if its from the internet)

o       If I cannot find it, you may not get credit.

 

RUBRIC FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT

·        Is the essay well written? (25 points)

o       Does it include 2 sides of the argument?

o       Does it related to the constitution?

o       Have you provided your opinion?

o       See Essay Rubric for further explanation.

·        Is the bibliography complete?

o       Are the sources of the 3 outside articles reliable? (5)

·         By looking at your paraphrase,  can I tell you understood the summary? (5)

 

 

PLACES TO FIND DOCUMENTS

 

SUPREME COURT SUMMARIES

Found at  http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html

(scroll down to “full text search”)

 

Possible topics:

Separation of Powers

Power of the President

Power of Congress

Powers of the Courts

The Federal System

Affirmative Action

Term Limits

Religion

Privacy

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of the Press

Freedom of Assembly

Voting rights

Voting qualifications

Age discrimination

Citizenship requirements

Constitutional amendment

Cruel Punishment

Elections

Eminent domain

Flag Salute

Pledge of Alliance

International Law

Juries

Obscenity

Schools

Searches & Seizures

Taxes

Purpose of Government

Electoral college