Constitutional Issues CBA Resources

Project Guidelines On-line Resources

Objectives

Citizens in a democracy have the right and responsibility to make informed decisions. Students will make an informed decision on a public issue after researching and discussing different perspectives on this issue. -OSPI

Task

Write a position paper on a national public issue of your choice in response to the following prompt:

Analyze the impact of government policy and court decisions on the rights of people of various perspectives. Argue the validity of your position using evidence and data from research and your understanding of democratic principles.

Procedure

Choose a national public issue from the choices provided in class. Your choice must relate to one of our democratic ideals or constitutional principles.

Democratic Ideals

Constitutional Principles

	justice
	equality
	life
	pursuit of happiness
	liberty
	common good
	diversity
	truth
	popular sovereignty
	patriotism

	rule of law
	separation of powers
	representative government
	checks and balances
	civil rights
	human rights
	federalism

Click HERE for explanations of the above principles from the National Constitution Center

Click HERE to explore how your topic relates to the United States Constitution

Create a persuasive research paper from the topic selected. Your paper must include the following elements:

Introduction

Clearly state the issue and the position you are supporting with three or more reasons (to be supported with accurate evidence).

Clearly and accurately describe at least two democratic ideals or constitutional principles and their connection to your issue.

Body Paragraphs

Evaluate at least three points of view, other than your own, related to the issue with evidence to support ideas.

Accurately explain how court cases and/or government policies affect the interpretation of rights involved with the issue, citing at least two examples.

Conclusion

Clearly analyze how individual rights and the common good can be balanced in relation to the issue.

At least three outside sources must be used, including at least one primary source (i.e. United States Constitution). All information must be cited correctly at the end of your position paper using the MLA format.
Note sheets will be provided for gathering your research and citations. These will be turned in for credit
Writing process - students will develop a rough draft using research notes and other writing guides that may be provided in class.
The final draft will be written in class.

Tentative Project Timeline

Day 1 - Introduce CBA project, possible issues, and requirements; begin research

Days 2 - 3 Complete research

Day 4 - Write final draft in class

Assessment

Constitutional Issues Rubric

On-line Resources

Citation Machine

National Archives CBA links to 100 Milestone Documents

SPS High School Library Resources

WLMA Resources

Spokane Public Library Electronic Resources (Valid library card needed to access electronic resources)

Social Issues (including Opposing Viewpoints)

Research Resources

eLibrary (access code available from the LC library for home use)

Gale Virtual Reference Library (username and password available from the LC library for home use)

Public Agenda

Public Issues at Vanderbilt University

Multnomah Library links

Federal Government Resources: Laws and Regulations

The Interactive Constitution: find out how your topic relates to the United States Constitution, Supreme Court Cases, etc.

Historic Supreme Court Cases by Topic

Supreme Court Cases by Topic (slightly different than the above link)

FindLaw Search through archives of court cases based on a variety of topics

Case Summaries based on topics in American Studies

19th Century Resources

General Resources

American History 102

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/hyper_titles.cfm

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1061.html

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/USRA_Progressive_Reforms.htm

http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/progress/progress.html

http://gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module12/mod_primary.html

http://gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module14/mod_primary.html

http://gilderlehrman.org/teachers/index.html

Search PBS

Drugs/Gambling/Prohibition

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/history1.html

http://wings.buffalo.edu/aru/preprohibition.htm

http://www.wpl.lib.oh.us/AntiSaloon/

http://prohibition.osu.edu/asl/default.cfm

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=441

Women's Rights

http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture14.html

Death Penalty/Sacco-Vanzetti Trial

http://www.deathpenatlyinfo.org/article.php?did=199&scid=15

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/sacvan.html

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/SaccoV/SaccoV.htm

http://courttv.com/archive/greatesttrials/sacco.vanzetti/

Immigration

Church/State/Religion

Civil Rights

Child Labor

Education

Back to www.apush.net

	Clearly state the issue and the position you are supporting with three or more reasons (to be supported with accurate evidence).
	Clearly and accurately describe at least two democratic ideals or constitutional principles and their connection to your issue.

	Evaluate at least three points of view, other than your own, related to the issue with evidence to support ideas.
	Accurately explain how court cases and/or government policies affect the interpretation of rights involved with the issue, citing at least two examples.