Due Wed 6/1: p. 511 q1-4
Due Thur 6/2: p515 q1-4
Due Fri 6/3: p522 q1-6
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Supreme Court Paper
The Supreme Court & The Balance of Power
Honors Civics- Mr. Meli
4th Quarter Project 2011
GOAL: Interpret the impact of a Supreme Court case.
CASES TO PICK:
Students will choose 1 of the following cases.
1. Mapp v. Ohio 2. Gideon v. Wainwright 3. Griswold v. Connecticut
4. New York Times v. United States 5. Kelo v. New London
2 PAPERS THAT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO TURNITIN.COM
A. BACKGROUND QUESTIONS (SEPARATE FROM THESIS ESSAY)
Students must answer the following questions:
1-Who were the judges hearing the case?
2-When and where was the case?
3-What is the background story to the case?
4-What underlying issues surround the case?
5-Name 3 similar cases that the Supreme Court heard. Explain why they are similar.
6-How did the nation react to the decision?
7-How should the nation have reacted to this case?
8-Who nominated the judges involved?
9-How might the politics of the person nominating the judge reflect their feelings
on this case?
10-How many judges agreed with the case?
11-What legal ground did the dissent use to justify their reasoning?
12-What else was going on in the nation that had an impact on this case?
13-What other specific information could help someone understand the importance of this case?
14-Was the decision constitutionally correct?
15-How does the decision affect us today?
16-Why should your classmates and fellow citizens of the U.S. know about
this case?
17-How does the Supreme Court balance the power of the Federal Government?
B. THESIS ESSAY (SEPARATE FROM BACKGROUND QUESTIONS)
1. The essay will explain how the court balanced the power of the government or failed in doing so.
2. Students will submit a typed essay that answers the following question:
-How does the Supreme Court balance the power of Government in the
in the _______________________case?
3. Students will persuade the reader that the case was or was not constitutionally justified.
Where do I find this out?
Use the following websites as starting points to get the information
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
http://www.landmarkcases.org/
http://www.oyez.org/
RUBRIC:
____________/10: Proper Format: Paper is typed 12 point font, 1.5 space. The thesis essay is
no more than 2 pages plus a worked cited and title page that is 12 font on the page with name, name of case, date due and period. Borders have not been changed. Submitted to turnitin.com.
____________/20: Information used in paper is cited in text. Works cited is
MLA Format with at least 3 cited sources. (NO WIKIPEDIA!).
____________/50: Each of the questions (17) are answered correctly and written in
complete sentences, submitted to turnitin.com.
____________/20: Spelling and grammar have no errors
____________/20: Essay has an UNDERLINED THESIS SENTENCE that directly
answers the question, “How does the Supreme Court balance the power of Government in the in the _______________________case?”
____________/50: The opinion of the author on the verdict is clear and the question
is answered thoroughly throughout the essay.
____________/30: Thesis is adequately defended in class roundtable discussion* (5
minutes each)
____________/200: TOTAL
*If you are absent for roundtable discussion, you must set a time with Mr. Meli after school or during 1st period study hall/open period to defend thesis in order to receive points*
Paper Due Date: Tuesday, 6/14/2011
*Discussion Dates: 6/14 & 6/15
10% off (20 points) each class day late. No papers will be accepted after 6/17.
Papers must be submitted to turnitin.com by 7:30 AM on 6/14 in order to participate in roundtable discussion & earn the 30 Points
Honors Civics- Mr. Meli
4th Quarter Project 2011
GOAL: Interpret the impact of a Supreme Court case.
CASES TO PICK:
Students will choose 1 of the following cases.
1. Mapp v. Ohio 2. Gideon v. Wainwright 3. Griswold v. Connecticut
4. New York Times v. United States 5. Kelo v. New London
2 PAPERS THAT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO TURNITIN.COM
A. BACKGROUND QUESTIONS (SEPARATE FROM THESIS ESSAY)
Students must answer the following questions:
1-Who were the judges hearing the case?
2-When and where was the case?
3-What is the background story to the case?
4-What underlying issues surround the case?
5-Name 3 similar cases that the Supreme Court heard. Explain why they are similar.
6-How did the nation react to the decision?
7-How should the nation have reacted to this case?
8-Who nominated the judges involved?
9-How might the politics of the person nominating the judge reflect their feelings
on this case?
10-How many judges agreed with the case?
11-What legal ground did the dissent use to justify their reasoning?
12-What else was going on in the nation that had an impact on this case?
13-What other specific information could help someone understand the importance of this case?
14-Was the decision constitutionally correct?
15-How does the decision affect us today?
16-Why should your classmates and fellow citizens of the U.S. know about
this case?
17-How does the Supreme Court balance the power of the Federal Government?
B. THESIS ESSAY (SEPARATE FROM BACKGROUND QUESTIONS)
1. The essay will explain how the court balanced the power of the government or failed in doing so.
2. Students will submit a typed essay that answers the following question:
-How does the Supreme Court balance the power of Government in the
in the _______________________case?
3. Students will persuade the reader that the case was or was not constitutionally justified.
Where do I find this out?
Use the following websites as starting points to get the information
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
http://www.landmarkcases.org/
http://www.oyez.org/
RUBRIC:
____________/10: Proper Format: Paper is typed 12 point font, 1.5 space. The thesis essay is
no more than 2 pages plus a worked cited and title page that is 12 font on the page with name, name of case, date due and period. Borders have not been changed. Submitted to turnitin.com.
____________/20: Information used in paper is cited in text. Works cited is
MLA Format with at least 3 cited sources. (NO WIKIPEDIA!).
____________/50: Each of the questions (17) are answered correctly and written in
complete sentences, submitted to turnitin.com.
____________/20: Spelling and grammar have no errors
____________/20: Essay has an UNDERLINED THESIS SENTENCE that directly
answers the question, “How does the Supreme Court balance the power of Government in the in the _______________________case?”
____________/50: The opinion of the author on the verdict is clear and the question
is answered thoroughly throughout the essay.
____________/30: Thesis is adequately defended in class roundtable discussion* (5
minutes each)
____________/200: TOTAL
*If you are absent for roundtable discussion, you must set a time with Mr. Meli after school or during 1st period study hall/open period to defend thesis in order to receive points*
Paper Due Date: Tuesday, 6/14/2011
*Discussion Dates: 6/14 & 6/15
10% off (20 points) each class day late. No papers will be accepted after 6/17.
Papers must be submitted to turnitin.com by 7:30 AM on 6/14 in order to participate in roundtable discussion & earn the 30 Points
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
"Know Your Senators" Mini-Project
Know Your Senators Honors Civics
Mini-Project 75 Points Spring 2011
-Visit the Washington Post’s “Vote Database”:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/112/senate/members/
-Browse the list of the 100 current U.S. Senators. Choose any 1 senator to research. Mr. Meli must approve your selection since no two students can report on the same senator.
-The site has basic biographical information, links to Washington Post stories relating to each senator, and a detailed section on their voting record*.
*Do not choose a senator who has little—no experience, because they will not have a significant voting record (Example: Richard Blumenthal-D CT).*
-There are 2 main parts to this project
1) Basic information (25 Points)
Write a 1-2 page report on the Senator’s background. Explain where he or she came from, including education, previous employment, and previous public service, how he/she was elected (or appointed) into the Senate, re-election campaign information/plans, and where he/she claims to stand on the issues. Use the Senator’s homepage (link on http://www.senate.gov), the Washington Post profile, and news articles relating to your senator for information.
2) Voting Record (50 Points)
Write a 2-5 page report on your senator’s voting record. Use the Washington Post website (link on top of sheet) find out your senator’s “key votes.” You must explain 5 key votes from your senator. To find out about the bill, click on the link from the “key vote” section. You should also discuss the votes your senator missed (if any) and the percentage of times that your senator voted with his or her party. You should write an overall analysis of your senator’s voting record as it compares with his or her political views as portrayed to the public.
Due Date: Tuesday May 31, 2011; 10% off each class day late
Papers must be typed in 12 point font, double spaced, within the length guidelines listed above.
Papers should be stapled together with separate headings for each report. Format Below:
Part 1 (Top Left Corner of Page) Part 2 (Top Left Corner of Page)
Your Name Your Name
Senator (Last Name) Basic Information Senator (Last Name) Voting Record
May 31, 2011 May 31, 2011
Mini-Project 75 Points Spring 2011
-Visit the Washington Post’s “Vote Database”:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/112/senate/members/
-Browse the list of the 100 current U.S. Senators. Choose any 1 senator to research. Mr. Meli must approve your selection since no two students can report on the same senator.
-The site has basic biographical information, links to Washington Post stories relating to each senator, and a detailed section on their voting record*.
*Do not choose a senator who has little—no experience, because they will not have a significant voting record (Example: Richard Blumenthal-D CT).*
-There are 2 main parts to this project
1) Basic information (25 Points)
Write a 1-2 page report on the Senator’s background. Explain where he or she came from, including education, previous employment, and previous public service, how he/she was elected (or appointed) into the Senate, re-election campaign information/plans, and where he/she claims to stand on the issues. Use the Senator’s homepage (link on http://www.senate.gov), the Washington Post profile, and news articles relating to your senator for information.
2) Voting Record (50 Points)
Write a 2-5 page report on your senator’s voting record. Use the Washington Post website (link on top of sheet) find out your senator’s “key votes.” You must explain 5 key votes from your senator. To find out about the bill, click on the link from the “key vote” section. You should also discuss the votes your senator missed (if any) and the percentage of times that your senator voted with his or her party. You should write an overall analysis of your senator’s voting record as it compares with his or her political views as portrayed to the public.
Due Date: Tuesday May 31, 2011; 10% off each class day late
Papers must be typed in 12 point font, double spaced, within the length guidelines listed above.
Papers should be stapled together with separate headings for each report. Format Below:
Part 1 (Top Left Corner of Page) Part 2 (Top Left Corner of Page)
Your Name Your Name
Senator (Last Name) Basic Information Senator (Last Name) Voting Record
May 31, 2011 May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Homework for Week of 5/9 through 5/13
Due Tuesday 5/10: read pp.390-392; answer q1-4 on p. 392
Due Wednesday 5/11: read pp. 393-397; answer q2-5 on p. 397
Due Thursday 5/12: read pp. 399-403; answer q 1-4 on p. 403
Due Friday 5/13: Current Event
Due Wednesday 5/11: read pp. 393-397; answer q2-5 on p. 397
Due Thursday 5/12: read pp. 399-403; answer q 1-4 on p. 403
Due Friday 5/13: Current Event
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Homework due 5/5
Read pp. 164-172
Define political dictionary terms from p.164
Answer questions 1-6 on p. 172
Define political dictionary terms from p.164
Answer questions 1-6 on p. 172
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