Constitution Project

due April 10, 2014

Anchor Standards: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Conduct short, as well as more sustained research projects that demonstrate understanding of the subject under investigation. Use technology, including the internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Write opinion pieces that state an opinion and a reason for the opinion.

Thinking Questions: (worth 2 points each) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. List the ten amendments in the Bill of Rights by a one phrase summary of the most important points of each. (example: 1st Guarantees the rights to _____________________) Compare/Contrast Englands government with Americas new government in the late 1700s. What would have happened if the Virginia Plan had been ratified? Would you rather be a member of the Senate or a member of the House of Representatives? Explain why. How would you feel if your first amendment rights were taken away? How would life be different? Why do you think the 27th Amendment, first proposed in 1789, was not ratified until 1992? What do you think prompted them to finally ratify it? How does the constitution affect your daily life? Is studying it worthwhile?

Activity: (worth 6 points) Make a list of questions The Articles of Confederation would ask the Constitution of the United States. (At least 6 questions) Directions: Thoroughly answer the thinking questions and address the activity before beginning your project. This portion of your project is worth 20% of your final grade, so be thoughtful and thorough in your responses.

Directions: Create a Constitution Website that reflects your understanding of the document, its application, and the people who wrote it. Your final product will include at least six elements, two of which are mandatory and four of which are free choice. You must research your topics thoroughly in order to express an informed opinion. Mandatory: Post the exact language of your assigned amendment. Then, translate the amendment into modern, kid-friendly language. Finally, recommend any changes that you feel ought to be made to the amendment to make it more relevant in todays society. Mandatory: Find a recent case that has been argued which claimed that the rights guaranteed by your amendment had been violated. Describe the case in one paragraph and the courts ruling in a second paragraph. In your third paragraph, convey your opinion about the courts verdict and whether you feel it was constitutional. Be sure to provide evidence to back up your claims, and elaborate on your points. Option 1: Create a facebook page for one of the founding fathers who contributed to the writing of our constitution. Use the format provided in the resources and follow the directions to the right of the template. Be sure to provide details of your subjects contribution during this time period. Option 2: Create a Voki avatar representing one of the delegates from this time period. In its speech, it must persuade other delegates one way or another regarding the Virginia Plan, the Connecticut Plan, or the New Jersey Plan. Your avatar must introduce itself and deliver a speech that reflects the views of that particular delegate. Option 3: Pick an issue that you feel is unfair to students or children in general. Examine the Bill of Rights and the following amendments to find a constitutional argument to support your case. Develop the opening argument to a court case surrounding this issue. You will film your argument and imbed the video on your website. Option 4: Summarize an actual court case which was presented to the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of an issue. Present both sides of the argument clearly in two paragraphs, but do not share the courts ruling. Create a poll for your classmates to decide the case and then compare the results with the actual verdict. Be sure to select a case that is of interest to you. Option 5: Create a blog post about what life would be like if you lost the 5 freedoms guaranteed to you in the first amendment. How would life be different? What day-today liberties that you take for granted would be eliminated? Which freedom would you most miss, and why? Dig deeply to explore what the loss of those fundamental liberties would mean. No less than two paragraphs. Option 6: Jefferson once dignified this section of the first amendment congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof as, building a wall of separation between Church and State. Explore examples of religion in our daily life (the language on our money, the language in the

Pledge of Allegiance, etc.) and, in a two paragraph persuasive essay, argue whether you believe these examples are in violation of the first amendment. Option 7: Research the Constitutional Convention and the debates that took place there. Invent a dialogue between two or more delegates that represents one element of the disagreements between the states. Your dialogue must be founded on fact, but the exact words are to be made up by you. Present your written dialogue in play format. No less than two pages. Option 8: Pick a popular song, rename it, and rewrite the lyrics to illustrate information about the constitution, the convention, the delegates, or the amendments. Record your version of the song and upload it as an audio file onto your website. No less than 1 minute 30 seconds.

Criteria for Constitution Project: (worth 50 points)

You earned: _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

Is complete and follows all directions. (5 points) Information provided is historically accurate. (5 points) Demonstrates a clear understanding of the subject and deep reflection.(10 points) All writing is in students own words. (5 points) Layout of website is logical and demonstrates mastery of the technology. (10 points) Demonstrates creativity. (5 points) Reflects considerable research. (10 points)

Total:

_____

Pre-Activity: (worth 20 points) Thinking Questions (14 points) Activity (6 points) Total: ____ ____ ____

Essentials: (worth 30 points) Website includes FIRST NAME ONLY, the date, and titles for each page ( 5 points) Is turned in on time: (5 Points) Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation, and Capitalization are correct: (5 points) Demonstrates attention to neatness: (5 points) Demonstrates considerable effort: (5 points) Student was on task in class: (5 points) Total: Your final score: _____________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____