Day 16 - Liberties and Rights Conclusion and Assessment

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Learning Targets:  Students will be able to....

• Explain how the U.S. Constitution protects individual liberties and rights.
• Describe the rights protected in the Bill of Rights.
• Explain the extent to which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First and Second Amendments reflects a commitment to individual liberty.

Through the U.S. Constitution, but primarily through the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment, citizens and groups have attempted to limit national and state governments to prevent them from infringing upon individual rights and from denying equal protection under the law. 

However, it has sometimes been argued that these legal protections have been used to slow reforms and restrict freedoms of others in the name of social order.

Opener:  Current Case Review - You make the call

From the selected cases heard in 2018-2019 docket, those cases regarding civil rights or liberties are reviewed by students who then "make the call".

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2018

Activity #1 -  Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Essay

Students write the "other" essay that they chose not to write for homework.  These will act as the written assessment for the unit on civil rights and civil liberties.

Whichever you did not write for homework, the other should be written today.

Essay #1 - Quantitative Analysis

1.  Which policy proposal has enjoyed the strongest support following September 11, 2001? 1 pt.

2.  Describe a trend in the data and draw conclusions about voter support for increased security measures after 2001. 2 pts.

3.  Explain how the information in the graphic relates to civil liberties and majority rule. 3 pts.


Essay #2 - Argument development

Develop an argument that explains whether Congress or the Supreme Court is best suited to settle disputes regarding civil rights and/or civil liberties.

• Articulate a defensible claim or thesis that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning. 1 pt.*
• Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of accurate and relevant information: 2 pts.
• At least ONE piece of evidence must be from one of the following documents:
• Federalist 78
• Bill of Rights
• Letter from a Birmingham Jail
• Use a SECOND piece of evidence from another document from the list, or your study of civil liberties/civil rights.

• Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim/thesis. 2 pts.

• Respond to an opposing perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal. 1 pt.

*Note, you MUST earn this point in order to earn 5 of the next 6 points

Close - CWE presentations