The Constitution in Current Events

The Constitution in Current Events

Objective: The objective behind this assignment is to show students how a document written over 200 years ago is still affecting lives today. Students will be expected to read the U.S. Constitution and research newspapers or magazine articles or television news stories available on the world wide web that relate to parts of the U.S. Constitution.

Directions:

 Students must locate contemporary (current) news stories from reputable magazines, newspapers, or on-line sources that relate to Articles I, II, III, IV and 2 Amendments of their choosing. This means you must find SIX appropriate news stories that relate to the first four Articles of the Constitution and any two different Amendments.

 Accompanying each news story should be a one page written reflection that begins with the quoted section of the Constitution that the article relates to, a summary of the news article written in your own words and a description of why the article relates to the Constitution.

How you interpret this part of the Constitution is also important. The conclusion of this page should include why this portion of the Constitution is or is not still relevant today and / or why you think it is or is not important. You have to write six pages, plus a title page (7 pages in all). Try not to procrastinate!

 Below is a general layout of how your current events should be set up.

 You may wish to have the articles approve at least a week before the project is due or as you find them. Whether or not the article is acceptable relies on the teacher’s discretion. If it is not acceptable you will lose points for the missing article in its entirety (in other words, you will earn no credit for this part of the Constitution).

 Your written portion should be types with size 12 font and double spaced lines. It may be handwritten, but you will not receive higher than a B on the project. You must talk to me no sooner than 2 weeks in advance if this is an issue. The teacher’s signature is required here for the type requirement to be waived and must be submitted with project. If you lose this paper with the teacher wavier, you lose the waiver. _______________________________

 Printer problems will not be accepted as an excuse. Late projects are subject to 10% off per day. If you are at all afraid a printer problem might happen, get the project done early to give yourself time to find another printer!!!

 If you do two of the same Articles / Amendments instead of two different

Articles/Amendments, I will grade the first one only and you will lose credit for not doing the other Article / Amendment.

Due Date: This assignment will be due Tuesday, May 29

, giving students over a month to complete this assignment. Students will be allowed to read the Constitution and its Amendments in class during free time. They must research news stories on their own and every article used must be handed in it’s entirely. 10 pts Extra Credit if completed project turned in before the

“Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 Constitution Quoted “: … the right shall not be infringed upon….”

Work Citied: askdf 9/17/09 Summary:

In the news story, several men with guns….

Connection: The article relates to this section of Article __ because ….

Interpretation: This part of the U.S.

Constitution is interpreted as….

Conclusion: this part of the constitution is …

(A) The Title:

This refers to Article I, II, III or IV, NOT the 1

newspaper article. If you are writing about one of the two amendments, then write “8

Amendment” or whatever # you choose.

(D)The Summary:

3 to 4 sentence summary of the related U.S. news article from the 12 months.

(F)Interpretation: Loose, Strict, Original Intent, Living Document & why- 1-2 sentences

(B) The Constitution Quoted:

This refers to the actual article #, section # and in needed the clause #.

(C)Work Citied: Use MLA format

(E) The Connection:

2-3 sentences of how the section from the

Constitution and your news story are related.

(G) The Conclusion:

This is where you

analyze the part from the

Constitution that you

chose and tell if you

think it is still important

today or should be

changed.

Memorial Day break (Friday, May 25

) and a minimal grade of 105 / 150 (70%) was earned on the assignment.

Grading Criteria (for each part of the project)

(3 pts each) Title: Article, Section, Clause of U.S. Constitution (3 pts each) Direct quote of the U.S. Constitution / only part needed (3 pts each) Appropriate Work Citied of news story

(3 pts each) Appropriate Summary for story / states Constitutional issue (2-3 sentences) (3 pts each) Appropriate Connection news story and the U.S Constitution. (2-3 sentences) (5 pts each) Appropriate Conclusion – thoughts of importance (2-3 sentences)

(5 pts each) News story attached

Up to 5 point lose per Article / Amendment for spelling / grammar issues that impact understanding Each Constitutional news story and written page is equal to 25 points. The total assignment is worth

150 points.

Each news story and Amendment / Article should be no longer than 1 page.

The Constitution in Current Events Final Score Sheet

_____ / 150

Each news story and Amendment / Article should be no longer than 1 page.

A (3 pts each) Title of page will be the Article, Section, Clause of U.S. Constitution B (3 pts each) Direct quote of the U.S. Constitution / only part needed

C (3 pts each) Appropriate Work Citied of news story

D (3 pts each) Appropriate Summary for story (2-3 sentences)

E (3 pts each) Appropriate Connection of the news story and the Constitution (2-3 sentences) F (3 pts each) Interpretation: Loose, Strict, Original Intent or Living Document – how did you

interpret this- explain. 1-2 sentences

G (4 pts each) Appropriate Conclusion – thoughts of importance on this part of the U.S.

Constitution (2-3 sentences)

H (3 pts each) News story attached, with key parts used in project highlighted. Each news

story must be behind each write-up.

Up to 5 point lose per Article / Amendment for spelling / grammar issues that impact understanding

Grading Criteria (for each part of the project)

______ (Handwritten projects cannot receive an A) Typed with Appropriate Size, Font and Double- Spaced.

______ Up to 5 point lose per Article / Amendment for spelling / grammar issues that impact Understanding

______Minus 5 pts for not having rubric attached and on top of packet when submitted.

Each article and written page is equal to 25 points. The total assignment is worth 150 points.

10 pts Extra Credit if turned in before the Holiday break and a minimal grade of 105 /150 (70%) was

earned on the paper.

Article ___ Section____ Clause____

Quoted Constitution

Work Citied:

Summary:

Connection:

Conclusion:

Amendment ___ Section____ Clause _____

Quoted Constitution

Work Cited:

Summary:

Connection:

Interpretation:

Conclusion:

The Constitution in Current Events Final Score Sheet

_____ / 150

Each news story and Amendment / Article should be no longer than 1 page.

I II III IV #1 #2

A (3 pts each) Title: Article, Section, Clause of U.S. Constitution B (3 pts each) Direct quote of the U.S. Constitution / only part

needed

C (3 pts each) Appropriate Work Citied of news story

D (3 pts each) Appropriate Summary for story (2-3 sentences)

E (3 pts each) Appropriate Connection of the news story and the

Constitution (2-3 sentences)

F (3 pts each) Interpretation: Loose, Strict, Original Intent or Living Document – how did you interpret this- explain. 1-2 sentences

G (4 pts each) Appropriate Conclusion – thoughts of importance on

this part of the U.S. Constitution (2-3 sentences)

H (3 pts each) News story attached, with key parts used in assignment highlighted. Each news story must be behind each write-up.

Up to 5 point will be deduced per Article / Amendment for spelling / grammar issues that impact understanding

Things to avoid and remember:

 If you do two of the same Articles / Amendments (2

Amendment for example) instead of two different Articles/Amendments, I will grade the first one only and you will lose credit for not doing the other Article / Amendment.

 Be sure your news story is about the U.S. Constitution and government. If it is about state / local laws, it might not be the best example. It could be, but you have to find the correct part of the U.S. Constitution to make it work.

 Be sure to highlight the part of the news story that connects to the part of the U.S.

Constitution you are working with.

 If the article is multiple pages, just print the 1

page and 1

page that address the

constitutional issue.