Lesson 8: Speech & The Constitution

Topic:

Summary, Analysis, and Portfolio Assessment of Speech Unit

Background:

This represents the culminating lesson for this unit. It is an opportunity for the teacher to assist students in summarizing and analyzing how freedom of speech and freedom of the press have evolved throughout our constitutional history. The survey taken by students during the first lesson should be taken again so that students can compare changes in their knowledge and attitudes as a result of the unit. Students can also individually or in groups present and evaluate their personal or group portfolios.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

  1. Indicate their concluding opinions about statements concerning the free speech and press clauses of the First Amendment.
  2. Compare their opinions now with the opinions they expressed at the start of the unit.
  3. Compare their opinions with the actual court decisions they studied during this unit.
  4. Present highlights from their individual portfolios.

Materials:

Handouts 8A, "Freedom of Speech and Press: What’s Your Opinion?;" student portfolios

Time Required:

1-2 class periods

Procedures:

1. Distribute Handout 8A, "Freedom of Speech and Press: What’s Your Opinion?" Explain that this is intended to compare your attitudes at the end of the unit with those at the start and with the court decisions studied during the unit. Emphasize that even though they should have studied how the court has ruled on these issues, they should respond according to their opinions not their knowledge of the issue.

2. When the students finish the surveys, have them compare their responses with their initial ones. Ask students to explain what accounts for differences in their attitudes from the start of the unit until now.

3. Use the surveys as an opportunity to lead a final discussion about the actual decisions in some of the cases related to some of the survey items.

4. Portfolios: See teacher Manual Guidelines.

 

Handout 8A: SPEECH & THE CONSTITUTION

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS:

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

NAME ____________________________ DATE _______________

Directions: Read each statement. If you mainly agree with it, write an "A" on the space before the number. If you mainly disagree with it, write an "D" on the space before the number.

_____ 1. There should be limits on our freedom of speech and press.

_____ 2. People should be able to say or print any opinion about the President of the United

States.

_____ 3. School principals should have complete control over what is printed in the school

newspaper, not the students.

_____ 4. People who strongly oppose a government policy should be able to legally burn an

American flag as a protest.

_____ 5. Students should be able to wear protest symbols in school, such as black armbands.

_____ 6. The government should be able to ban pornographic Webster on the Internet to

protect children.

_____ 7. There should be laws to ban people from making insulting statements about

someone’s gender, race, or religion.

_____ 8. During a war, the government should be allowed to place more restrictions on

freedom of speech and press.

_____ 9. The government should ban art, music, or TV shows that encourage illegal behavior

such as drug use or violence against police.

_____ 10. The government should make it illegal to take photographs of famous people without

their permission.