Paul Parris
Paul555parris@aol.com
Morris High School
INTRODUCTION
The Constitution of the United States is considered a living document because it can be changed over time. The Constitution was ratified in 1787 followed by the Bill of Rights in 1791, which was created to protect the individual rights of citizens of the United States. Currently, there have been debates that argue some of the laws under the Constitution are NOT relevant today. One of these laws is the Second Amendment. Often asked questions concerning the Second Amendment are: Is this amendment appropriate today? Is America facing a threat from a foreign nations today as it was during the 1700’s? Does owning a gun make the country safer? These questions are for you to ponder as you proceed with this Webquest.
TASK
Joseph Robinson is a student a Jackie Robinson High School. He recently received a full four-year scholarship to Harvard University. He is very active in his community, tutoring at an after school recreation center, and every Thanksgiving he serves food to the homeless. Joe is also the starting quarterback, and point guard for the Red Raiders. One afternoon Joe found his father's licensed .357 revolvers in his father's secret hiding place. Joe decided to take his father's revolver to the roof of their home to show his best friend Paul. Both Joe and Paul have no training using a handgun. All of a sudden the gun discharged hitting Joe in his chest. Paul ran for help and called EMS. After months of rehabilitation and physical therapy Joe lost his senior season at quarterback and point guard. Both Paul and Joe learned a valuable lesson from playing with guns. Joe and Paul decided to start a campaign against guns and the harmful consequences of handguns. They called their grassroots organization TEENS AGAINST GUNS. With TEENS against guns Paul and Jack began to research why Americans are fascinated with gun? Both Joe and Paul took positions regarding the current debate on the Second Amendment should be eradicated from the Constitution.
On other hand, violence plagues our communities and causes grief among our loved ones, we as a civilize society must decide whether guns have a place in our society. Therefore we must evaluate whether the Second Amendment should still exist as part of our Constitution. Your task is to take a position whether such laws as the Second Amendment should be prevalent today in our society. You should defend your position with facts from both sides of the argument.
Students Will Be Able To:
1. Define and articulate the Second Amendment and why the Framers of the Constitution instituted it as part of the Bill of Rights.
2. Identify and articulate the position of elected officials on Gun Control and the Eradication of the Second Amendment.
a. Presidential Candidates
b. Senatorial Candidates
c. Governor
d. Mayor
3. Identify and articulate the position of organizations that are part of the Gun Control issue
4. Investigate whether citizens in industrial and non-industrial countries have the right to bear arms and compare their findings to here in the United States.
5. Compare the level of violence with guns in these countries to the United States and contrast using statistics.
PROCESS
Objective: The objective of this project is to have students us technology to research the Second Amendment and whether this amendment is still appropriate today. This project will allow students to voice their opinions, and allow them to take a position on an issue and defend it with reason, research, comparative statistics, and analysis base upon their research.
Before students receive the Webquest, there will a discussion lesson on the Second Amendment and the meaning of the Second Amendment.
RESOURCES
The following websites can be use to access information for your topic.
EVALUATION
Students will be assessing with a rubric, which is part of the New State Regent Exam Standards. Students will be given a rubric at the beginning of the semester.
Grade of A
- Shows a thorough understanding of the topic
- Addresses all aspects of the task
- Shows an ability to analyze, evaluate, compare, and/or contrast issues and events
- Richly support topic with relevant facts, examples, and details
- Writes a well-developed paper, consistently demonstrating a logical and clear plan of organization
- Includes a strong introduction and conclusion
Grade of B
- Shows a good understanding of the theme
- Addresses all aspects of the task
- Shows an ability to analyze, evaluate, compare, and/or contrast issues and events
- Include relevant facts, examples, and details, but may not support all aspects of the task evenly
- Writes a well developed essay, demonstrating a logical and clear plan of organization
- Includes a good introduction and conclusion
Grade of C
- Presents a satisfactory understanding of the theme
- Addresses most aspect of the task or addresses all aspects in a limited way
- Is able to analyze or evaluate issues and events, but not in any depth
- Uses some facts, examples, and details
- Writes a satisfactorily developed essay, demonstrating a general plan of organization
- Restates the theme in the introduction and concludes with a simple restatement of the theme.
Grade of D
- Attempt to address the theme but uses vague and /or inaccurate information
- Develops a faulty analysis or evaluation of theme
- Writes a poorly organized essay, lacking focus and using few facts, examples, and details; and includes information that contains inaccuracies
- Has vague o missing introduction and/or conclusion