HARRIS BELL/GRACE DODGE HIGH SCHOOL

You are a Caucasian student who is graduating from Grace Dodge High School. You have exceptional grades. You have applied to Fordham University. The reply letter informs you that you were not accepted. You find out later on that a certain number of admissions is held for minority students. You find out that this is called affirmative action.

You are angry that you were not accepted to Fordham University, even though your grade point average was higher than some of the minority students. A decision is made to research this problem.

What is affirmative action? How can I use the University of California Regents v. Bakke to help my case?

Using the Resource section of this webquest you will write a 2 page typewritten paper. You will address the following questions:

1. What is Affirmative Action?

2. Is Affirmative Action fair?

(Use the following Supreme Court cases to help you decide this issue)

3. Using the Compulegal you will locate and discuss the University of

California Regents v. Bakke which is found under Equal Protection:

Races

v Discuss the facts of the case

v Explain the arguments for both sides and choose (justify) one side

v Explain the Supreme Court’s decision in the case

4. As the lawyer for your client, explain why you think he/she is entitled to

Be admitted to Fordham University and why Affirmative Action should be

waived.

1. You will define the word Affirmative Action and it’s importance to Minorities.

2. You will describe the University of California Regents v. Bakke in detail.

3. This part of the project will be 1 – 2 pages long typed paper.

4. Using the Compulegal:

a. read the facts of Brown v. Board of Education

b. examine a visual of the case

c. Visit the CompulegalCompuLegal Reasoning page. On this page you can read the arguments of the case and read about how the Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to this case. Then, in the boxes provided on the Reasoning page, summarize the arguments for both sides.

You will use these sheets to complete your task.

d. In one paragraph, summarize the decision of the Supreme Court in Bakke case.

5. Prepare a 2-page legal brief in which you will use the knowledge gained

From your study of University of California Regents v. Bakke to support your client’s position in his/her case against the Fordham University.

For Affirmative Action:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/bakkedec.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/bakke.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/bor.html

http://www.ajkids.com/main/metaAnswer.asp?t=a&s=k&MetaEngine=Federal%2BEducation%2BResources&en=fe&qid=5E86B1B6464FF84FA6E828F3F12D9F4E&frames=1&io=&pt=&eo=2&adcat=insr&ac=5&ask=affirmative+action&dt=&MetaURL=http%3A%2F%2Fplato.stanford.edu%2Fentries%2Faffirmative-action%2F&Image1.x=26&Image1.y=11

GENERAL WEB SITES

WWW.GOOGLE.COM

WWW.GOOGLE.COM

WWW.ASKJEEVES.COM

For the Bakke Case:

Compulegal

Grade A

· Showed a complete and detailed understanding of the topic and task

· Successfully discussed similarities and differences in detail

· Richly supported the task using relevant facts and examples

· The paper was typed and checked for spelling and grammatical errors

Grade B

· Showed a good understanding of the topic and task

· Successfully discussed similarities and differences

· Included relevant facts and examples to support opinions and perspectives

· The paper was typed and checked for spelling and grammatical errors

Grade C

· Showed a satisfactory understanding of the topic and task

· Completed most aspects of the task

· Included some facts and examples to support opinions and perspectives but not in depth

· The paper was typed and checked for spelling and grammatical errors

Grade D

· Showed little understanding of the topic or task

· Attempted to address task but provided little relevant information

· Included little facts and examples

· The paper was typed and had minor spelling and grammatical errors

Grade F

· Did not address the topic or task

· Included no relevant facts and examples

· Paper not typed and many spelling and grammatical errors

STANDARDS:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE STANDARDS

E2a Produce a report of information.

E2e Produce a persuasive essay.

E3c Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

E4a Independently and habitually demonstrate an understanding of

the rules of the English language in written and oral work.

E5a Respond to non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and drama using

interpretive and critical analysis.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Standard 1: History of the United States and New York

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, themes, and turning points in the history of the United States

Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

Having successfully completed this assignment, you are now able to:

1. Analyze a case forming an opinion based on the facts of the case

2. Research a topic using the Internet as a source

3. Compare and contrast different legal cases

4. Apply a legal precedent to a current legal problem.