Mr. Novak

Astor Collegiate Academy

United States History

WebQuest: Freedom of Speech

Schenck v. United States

INTRODUCTION: When the males in this class turn 18 they will have to sign up for Selective Service which can lead to a draft. As a student during World War I who will be graduating high school and will be eligible for the draft. The war in Europe has been going on for years before the United States became militarily involved in 1917. Schenck has been arrested and convicted of illegal activities under the Espionage Act of 1917, for distributing literature against the draft. Schenck believes his Constitutional right to freedom of speech has been denied and his case goes before the Supreme Court.

TASK: Your student newspaper wants an article on this case stating your opinions about the Schenck Supreme Court decision and how it will affect your life as a high school graduate during wartime. This article must be at least two full typed pages using Times New Roman 12 point font (approximately 500 words).

PROCESS:

1) As an individual look at the facts of the Schenck case at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckfacts.html

2) You will then look at the cartoon at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckvis.html

3) You will the use the CompuLEGAL model to analyze the case http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckiss.html

4) Then with a partner, you will look at the arguments with each student taking one side of the argument. http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckargu.html

5) You will then use the following resources to research further the background and facts of the case.

6) Your newspaper article will contain the following elements

a) a brief description of the facts and background of the case

b) the for and against arguments of the case

c) your opinion of what the decision should be

d) the actual decision in the case

e) effects on the United States.

7) Your newspaper article should answer the following questions:

a) How does the decision impact on the United States today?

b) Do you agree with the Supreme Courts decision? Why or why not?

RESOURCES:

These are links to individual web pages.

1) http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckfacts.html

2) http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckvis.html

3) http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckiss.html

4) http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/schenckargu.html

5) http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=249&invol=47

6) http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/cc/cases/schenck.html?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0827

7) http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/commstud/freespeech/cont/cases/schenck/pamphlet.html

8) http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/commstud/freespeech/cont/cases/schenck.html

9) http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/commstud/freespeech/cont/cases/schenckbrief.html

EVALUATION:

Students will be evaluated using the following rubric:

Grade of 5

· Shows thorough understanding of the topic

· Addresses all aspects of the tasks

· Shows ability to analyze, evaluate, compare/contrast issues

· Supports topic with relevant facts, examples and details

· Submits a strong and well organized article

Grade of 4

· Shows a good understanding of the topic

· Addresses all aspects of all the tasks

· Shows ability to analyze, evaluate issues

· Includes relevant facts, examples, and details, but not support all aspects of the “case”

· Submits an organized article

Grade of 3

· Presents satisfactory understanding of the topic

· Addresses most aspects of the tasks

· Able to analyze issues and events, but not in depth

· Uses some relevant facts, examples and details

· Submits article, but not very organized

Grade of 2

· Shows little understanding of topic

· Attempts to address topic, but uses vague and/or inaccurate information

· Uses little facts, examples, or details

· Cannot present an acceptable article

Grade of 1or 0

· Does not address any aspect of the task and/or fails to turn in an article

CONCLUSION:

By completing this WebQuest you have engaged the most up to date technology to aid you with your research. You have learned the facts of a landmark cases of great historic significance that were argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C. You have used your technological skills to create and submit a newspaper article.

STANDARDS:

ELA- 1, 2a, 3b, 3c, 4

Social Studies – 4