Webquest:  Schenck v United States

 

Mr. Bruno Palazzo

Evander Childs H.S.

American History I

 

Introduction: You don’t like the cafeteria food served in your school.  During a lunch period you make a speech about the bad quality of the food and tell the students to throw the food on the floor as a form of protest.  You are taken to the principal’s office and suspended for causing a disturbance and putting student’s lives in danger.

In U.S. History, Schenck v United States is an important case about freedom of speech.  Schenck  distributed leaflets to men who had been drafted during W.W.I, urging them not to fight.  Schenck was arrested and charged with violating the Espionage Act which made it illegal to interfere with the government’s effort to recruit men into the armed forces.

 

 

 Task:  You are a reporter for a newspaper. You will use Compulegal and write a two page article in which you will discuss Schenck’s defense  and the Supreme Court decision.

 

SchenckVisual
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Process: 

1. Read the Supreme Court decision on Schenck v United States.

2. State the facts of the case.

3. State the supreme Court decision.

4. How may the Supreme Court decision have been different if Schenck had been

                                    arrested during peacetime.

5. Do you believe Holmes’ analogy of crying fire in a crowded theater is valid for this

                                    case?  Why?  Why not?

 

 

Resources:

1.      Schenck v. U.S.

2.      Common Sense American: article concerning the decision

3.      Ask a Legal Eagle

4.      Encyclopedia.com

5.      Common Sense Americanism.com

6.      Google

7.      Alta Vista

 

Evaluation:

Grade A:

1. Shows a thorough understanding of the topic

2.Addresses all aspects of the task.                 

3.Shows ability to analyze, evaluate, compare, contrast issues.               

4.Supports topic with relevant facts, examples

5.Submits a strong and well organized article.

 

Grade B:

1.Shows a good understanding of the topic

2.Addresses all aspects of the task.

3. Shows ability to analyze, evaluate issues.

4. Includes relevant facts, examples and details but does not support all aspects of the case.

5. Submits an organized article.                      

 

Grade C:

1. Presents a satisfactory understanding of the topic.

2.Addresses most aspects of the task

3. Able to analyze issues and events but not in depth.

4. Uses some relevant facts, explains in detail.

5. Submits article but it is not well organized.

 

Grade D:          

1. Attempts to address topic, but uses vague and/or inaccurate language.       

2. Uses little facts, examples or details.      

3. Does not present an acceptable article.   

 

 

Conclusion:  By completing this webquest on Schenck v United States, you have sharpened your computer skills to help you research a question of historic significance.  The computer is a great machine which can help you retrieve a wealth of information.  Use it to help you learn.  However, you must be able to distinguish between good information and biased information.

 

Standards-

                        Social Studies 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, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.

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 and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

 

ELA Standards


As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others              STANDARD 3

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.

As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers, they will present, in oral and written language and from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues.

 using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers, they will present, in oral and written language and from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues.

 

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.