Umbrella of Protection
Bill of Rights

Webquest for 7th and 8th Grade (Social Studies)

Designed by

Bonnie Shepard

Freedom of Speech

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page


Introduction

In this lesson you will investigate the first amendment guarantee of freedom or speech, and defend or deny a group's petition to exercise that right.

In other words,are Americans free to say what they want at any time, any place?



The Task

The Ku Klux Klan are planning a speech and rally in Washington Park, citing their right to the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech. Using what you find out from your research on freedom of speech, write a persuasive essay supporting or denying their claim. Back up your opinion with examples.


The Process

  1. First you'll be assigned to a team of 4 students.
  2. Read this history of the Bill of Rights. http://archive.aclu.org/library/pbp9.html
  3. What did you learn from this article? Write a few sentences explaining.
  4. Read the opening paragraph of the Supreme Court decision on the use of offensive or derisive names. http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/chaplinsky.html
  5. Compare these two ideas.
  6. Read ACLU work to defend the Bill of Rights. Find out what their philosphy is here. http://www.aclu.org
  7. Find an idea from the ACLU web site that you think demonstrates their position on the Ku Klux Klan speech.
  8. Read this articles about how the ACLU defended freedom of speech.
  9. http://archive.aclu.org/news/n062697a.html
  10. Read the Supreme Court decision on a previous Ku Klux Klan rally. http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/brandenburg.html
  11. Go to this web site. Look at other freedom of speech cases. http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/pdf/landmark-cases.pdf
  12. Look over your notes and decide whether or not freedom of speech under the First Amendment applies to the KKK rally scheduled for Washington Park.
  13. Write a persuasive paper, citing examples to support your opinion.


Evaluation

Your essay will be evaluated based on the following rubric.  Each student will be
required to produce an essay.

Research Report: Freedom of Speech

Teacher name: Bonnie Shepard

Student Name ___________________
CATEGORY Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement
Organization Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings. Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs. Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed. The information appears to be disorganized. 8)
Amount of Information All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each. All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each. All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each. One or more topics were not addressed.
Paragraph Construction All paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence. Most paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence. Paragraphs included related information but were typically not constructed well. Paragraphing structure was not clear and sentences were not typically related within the paragraphs.
Mechanics No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
Internet Use Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.


Date Created: 2003-07-24

Copyright. © 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 ALTec, the University of Kansas


Conclusion

Now that you've finished this web quest, you've found that while the Bill of Rights guarantees certain freedoms,the government and the people often have different ideas about what those freedoms are.


Credits & References

Thanks to the Web Institute for Teachers 2003 mentors.
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Last updated on July 30, 2003. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page