Citizenship And Participation
This unit ties together the ideas of individual rights and civil rights that is protected by the Constitution. In the first task of this unit activity, you will explore individual rights in more depth and examine how these rights can sometimes be at odds with protecting the good of all people. In this unit, you also looked at ways in which an individual or a group of individuals can influence the political process and even affect the way the government is run. In the second task, you will think of an Issue that is important to you and communicate your thoughts about it to one of your representatives in Congress.
Directions and Analysis Task 1: Balancing Liberty, Order, and Democracy A balancing act occurs in IIS government and society between the rights of individuals and the maintenance of the common good, which can affect the whole country. A. Write a 250- to 500-word argumentative essay on one of the listed topics. Choose a topic that you find interesting or is somehow relevant to you: Why are there laws limiting the freedom of speech? Why is it important to balance majority rule with minority rights? Is the use of civil disobedience warranted in response to laws that some people feel are unjust?
What is the correct balance between protecting the freedom of religion, maintaining the separation of church and state, and protecting people from discrimination? In the space provided below, explain a little about the topic you’ve chosen and why you chose it. In your answer, note a time in history when this issue has come up or a current event that relates to the issue. A few resources and examples are provided in the Resources section below, but you are also encouraged to find and use your own sources and examples. The resources provided demonstrate only a few of the many ways that the listed topics can e interpreted.
Type your response here: b. Now that you’ve started to think more about your topic, it’s time to write your essay. Use the Process section to help you write a well-structured response to the question you’ve picked. Type your response here: People in this world are cruel but that’s in your own opinion everyone supports subjects that other people see is right or wrong. America is the land of the free you have the right to support your beliefs but make sure you’re doing it the right way turns away on the person’s skin, race and beliefs. Task 2: Writing a Letter to Congress
This unit has stressed that civic participation is an important part of a working democratic system and that there are many ways for a person to get involved in this process. Voting is one important example, but concerned citizens also have the opportunity to write to their representatives at the state and national levels. Because the legislative branch makes the laws, it is important to let your representatives know your thoughts on certain issues. A. For this task, choose any issue that is relevant to you or that is currently being discussed in your local or national news.
If you like, you can reference something related to the issue that you explored in the first task of this Unit Activity. In the space provided below, explain a little about the issue you’ve chosen and why it is important to you. Type your response here: Why I chose this issue was because it makes me angry that people discriminate on other people because of race, religion and skin. Why ifs so important to me because have been in a situation where I was discriminated just because I am Hispanic. That really changed my views on people I would hope our country could change and work on that to make his country a better place. B.
Next, find out who represents you in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, or your state congressional body. If you don’t already know who represents you, use this find your representative tool to identify the various people who represent you. In the space below, note which representative you have chosen and why. Type your response here: I choose Georgia Hillier because she is a woman and she is a representative and it shows that women can have power too. C. Now that you’ve chosen your topic and someone to write to, write your letter. SE the Process section below to help you figure out how to approach your letter.
Make sure your letter includes an explanation of the issue you’ve picked and why it is important to you. Suggest at least one way you think the issue could be addressed by your congressperson or by the government. Optionally, have a fellow student do a peer review of your letter before you turn it in. Once your teacher has graded your letter, send it on to your representative. Process Follow the steps below to complete your essay, and use the links provided to assist with your research and writing. When you have finished your essay, use the drop box to submit it to your teacher. 1 . Gather sources.
Before writing your essay, review the sources in the Resources section below. Then begin gathering additional sources-?either online or otherwise-?to support the views you present in your essay. For each source, consider these questions: Who authored the document? What is the purpose of the document? When was the document written? What significant historical event or movement does the document represent? 2. Read and evaluate sources. Examine each source and think about how you will use it to support a thesis. Be an active researcher by asking the following questions about each source you reference: What is the credibility Of the source?
Is there any noticeable bias? How does the author form his or her argument? What important themes, main ideas, and arguments are presented in the document? 3. Write your essay. Refer to your notes and the provided documents to write a short essay. Be careful to keep the following ideas in mind: To avoid plagiarism, make sure to cite your sources properly with in-text citations and a works-cited page. When you finish, reread the essay to check for all of the mints above, and then proofread it to be sure your work doesn’t contain errors in grammar or spelling.
