Konter
American Government
Cast Away?
Imagine that you are stranded on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean with the students at Islands High
School. Luckily, this island provides enough natural resources for all of you to survive, but that’s it. Nobody
had lived here before, and there is no means of communication with the outside world. Its up to you guys
to survive: do you think you will need a government to do so?
There are no parents to tell you what to do, no teachers to give you assignments, no policeman to enforce
laws, no military for protection, and no government leaders to set policy. There are also no doctors,
nurses, paramedics, or firefighters. You and your group have complete freedom of action. How will you
survive? What will you do? It is your job to decide a course of action.
The one decision that I will make for you is you are to create some sort of government Establishing an
anarchy is simply an easy way out. As a group, you will need to set up a new society and address the
following issues:
1. Foundation: What natural rights will people have? (These are rights that cannot be taken away, you are
born with them)
2. What common concerns will you need to address in order for your society to survive? (shelter, food,
etc)
3. How will the government be determined? Who will decide who the leader is or leaders are?
4. How will the government do the following:
a. distribute jobs
b. build shelters
c. gather food
5. What decisions will society make about:
a. education
b. health care
c. police
d. military
e. weapons
6. How will your government make enough money to run its programs and policies (imagine you will begin
to communicate with the outside world, so you do need money).
7. How will your government settle disputes among members of society?
8. How will your government deal with members of society that do not follow the rules?
9. What kind of power/rights do people have to make changes in the government?
10. Develop some major rules and regulations for your society. (at least 5)
Essay:
Follow-up assignment: writing sample. You are to write an essay that describes at least three
characteristics of your ideal government. Your essay should explain the characteristic and explain WHY
these characteristics make a fantastic government. Of course you can identify more than three
characteristics- three is the minimum. Your essay should:
- Include a thesis statement that identifies the major characteristics of your government.
- Separate ideas into different paragraphs.
- Have an introduction and a conclusion paragraph.
- Use complete sentences and correct grammar.
- Be thoughtful and creative!
Konter
American Government
Grading Rubric:
10
7-8
5-6
0-1
Introduction
and
conclusion
The essay has a clear introduction
and conclusion. The introduction
provides a short summary of the
topic and the conclusion finalizes
the essay.
The essay has an
introduction and a
conclusion but they are
not as clear. The
introduction and
conclusion relates to the
topic, but is not as
effective in its summary.
The essay lacks a clear
introduction and
conclusion.
Thesis
statement
The essay has a clear thesis
statement in the introduction
paragraph of the essay. The
thesis statement clearly outlines
the main ideas of the writer’s
argument. The thesis statement
outlines all of the arguments
covered in the essay.
Multiple
body
paragraphs
The essay has MULTIPLE body
paragraphs that cover the
DIFFERENT main points of the
essay. The paragraphs reflect the
main points of the thesis
statement.
The essay has a thesis
statement in the
introduction, but it does
not clearly state the main
points of the writer’s
argument. Some of the
ideas in the essay may
not be outlined in the
thesis statement.
The essay has multiple
body paragraphs but they
do not necessarily reflect
the thesis statement. The
organization of the essay
is not as clear.
The essay’s introduction
and conclusion exists, but
does not clearly relate to
the topic. After reading
the introduction, it is
unclear what the essay will
be about, and the
conclusion does not
summarize the argument.
The thesis statement is
disorganized and unclear.
After reading the thesis
statement, it is difficult to
decipher the main points
of the essay.
The essay only has one
body paragraph that
includes many different
topics.
Answers
essay
question
The essay clearly explains 3
characteristics of a perfect
government. Each body
paragraph has 3 details to
support the main topic.
The essay uses complete
sentences and grammar
throughout.
The essay did not divide all
of the ideas into multiple
paragraphs. There are a
couple of body
paragraphs, but ideas
could have been further
divided.
The essay attempts to
explain 3 characteristics of
a perfect government, but
there are no supporting
details.
The essay includes
incomplete sentences and
many grammatical errors.
Grammar
The essay explains 3
characteristics of a
perfect government, but
the body paragraphs only
give 2 supporting details.
The essay has several
grammatical errors.
Score = ____________ out of _______________ = _____________ out of 100
Comments:
The essay lacks a thesis
statement and is
unorganized.
The essay does not
address the essay
question.
The essays grammar was
clearly not checked, and
has errors throughout.
Konter
American Government
When you are done, complete this section individually, on a separate sheet of paper:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Did everyone in your group agree on how to plan your new society?
Did everyone in your group help with planning? Explain
Who did the most decision making? Was there a person that acted as the “Boss?”
What was the hardest part of the assignment?
What was the easiest part of the assignment?
At the end of the activity: discussion

Purposes of Government:
o Maintain social order
 Help people live in groups without conflict
 Resolve conflicts if they do occur
 Place limits on what people are allowed to do- with hopes of preventing
conflict
o Public Services
 Provide needed services for people to live their lives on a daily basis
 i.e. you made decision on whether or not or how to provide
education, health care, military, police, weapons, etc
 enforcing laws
o provide national security
 protecting the nation from attack
 balance relations with other nations
o Economic decisions
 Provide citizens with economic opportunities and resources
 You distributed jobs, provided shelter, and helped your island
gather food