Declaration of independence
Task:
You are faced with a situation that forces you to confront an authority figure who has
violated your rights. You remember your lessons from American History and refer to
the Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson. In an attempt to
establish your own independence you declare yourself forever free from the chains of
authority. To emphasize your independence you write a letter declaring yourself free.
Use the Declaration of Independence as model for your own declaration of freedom.
Your declaration must include the following:
a.
a preamble (outlining your responsibility to outline the reasons for your
independence)
b.
a list of rights (outlining the rights you think you have in this situation)
c.
a list of grievances (the grievances to which you feel you have been subjected)
d.
a declaration of independence (the formal declaration of freedom)
Your declaration must be authentic looking. You must make it as official looking as
possible. It needs to have a title (eg. Declaration of Independence of the US History
Class from Mr. Martinello). It needs to have four separate sections or paragraphs. It
must also include at least 5 signatures (including your own) affirming your right to
declare independence. Finally, it should be prepared on official looking paper, in
official type or handwriting. Use the actual Declaration of Independence as a model.
Expectations:
CCV.01, CCV.03, CHV.01, SEV.03 HIV.01, HIV.02, HIV.03, HIV.04
TASK RUBRIC – DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
EXPECTATIONS
CRITERIA
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 3
KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING
- demonstrated
understanding of the
concepts of the
Declaration of
Independence
LEVEL 4
- demonstrated
limited
understanding of
the concepts of the
Declaration of
Independence
- demonstrated
some understanding
of the concepts of
the Declaration of
Independence
- demonstrated
considerable
understanding of the
concepts of the
Declaration of
Independence
- demonstrated a
high degree of
understanding of
the concepts of the
Declaration of
Independence
11
1+
- interprets the
declaration of
independence
little
effectiveness
while using
ineffective
spelling and
grammar
22
2+
- interprets the
declaration of
independence
some
effectiveness
using some
effective
spelling and
grammar
33
3+
- interprets the
declaration of
independence
considerable
effectiveness
using
considerably
strong spelling
and grammar
11
1+
- makes the
connection
with limited
effectiveness
22
2+
- makes the
connection
with some
effectiveness
33
3+
- makes the
connection with
considerable
effectiveness
44
4+
- interprets the
declaration of
independence
with a high
degree of
effectiveness
using a high
degree of
spelling and
grammar
44
4+
- makes the
connection
with a high
degree of
effectiveness
1-
2-
3-
CCV.01,
CCV.03,
CHV.01,
SEV.01
COMMUNICATION
HIV.03 –
-communicates ideas
based on effective
research
-Uses effective
spelling and grammar
APPLICATION
- effectively
makes the
connections
between the
Declaration of
Independence
and their own
lives
1
1+
2
2+
3
3+
4-
4
4+