Name:
_____________________
Constitutional Issue Essay Assignment
You will have a chance to study in depth a topic that interests you. You will take a
position on a constitutional issue and defend it in a 5-paragraph essay.
To prepare, you will
 Learn various viewpoints on the issue
 Reach your own conclusion based on evidence
 Take into consideration both individual rights and the common good (well-being
of everyone)
Below is a list of potential research questions. Your answer to this question will be
your thesis statement. Select one that interests you (or come up with one on your own
and get it approved by Wendy ASAP).
Outlines due: Tues. Tues., Jan. 12
Rough drafts due: Wed.. Jan. 20
Final drafts due: Tues. Feb. 9
GOOD RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Do we need a constitutional Amendment that says corporations should not be treated as
persons (with free speech and other rights)?
Does leading the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools violate the First Amendment’s
Establishment clause?
Does sentencing young people to life in prison without parole violate the 8th Amendment
ban on “cruel and unusual punishment?”
Do we need a constitutional Amendment saying one does not need to be born in the
United States to run for president?
There are currently 330 million guns in the United States (at least one per person on
average) and record levels of gun violence. Do gun control measures violate the 2nd
Amendment?
Does the death penalty violate the 8th Amendment ban on “cruel and unusual
punishment?”
Does hate speech on websites or in music lyrics present a threat to public safety that
should be unprotected speech under the First Amendment?
Is the right to die (for terminally ill patients) guaranteed by the constitution?
Does Arizona’s “Show Your Papers” law (that allows racial profiling of suspected illegal
immigrants) violate the 14th Amendment?
Do affirmative action policies violate or help promote “equal protection under the law”
(guaranteed by the 14th Amendment)? These include college admissions policies that
consider race as a “plus” factor.
You will write a persuasive essay on your chosen constitutional issue by:

Clearly stating your position (thesis) and three relevant arguments to defend that
position.
Those 3 arguments might be:
1) Why the activity is or is not constitutional (name the right involved and
explain with evidence)
2) Why the activity does/does not uphold the common good of society
3) Identify the main argument(s) the opposing side uses and show why their facts
and/or logic are flawed.
Good Research Sites:
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/home.html
U.S. Constitution News (ABC news website):
http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/history/u.s.-constitution.htm
U.S. News and World Report’s Constitution News (lets you browse by topic)
http://www.usnews.com/topics/subjects/constitution
Washington State Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov/common/kids/default.htm
• Constitutional Rights Foundation: http://www.crf-usa.org/
• Close Up Foundation: http://www.closeup.org/
http://www.procon.org/ for arguments on both sides of controversial current issues!
Other good sites to stay up to date on current controversies before the Supreme Court:

www.scotusblog.com and www.scotuswiki.com

www.supremecourt.gov
To learn about cases the Supreme Court is currently considering:
http://theusconstitution.org/cases/current
Center for Constitutional Rights: https://ccrjustice.org/home/what-we-do/active-cases
Rubric for Constitutional Issue Research Paper
Exceeding
Meeting Standard
Standard
Approaching
Below Standard
Standard
Critical Thinking
Accurately identifies
constitutional
principles involved in
the issue. Three solid
arguments prove the
thesis statement and
relevant evidence (3
or more details)
supports each
argument. Makes
clear references to 4
or more sources of
information on the
issue.
Critical Thinking
Accurately identifies
constitutional
principles involved in
the issue. Three
arguments relate to
the thesis statement
and relevant
evidence (2 – 3
details) supports
each argument.
Makes clear
references to 3
sources of
information on the
issue.
Critical Thinking
Does not clearly
identify a
constitutional principle
involved in the issue.
All three arguments
don’t relate to the
thesis statement and
evidence (at least 2
details) does not
support all three
arguments. Makes
references to 2 – 3
sources of relevant
information on the
issue.
Critical Thinking
Makes minimal or
inaccurate
references to the
U.S. Constitution.
Fewer than three
arguments are made
and these don’t
clearly support
thesis statement.
There is very little
relevant evidence
and sources of
information on the
issue are not clearly
identified.
Communication
Thesis statement
and three main
arguments are
powerfully stated;
intro and conclusion
are creative (not
repetitive). Writing is
compelling and
eloquent throughout.
Paraphrasing of
quotes is effective.
The paper is
exceptionally well
organized.
Writing
No mechanical errors.
Word choice
throughout makes
this a powerful and
persuasive paper.
Communication
Communication
Communication
Three main
arguments and thesis
are clearly stated in
the intro and
conclusion; writing is
often powerful and
creative.
Paraphrasing of
quotes is generally
strong. Overall
organization makes
the paper easy to
follow.
Three main arguments
and/or thesis are not
clearly stated in both
the intro and
conclusion; writing
tends to be repetitive
and/or consists largely
of direct quotes
(rather than
paraphrasing).
Organization is
sometimes difficult to
follow.
The essay’s central
thesis and 3 main
arguments are not
clearly stated.
Writing is
disorganized and
makes the essay
difficult to follow.
Chunks of
information are
directly copied.
Writing
Few mechanical
errors. Word choice
attempts to be
persuasive.
Writing
Several mechanical
errors. Word choice is
basic and needs to be
stronger to persuade
the reader.
Writing
Several mechanical
errors. Word choice
is often awkward
and makes the paper
difficult to follow.
Outline for a 5-paragraph Essay
I.
INTRO Paragraph
Begin with a “hook” to interest the reader right away (could be a quote,
startling fact, question, or personal story that illustrates this constitutional
issue).
My hook:
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Next state your thesis statement (your position on the constitutional issue
you’ve chosen):
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Now state the 3 primary arguments you’ll use to support that thesis.
1.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
II.
Paragraph 2 (first of three “body” paragraphs)
Re-state Argument #1 (not using exact same words as above)
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Give supporting evidence (3 supporting details that prove argument #1.
Could be a fact, quote, statistic, piece of logical reasoning.)
1.__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
3.__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
III.
Paragraph 3
Re-state Argument #2 (not using exact same words as opening paragraph)
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Give supporting evidence (3 supporting details that prove argument #2.
Could be a fact, quote, statistic, piece of logical reasoning.)
1.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
IV.
Paragraph 4
Re-state Argument #3 (not using exact same words as opening paragraph)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Give supporting evidence (3 supporting details that prove argument #3.
Could be a fact, quote, statistic, piece of logical reasoning.)
1.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
V.
Conclusion
Restate your thesis and 3 main arguments (again striving for sentences that
differ from your previous ones). You may also want to save up especially powerful quotes
or facts - or suggest a policy change - for the final paragraph.
Thesis:
Arguments:
1. _____________________________________________________
2.
3.______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________