For all topics, you must be able to address the balance between individual rights and the common good. EVERYTHING relates to the Constitution in one aspect or another.
Think about experiences in life that are of the upmost importance to you. Your paper will be written to advocate the constitutionality of your position while balancing the individual rights with the common good.
1.
The balance between individual rights and protection of the environment.
2.
The balance between the rights of the accused and protection of the people.
3.
The balance between the rights of gun owners (2 nd Amendment) and safety of the people.
4.
The balance between individual’s right to live (versus being sentenced to the death penalty) and the safety of the people.
5.
The balance between the protection of civil rights through affirmative action and ensuring equality of opportunity amongst all.
6.
The balance between providing health care for all persons and the protection of the rights of life, liberty, and happiness for all People.
7.
The balance between providing medical treatment prescribed by a physician and the desire to protect one’s moral and ethical beliefs. (For example, the physicians or pharmacists refusal to provide the abortion pill or medication for assisted suicide as a conscientious objection.)
8.
The balance between providing education for all persons and the protection of the rights of life, liberty, and happiness for all People.
9.
The balance between the right to control one’s own life/death and the protection of the rights of life, liberty, and happiness for all People.
10.
The balance between the protection of civil rights through Title IX and ensuring equality of opportunity amongst all.
Additional Topics…
Welfare Reform
Patriot Act
Gays in the Military
Gay Marriage
Medicinal Marijuana
Three-Strikes Law
Juvenile Death Penalty
Stem Cell Research
“God” in Government
Anti-Smoking Laws
Teaching Evolution vs. Creation in Public Schools
Euthanasia / Death with Dignity
Seat-Belt Laws
Hands-Free Cellular Phone Laws
Abortion / Pro-Choice
Arizona Immigration Law
Free Speech in Public Schools
Guantanamo Bay Prisoners
Burning American Flag out of Protest
Right to Protest / Assemble at Funerals
Federal Bailout (Banks, Mortgages, Auto Industry)
Free Speech and the Internet
Driving Laws for Teenagers
Pirating of Entertainment (Music, Videos, etc.)
Death Penalty for Raping of a Child
Voting Laws (required picture ID to vote)
Adult Sentences for Youth Criminals
Sentencing Laws (i.e., Crack vs. Cocaine)
Cell Phones (i.e., harassment through advertising)
Sentencing of the Mentally Ill
Censorship
Privacy vs. National Security документ1 4/12/20 11:36 PM

Paragraph #1: Introductory Paragraph
 Clear and explicit thesis statement setting the tone for position on topic.
 Provides a background to why topic is of concern balancing individual rights with the common good.
Remember the common good always outweighs the individual. The few may be sacrificed for the whole.
 Should provide a road map to the three principles that will be used to persuade the reader that your position is the most constitutional.
Paragraph #2: FIRST Supporting Paragraph / Major Argument
 Topic sentence connects “constitutional topic” to a constitutional / democratic principle.
 Follow with a definition of the principle used in your topic sentence.
 Further connect/explore principle to “constitutional topic.”
 Begin with a stakeholder’s quote or court case/policy (see yellow or green card).
 Explain connection of stakeholder’s quote or a court case/policy to the principle (see yellow or green card).
 Transition sentence to connect to another stakeholder or court case/policy (see yellow or green card).
 Explain connection of stakeholder’s quote or a court case/policy to the principle (see yellow or green card).
 Wrap up paragraph and transition to next supporting paragraph.
Paragraph #3: SECOND Supporting Paragraph / Major Argument
 Topic sentence connects “constitutional topic” to a constitutional / democratic principle.
 Follow with a definition of the principle used in your topic sentence.
 Further connect/explore principle to “constitutional topic.”
 Begin with a stakeholder’s quote or court case/policy (see yellow or green card).
 Explain connection of stakeholder’s quote or a court case/policy to the principle (see yellow or green card).
 Transition sentence to connect to another stakeholder or court case/policy (see yellow or green card).
 Explain connection of stakeholder’s quote or a court case/policy to the principle (see yellow or green card).
 Wrap up paragraph and transition to next supporting paragraph.
Paragraph #4: THIRD Supporting Paragraph / Major Argument
 Topic sentence connects “constitutional topic” to a constitutional / democratic principle.
 Follow with a definition of the principle used in your topic sentence.
 Further connect/explore principle to “constitutional topic.”
 Begin with a stakeholder’s quote or court case/policy (see yellow or green card).
 Explain connection of stakeholder’s quote or a court case/policy to the principle (see yellow or green card).
 Transition sentence to connect to another stakeholder or court case/policy (see yellow or green card).
 Explain connection of stakeholder’s quote or a court case/policy to the principle (see yellow or green card).
 Wrap up paragraph and transition to next supporting paragraph.
Paragraph #5: Conclusion Paragraph / Call to Action
 Restate thesis statement.
 Summarize arguments that have been utilized in the paper.
 Call to action. This call to action should be clear throughout the entire paper. Your convincing nature should make people want to ACT to create change in society.
Annotated Bibliography with a minimum of SIX sources документ1 4/12/20 11:36 PM