English 8 Projects:

Endurance-Response essay.  Rough draft due Thurs. Oct. 6th/final due Oct. 7th.

In well developed essay, respond to the novel, Endurance.  I want you to respond in terms of analyzing the positive and/or negative aspects of the novel.  Concentrate on discussing a minimum of THREE literary terms and how the author's use of these devices affected your response.  Not all topics chosen need to be positive, but you should come up with an overall positive or negative impression of the book (your thesis statement).  You should have a minimum of three supporting paragraphs.  Be sure to use specific examples (quotes are best_ and connect your examples to the thesis in your supporting paragraphs.  Using quotes will improve your grade.  Remember, a quote does not have to be a character actually speaking.  Anything taken word for word from the novel, including narration, is considered a quote.  This first draft will be due for class on Thursday, October 6th.  The final draft (after a peer edit) will be due on Friday, October 7th.  Mechanics are part of your grade.  Use your laptop to type the first and final draft of the essay, double space, and save your work as you go.  You are allowed to use "spell check" and "grammar check."

ORAL REPORT

Morgan/Russell

TEST GRADE

DUE DATE:  Feb. 6th

Length 4-6 minutes. (Going over/under your time-allotment will impact your grade negatively.  Practice your speech together).  Additionally, each team member should speak equally.

Research:  Done outside of class and during research days in class.  Minimum of four different sources; only one source can be an encyclopedia).  Use the school library, internet sources and links (see ‘project section’ of our web page).  You must make note (write down) your sources on the note card.  Sources must be written in the correct format-see attached. (Title of the source, the author, the page numbers of the material read, and the printing date).  Your presentation may include power-point, posters, or skits.  Feel free to pick a format that fits you and your partner.  Perhaps, you are an artist...feel free to use this gift in your project.  Visual-aides often help make a great presentation, and you want to entice your audience.  Do not make a minimum effort unless you will be satisfied with a minimum grade.

Note cards:  Maximum of one per person (2 per group).  No more than twenty words on the card.  You must turn in your card with your sources at the end of the presentation.

TOPICS

We will gather preferences and do our best to give everyone their first or second choice.  Your report will answer the following:

REPORT on a real court case in a 4-6 minute presentation.

When did the case happen?  (Year, location...paint the picture for us).

Why was your case important to society?  Were new laws created?  Were old laws upheld?

Who/What parties were involved?   (Defense and prosecution).

What were the circumstances of the case?

Why was your case a big deal?  Meaning...

What were the outcomes and changes that occurred (the LEGACY) as a result in our society?

Useful LINKS

http://www.lectlaw.com/tcas.htm

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlawlinks.htm
 

http://www.courttv.com/trials/famous/

http://www.lawresearchservices.com/firms/trials/index-trials.htm

http://www.karisable.com/courthis.htm

http://www.landmarkcases.org/

http://dir.yahoo.com/Government/Law/Cases/

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlawlinks.htm

http://www.legalserviceindia.com/historicalcases/HIstorical_home.htm

http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/02_03/AG/sc_intro.htm

Famous Trials: You will pick a ‘top three’ from the below topics or submit a trial not listed for consideration.

399 B.C.E. Trial of Socrates: Mirrors many of the issues from the ITW Scopes trial.

30 C.E.  The Trial of Jesus: Jesus executed by Pontius Pilot for his teachings.

1633 Trial of Galileo: Put on trial for believing the earth was not the center of the universe

1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials: Women executed for questionable reasons by fanatics.

1803 Marbury vs. Madison: Established the process of judicial review.

1839 Amistad Trials: Basis for 1997 Steven Spielberg movie detailing events during the abolitionist movement.

1857 Dred Scott vs. Sanford: Established that a slave is not a citizen.

1873 Susan B. Anthony Trial: Female activist pushing for equal voting opportunities tried for her efforts.

1893 Lizzie Borden Trial: Young woman accused of murdering her parents.

1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson: Established the doctrine of “separate but equal”

1907 Bill Haywood Trial: Fascinating conflict surrounding union worker bombings and killings.

1907 Joseph Shipp Trial: Sheriff Joseph F. Shipp, tried in the U. S. Supreme Court in 1907 (the only criminal trial in Supreme Court history) for his role in the lynching of Ed Johnson. 

1919 Abrams vs. United States: Government can criminalize Anti-American Speech.

1919 Schenck v. United States: "Clear and Present Danger" was established in this case as an acceptable reason for the limiting of free expression.

1921 Sacco-Vanzetti Trial: Murder trial involving Italian immigrants that divided the nation.

1921 Black Sox Trial: Sports gambling disaster during the World Series

1922 Gandhi Trial: Famous peace activist tried for beliefs.

1924 Illinois v. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb: Clarence Darrow’s most memorable, eloquent, and famous argument against the Death Penalty.

1925-1926 Sweet Trials: Monumental racial tensions and violence trials.

1931-1937 "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials: Alleged sexual assault of two white girls by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad.

1945-1949 Nuremberg Trials: Prosecution of Nazi War Crimes.

1949-50 The Alger Hiss Trials: Catapulted Richard Nixon to national fame and set the stage for Senator Joseph McCarthy's red scare.

1951 Rosenburg Trials: Another famous trial surrounding the red scare and Joseph McCarthy.

1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: A tremendous step in the direction of equal rights for all citizens.

1958 NAACP v. Alabama: Freedom of association (the right to assemble in groups) was protected here.

1963 Gideon v. Wainwright: Free legal counsel was established in this case to be necessary in case the defendant in any criminal case cannot afford it.

1963 Abington School District v. Schempp: Prayer in classrooms was determined to be in violation of the First Amendment.

1963-1964 Nelson Mandela Trial: Peace activist tried for beliefs.

1964 Lenny Bruce Trial: Comedian on trial for free speech issues and the definition of “obscene.”

1964 Wesberry v. Sanders: The Supreme Court declared here that each person's vote carries equal measure.

1965 Griswold v. Connecticut: Marital privacy (specifically, the use of contraceptives) was protected by this case.

1966 Miranda vs. Arizona: Established the right to an attorney and to remain silent.

1967 In Re Gault: Children were granted some of the rights in criminal cases protected by the Bill of Rights.

1969-1970 “Chicago 7” Trial: Seven radicals accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago

1970-71 Charles Manson Trial: Most famous serial killer of all time.

1970 My Lai Courts-Martial Trial: Outrage surrounding immoral United States activity and cover-up in the Vietnam War.

1974 United States v. Nixon: The President's "Executive Privilege" was limited by this case.

1978 Regents of the University of California at Davis v. Bakke: Affirmative action was dealt a blow by this case.

1982 John Hinckley Trial: Insanity plea surrounding an assassination attempt.

1992-1993 Rodney King/LAPD Trial: Group of policeman tried for beating an African-American.

1995 OJ Simpson Trial: Famous football player accused of murdering his wife.

1999 Clinton Impeachment Trial: President Clinton tried for committing indecent acts in the Oval Office.

2000-2003 Schiavo Case: Fascinating debate over the right to life versus the right to artificially sustained life.

Grading Criteria for Project

I.  Content-30 pts.

            -Are your facts accurate?

            -Do you know your topic well?

            -Are all questions from rubric answered?

 II.  Creativity-30 pts.

-How do you make your report entertaining, memorable,   compelling?

-Do you involve the audience with questions, group activities...or do they just sit and observe?

 III.  Resources-20 pts.

            -Are your resources properly done?

            -Did your group follow the format?

 IV.  Presentation-20 pts.

            -Posture

            -Equal time per person.

            -Is the report between 4-6 minutes?

            -Frequent “ums,” “likes.”

            -Is your group reading of your note-card?

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