Paper Assignment

The Amendments to the Constitution of the United States

October 2010

Your first paper of the year is due on Monday, November 8th. It is to be at least three pages long, double spaced, and properly footnoted (more information about footnooting will follow later in class).

You will be researching and writing about three amendments to the Constitution. In your papers, you will need to:

      • tell what the amendment means
      • tell why it was proposed (what problem it addressed)
      • tell when it was proposed
      • tell when it became law
      • describe any significant opposition that the amendment faced
      • describe the impact it has had on people's lives. Obviously, some of them will affect people less directly than others, but they are all important.

The writing assignments are as follows. Since there are 27 of you, and 27 amendments, you will have to share resources. Feel free to work together, but you each have to produce individual papers.

 

Fourth Bell

First--Megan, Scott Second--Flora, Stephen Third--Kristina, Sherry
Fourth--Zach, Mike Fifth--Renee, Katie Sixth--Julia, Danielle
Seventh--Sally, Renee Eighth-- Danielle , Sally Ninth--Katie, Julia
Tenth--Mike, Zach Eleventh--Sherry, Kristina Twelfth--Stephen, Flora
Thirteenth--Scott Fourteenth--Megan Fifteenth--Flora
Sixteenth--Kristina Seventeeth--Zach Eighteenth--Renee
Nineteenth--Julia Twentieth--Sally Twenty-First--Danielle
Twenty-Second--Katie Twenty-Third-- Mike Twenty-Fourth--Sherry
Twenty-Fifth--Stephen Twenty-Sixth--Scott Twenty-Seventh--Megan

Sixth Bell

First--Christina, Hoang Second--Quentin, Cornelius Third--Cat, Karel
Fourth--ERIC BELL 4, Henry Fifth--Garrett, Bobby Sixth--Johannes, Spencer
Seventh--Stephanie, Marc Eighth-- Marc, Stephanie Ninth--Spencer, Johannes
Tenth--Bobby, Garrett Eleventh--Henry, ERIC BELL 4 Twelfth--Karel,Quentin
Thirteenth--Cornelius,Cat Fourteenth--Hoang, Christina Fifteenth--Christina
Sixteenth--Quentin Seventeeth--ERIC BELL 4 Eighteenth--Cat
Nineteenth--Garrett Twentieth--Johannes Twenty-First--Stephanie
Twenty-Second--Marc Twenty-Third-- Spencer Twenty-Fourth--Bobby
Twenty-Fifth--Henry,Hoang Twenty-Sixth--Karel Twenty-Seventh--Cornelius

 

You will have time in class to research your topics, ask me questions and work on your papers. You will also be able to devote evening homework time to the paper. You will need to turn in your notes at the start of class on October 27th . I will read over your notes, and be able to answer any questions you may have. The sources listed on the library pathfinder are the ONLY sources you may use, unless you ask me first.

I would like you to look at this as one essay, not three one-page papers. Try to find a theme or idea which binds the three amendments together. Some will be easy, others will be harder. Let me know if you need help. Each essay should have clear topic sentences, and I will be marking for grammar and spelling. Please make sure that you take the time to fill in some historical background about the amendments. Obviously, in the case of amendments written after 1800 you will not have studied the history in class (yet). The librarians and I will be available to help you find the information you need.

As always, I'll be available for conferencing every day--just let me know when you want to meet. Good luck, and don't hesitate to ask me any questions.