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Helpful Hints for Teachers

The assignment for the 2009 Law Day Essay Contest is to answer a public policy "should" question that fits into the theme of “A Legacy of Liberty — Celebrating Lincoln's Bicentennial.” The contest has been designed to help teachers prepare students for the MEAP and HSPT tests, while exploring the Law Day theme. On the Social Studies Assessment portion of the MEAP test, students will have to write extended-response essays that answer "should" questions and require taking a stand on public policy issues. These essays are scored based on the student's ability to clearly state a position on the issue and provide supporting information using an application of core democratic values* of American constitutional democracy, prior knowledge of history, civics, geography, or economics, and logically related data from a provided data section (usually a Supreme Court case). The Law Day Essay Contest is an excellent way to practice an extended-response with students.

*Core democratic values of American Constitutional democracy include the following constitutional principles: the rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, representative government, individual rights, federalism, civilian control of the military, and freedom of religion. Fundamental beliefs include: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, truth, justice, equality, diversity, popular sovereignty, and patriotism.

Possible "should" questions are posted on this Website. Students and teachers are also able to create their own "should" questions that fit into the theme so long as they use the Supreme Court cases that are listed.

The MEAP requirement to use supporting information from a provided data section is replaced by a research requirement. At least one Supreme Court opinion or other research tip is listed for each of the "should" questions. Research should help the student gain a deeper understanding of the public policy issue and provide more thoroughly reasoned support for the position taken. Looking at a Supreme Court opinion will be an educational experience. The Supreme Court opinions do not need to be read or understood in their entirety. The idea is to gain historical insight or a perspective on a related public policy issue. Often, footnote and anecdotal information will be helpful. Students may also find articles or books that summarize or discuss the cases.

If you have any parents that are lawyers or know a lawyer, invite them to talk to your class about the Supreme Court cases that the students have chosen. Lawyers can be very good mentors for this project.

If you want a mentor to help you with this contest, contact Mary Ann Farris at fmaunique@aol.com.

If you would like to receive the optional inter-active CD, featuring an instructional program highlighting the U.S. Supreme Court, please e-mail fmaunique@aol.com with your name and post office address. Limit one per teacher. Use of the disc is optional.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO START:
(This will help the student decide what question to use.)

Read the "Should" questions. The following is a general procedural help in choosing a question:

First you need to pick which "Should" question that you want to write about. Read each question. Choose one that appeals to you. Download the PDF of the Supreme Court case for the question. You may wish to read part of the opinion of the court. You do not need to read the entire case. Read the summary of this case. Do this for some of the other questions that are of interest to you. With this background, you will then be able to decide which question you would like to write about.

After you are familiar with the contest rules & requirements, decided what question you want to write about, go to links at the bottom of the Law Day first page and read some of the past winning essays. Notice their structure and what they included in their essay to support their position.

Information Sources for the Law Day Essay

    1. Research at your local library. Some possibilities that can be found at most public libraries:

    • Grolier Educational Corp., The United States Supreme Court Encyclopedia, George J. Lankevich, Editor.
    • Land Mark Decisions of the United States Supreme Court, a Series edited by: Maureen Harrison and Steve Gilbert, published by Excellent Books.
    • Other books or newspaper or periodical articles that relate to the topic or court case.

    2. Research on the internet:

    • Use FirstSearch at http://firstsearch.oclc.org/html/fs_pswd.htm to find books, articles, films, and other types of material on the subject you need. Your local library will give you a password to access this website at home. Type in your authorization and password, click on start button, choose an appropriate database.
    • Electric Library Elementary at www.elibrary.com/s/k6/ Your local library will give you a password to access this website at home. Easy research tool for K-6 students. Full text database.

    The following Websites cannot be accessed from the home computer; all libraries and schools should have these sites available for your use (you may e-mail any of the search results to your home computer):

    AccessMichigan at http://accessmichigan.org/electric.htm A Website available at all schools to search full text databases below. Links to the following databases:

    MEL (Michigan Electronic Library) at http://mel.org/databases.html A Website available at all schools to search full text database.

    SIRS at http://discoverer.sirs.com SIRS Discover Deluxe is a full-text database geared toward elementary and middle school students (grades 1 through 9.) The database provides information from more than 1100 sources, a 26,000 article encyclopedia, and more.

    3. This Website. Here you can find all the information for the State Law Day Essay Contest and pertinent links. Teachers and students can see how the essays are scored (a process similar to scoring for the MEAP test). "Should" questions that students can use will be posted here. If you have ideas for a "should" question, let us know and we will post it on the Website. You can also read last year's winning essays on this Website.

    4. Sources of core democratic values of American constitutional democracy include: the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other significant documents, speeches, and writings of the nation. Core democratic values are the fundamental beliefs and constitutional principles of American society. Encourage students to study the part of the constitution that relates to their chosen essay topic. Constitutional principles include: the rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, representative government, individual rights, federalism, civilian control of the military, and freedom of religion. Fundamental beliefs include: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, truth, justice, equality, diversity, popular sovereignty, and patriotism.