Personal tools
You are here: Home → Liberal Arts → Geography, U.S. History & Government Parts I and II - after 12/11/2007 → Module 15 - Civil Liberties - Activity 6

Module 15 - Civil Liberties - Activity 6

Document Actions
  • Send this
  • Print this
  • Content View
  • Bookmarks

Activity 1 : : Activity 2 : : Activity 3 : : Activity 4: : Activity 5 : : Activity 6

Activity 6: Taskstream

(Note: Only Teachers College students complete Tasks associated with the IOA4.)

  • Complete Task 5 in Subdomain 102.6-Social Sciences (Objective 102.6.6-13) in Taskstream.
    • Read the instructions for the task and view the rubric. By viewing the rubric ahead of time you will know what the graders are looking for.
    • Create an outline of how you will approach the task. The task is asking for a short (2-3 pages) essay.
    • Gather appropriate notes from the readings and any other resources you have found.
    • Be sure to use in-text citations where appropriate, and include a reference list.


Before you submit Task 5 for review, check to make sure you have completed the following

  • A title page
  • An introduction with a reasonable thesis statement
  • Organized body paragraphs with adequate support of the thesis
  • Appropriate and accurate in-text citations that follow the APA style
  • An adequate number of relevant sources
  • A conclusion that re-states the thesis
  • A list of references in APA style with minimal errors
  • A check to ensure formal writing tone; easy to read and follow writing style; correct structure, grammar, usage and mechanics

 

Additional clarifications for IOA4, Task 5: Majority Rule and Minority Rights

  • Some topics to consider as you address the mechanics of the majority rule/minority rights relationship:
    • What is majority rule? 
    • What are minority rights?  
    • How are these concepts described in the Constitution? 
    • Are they mutually exclusive? 
    • What governmental institutions and traditions maintain this relationship? 
    • Are there historical examples where majority rule and minority rights have come into conflict?  
    • How were these conflicts resolved? Through legislation? Through jurisprudence?
  • Some topics to consider as you address the relationship’s effect on American politics:
    • What groups does the term “minority” encompass? 
    • Has this changed since the Constitution was adopted? 
    • Are these concepts that were created in the Constitution, or did the Framers draw on historical precedents? 
    • What essential functions of a democracy are addressed by the balance between majority rule and minority rights? 
    • Are there historical examples where this balance has not been upheld, and what were the consequences for either majority or minority opinion?
  • Some links to consider for additional information on the balance between majority rule and minority rights, and the Framers’ intentions in drafting the Constitution:
 
Please feel free to contact the mentor through the U.S. History, Government and Geography community if you have any additional questions.
Copyright 2008, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. sguy. (2007, December 05). Module 15 - Civil Liberties - Activity 6. Retrieved November 21, 2009, from Western Governors University Web site: http://ocw.wgu.edu/liberal-arts/geography-u-s-history-government-parts-i-and-ii-after-11-26-07/a156.html. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons License