Mr. Walters, US Government Project
“Rights in Action”
Of all the cherished rights in the Bill of Rights, those in the First Amendment may be the most familiar to most Americans. The First Amendment reads:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Task
Your project is to remind the people of your community how important the First Amendment is to them. You will issue a report, “Rights in Action in Our Community.” The body of your report will consist of clippings, or copies of news stories from your local newspaper that show people relying on their First Amendment Rights.
Audience
The audience of your report is the general public, especially any members of your community who have grown complacent or unappreciative of their First Amendment Rights.
Purpose
The purpose of your report is to remind citizens of your community that they have important rights, to inspire them by highlighting their neighbors actively exercising these rights, and to encourage them to exercise the rights for themselves.
Procedure
Use the Staten Island Advance hardcopy or online at www.silive.com a community newspaper as a source for the articles for your report. You can also google search articles, or use the Post, Times, etc.
For each article, write a brief annotation that summarizes the article, identifies the First Amendment rights illustrated, and explains how these rights are being put into action.
You must submit 4 articles covering Freedom of Speech, Religion, Assemble, and Press. 25 points each.
Write an appropriate introduction explaining the reports nature and purpose as well as a conclusion.
