the Unit 1: Civics and Citizenship Lessons (pdf) - The Ronald ...
the Unit 1: Civics and Citizenship Lessons (pdf) - The Ronald ...
the Unit 1: Civics and Citizenship Lessons (pdf) - The Ronald ...
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III. Optional EnrichmentAppendixAppendixOptional Essay PromptsOftentimes, teachers want to capitalize on student interest on a lesson, or find that a class truly responds to one area ofa curriculum unit. We have included essay prompts for each lesson should a teacher want to exp<strong>and</strong> on a topic.Lesson 1: <strong>Citizenship</strong>• Narrative Essay: Write about an experience in your life where you became aware of your citizenship status.• Descriptive Essay: Choose your favorite quote from <strong>the</strong> Quotation Exploration activity <strong>and</strong> describe how aperson can live by that example.Lesson 2: Rights <strong>and</strong> Limits• Definition Essay: Write an essay describing personal rights, political rights, <strong>and</strong> economic rights. Use <strong>the</strong>Declaration of Independence <strong>and</strong> Bills of Rights as a basis for your writing.• Persuasive essay: Choose <strong>the</strong> amendment from <strong>the</strong> Bill of Rights that you feel is most needed in Americansociety. Defend your choice with examples of how society would suffer without this freedom.Lesson 3: Roles <strong>and</strong> Responsibilities• Compare/Contrast Essay: Compare <strong>the</strong> varying rights <strong>and</strong> responsibilities of non-citizens (aliens), naturalizedcitizens, <strong>and</strong> natural born citizens.• Persuasive Essay: Defend positions regarding civic responsibilities of citizens in our American constitutionaldemocracy.Lesson 4: Civil Disobedience• Persuasive Essay: Upon reading <strong>the</strong> background on Thoreau (found in lesson 4), do you agree with his forms ofprotest (i.e. not paying taxes)?• Definition Essay: Thoreau’s works, including “Civil Disobedience,” influenced both Moh<strong>and</strong>as G<strong>and</strong>hi <strong>and</strong>Martin Lu<strong>the</strong>r King Jr. in <strong>the</strong>ir “creative protests.” Define peaceful protests <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir effectiveness in history.Lesson 5: Private vs. Public Character• Descriptive Essay: Henry Clay, “<strong>The</strong> Great Compromiser,” negotiated compromises between <strong>the</strong> North <strong>and</strong>South during <strong>the</strong> Nullification Crisis. Upon reading his eulogy, identify three beliefs or traits that made him anoutst<strong>and</strong>ing citizen.• Persuasive Essay: Can a person with failures in <strong>the</strong>ir personal character be a good citizen?Lesson 6: Civic Dispositions• Compare/Contrast Essay: Compare <strong>and</strong> contrast <strong>the</strong> ideas presented in <strong>the</strong> following two quotes:“A well instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.” - James Madison“How fortunate for governments that <strong>the</strong> people <strong>the</strong>y administer don’t think.” - Adolf Hitler• Persuasive Essay: Select three traits that are <strong>the</strong> most valuable civic dispositions that an individual can possess<strong>and</strong> defend your value of <strong>the</strong>se traits over three lesser traits using examples.Lesson 7: Civic Participation• Narrative Essay: Write about how you have demonstrated or plan to demonstrate responsible participation inAmerican democracy.• Persuasive Essay: Of <strong>the</strong> thirteen traits (VOTE-C) listed as necessary for an effective <strong>and</strong> productive citizen,choose <strong>the</strong> three most important <strong>and</strong> defend your choicesSummative:• Descriptive Essay: What does it mean to be a good citizen? Provide personal commentary on <strong>the</strong> topic <strong>and</strong>cover key points related to U.S. citizenship, such as accepting responsibility, <strong>and</strong> adhering to moral principles.• Cause <strong>and</strong> Effect Essay: Evaluate how civic responsibilities <strong>and</strong> participation attribute to <strong>the</strong> development ofdemocratic values in America?Essay TemplateThis is a basic essay template that you can use or modify as needed.I. Introduction: (Brief <strong>and</strong> specific, includes main idea or argument of your paper)a. Hook: (Attention grabber)b. <strong>The</strong>sis: (Topic or point of your essay)II. Body Paragraph # 1: (Main idea of this paragraph)a. Topic Sentence:b. Support: (Fact, evidence, quote supporting main idea of this paragraph)i. Explanation: (State <strong>and</strong> extend Support over in your own words)ii. Explanation: (Explain importance of your Support)c. Support: (Fact, evidence, quote supporting main idea of this paragraph)i. Explanation: (State <strong>and</strong> extend Support over in your own words)ii. Explanation: (Explain importance of your Support)d. Concluding Sentence: (Re-read explanation <strong>and</strong> restate main idea of paragraph)III. Body Paragraph # 2:a. Topic Sentence:b. Support: (Fact, evidence, quote supporting main idea of this paragraph)i. Explanation: (State <strong>and</strong> extend Support over in your own words)ii. Explanation: (Explain importance of your Support)c. Support: (Fact, evidence, quote supporting main idea of this paragraph)154 155
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