Grade+7+-+Language+Arts

=7th Grade Language Arts=

=Inherit the Wind Research - Mrs. Sweeney=

Working in pairs, create a PowerPoint presentation on one of the topics listed below. A Works Cited / Consulted slide must be included. Create a folder on NoodleTools titled: Inherit. You do not need to share with a drop box for this assignment. You can copy the contents of the folder to your PowerPoint. You do not need to annotate the source.
 * Directions **//**:**//

Keep in mind that that this topic is controversial and some of the resources you will be using will have a bias. You will need to detect the bias when interpreting the sources.


 * Topics: **
 * The Scopes Monkey Trial
 * Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution
 * Creationism and Intelligent Design
 * Censorship: Who determines what is taught in the classroom?
 * Women: their role from post World War I to post World War II
 * The controversy of teaching evolution in the schools today
 * What current events were happening in the United States during the mid-1920's?
 * Describe the criminal justice system
 * Careers in the following: criminal justice / journalism / education

** Background info: **

Many of the same issues that were a source of conflict in the Scopes Trial are still under debate today in 2012. Your research will need to focus on the current status of the teaching of evolution and the belief in Creationism, or Intelligent Design. Information is also provided on the First Amendment (censorship). You need to consider the concept of Academic Freedom (for education) and the tension that exists between some religious beliefs and scientific fact.

Key words to begin with are "creationism" or "intelligent design". You should know a little bit about Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution (but //not// the current theory of Social Darwinism) and Fundamentalist religion. Add to the keywords as you develop your research.

Begin your research with one or two essential questions. For example: why was Darwin's theory so revolutionary? Why did he wait so long before publishing it? How did it affect education? science? religion?


 * Sources: **
 * **Databases** - Keep in mind that these articles will give you the factual information but may not have the most current (as in: today) information on creationism or current court or school board challenges to teaching evolution. For current up to date news articles, use the "News" tab on Gale Student Resource Center Junior. You will need to know about the First Amendment and evolution and using the reference articles in the databases will provide a foundation for this. For scientific descriptions of evolution, etc. use Marshall Cavendish //Exploring Life Science// or //Encyclopedia of Life Sciences.//
 * **InfoTrac** - Located on the Gale database. Select this for current news stories on the topic.
 * **Print** - Several print resources are also available and should be referenced. These resources are available on the book truck and are listed in the "Inherit" Resource List. This list can be accessed from the left hand menu of the Destiny catalog: Resource Lists / Public Tab**​**
 * Some of the Reference books on the Resource List are available as e-books on the **Gale Virtual Reference Library** database: //Bowling, Beatniks and Bellbottoms, UXL American Decades, UXL Complete Life Science Resource, UXL Encyclopedia of Science//

Web Links
Remember to use WebPath Express on Destiny. Searching "creationism" brings up a simply explained site from //​How Stuff Works//​, with follow up links to "intelligent design" and "evolution"


 * Butler Act **
 * Tennessee Anti-evolution Statutes (1925)
 * Butler Act repeal


 * Court Cases **
 * There have been many court cases challenging the teaching of evolution in public schools. See the print reference titles. One recent case in particular occurred in 2005 outside Harrisburg, Pa, in the Dover Area School District. Use the links below to for more information.
 * Kitzmiller v. Dover - This webpage from the National Center for Science Education provides a synopsis of the case and the ruling, as well as additional links on the testimony and similar cases. A Google search using the court case as a search term will turn up more information.
 * Intelligent Design on Trial - PBS Nova site that focused on the Kitzmiller case and follow up links, including a link defending the teaching of Intelligent Design.


 * Creationism / Intelligent Design **
 * What is Intelligent Design?
 * Intelligent Design
 * Intelligent Designs on Evolution
 * New York Times Topics


 * Education **
 * National Center for Science Education - "Can's and Cant's of Teaching Evolution"
 * National Council of Social Studies Teachers - Position paper on the procedure for teaching Intelligent Design.
 * Intelligent Design in American Classrooms
 * National Center for Science Education


 * Evolution **
 * Darwin


 * First Amendment **
 * The First Amendment Center -This portion of the First Amendment blog (not a website) specifically addresses evolution
 * The First Amendment Center - This portion of the blog specifically addresses Intelligent Design
 * First Amendment Schools


 * The Scopes Trial **
 * A Monkey on Tennessee's Back
 * Famous Trials in American History
 * Scopes Monkey Trial
 * The Scopes Trial - This Digital History website offers an overview of the trial and the events leading up to it.

Moot Court - Ms. Haas

 * Objective **: Using the First Amendment as a guide, you will explore the concept of academic freedom in today's society and use a moot court format to determine how the Scopes Trial would be decided if it were to take place in 2012.

A moot court is not the same as a mock trial. A mock trial includes witnesses, testimony and cross examinations by the attorneys for the prosecution and defense. A moot court follows the same preparation as a trial, but instead of witnesses, the emphasis is on the oral arguments of the prosecution and the defense. A judge will question the attorneys. It is important to be able to state your case precisely. The Moot Court Honor Society has additional information on conducting a moot court, as well as tips for oral arguments.

Many of the same issues that were a source of conflict in the Scopes Trial are still under debate today in 2012. Your research will need to focus on the current status of the teaching of evolution and the belief in Creationism, or Intelligent Design. Information is provided on the Scopes Trial as way of background, but your primary investigation will consider the First Amendment, the concept of Academic Freedom (both topics will be further addressed when on the Censorship / Banned Books unit in Library class), and the tension that exists between some religious beliefs and scientific fact.

Key words to begin with are "creationism" or "intelligent design". You should know a little bit about Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution (but not the current theory of Social Darwinism) and Fundamentalist religion. Add to the keywords as you develop your research.

Web Links
**Butler Act**
 * Tennessee Anti-evolution Statutes (1925)
 * Butler Act repeal

**Court Cases**
 * There have been many court cases challenging the teaching of evolution in public schools. See the print reference titles. One recent case in particular occurred in 2005 outside Harrisburg, Pa, in the Dover Area School District. Use the links below to for more information.
 * Kitzmiller v. Dover - This webpage from the National Center for Science Education provides a synopsis of the case and the ruling, as well as additional links on the testimony and similar cases. A Google search using the court case as a search term will turn up more information.
 * Intelligent Design on Trial - PBS Nova site that focused on the Kitzmiller case and follow up links


 * Creationism / Intelligent Design **
 * What is Intelligent Design?
 * Intelligent Design
 * Intelligent Designs on Evolution
 * New York Times Topics


 * Education **
 * National Center for Science Education - "Can's and Cant's of Teaching Evolution"
 * National Council of Social Studies Teachers - Position paper on the procedure for teaching Intelligent Design.
 * Intelligent Design in American Classrooms
 * National Center for Science Education

**Evolution**
 * Darwin

**First Amendment**
 * The First Amendment Center -This portion of the First Amendment blog (not a website) specifically addresses evolution
 * The First Amendment Center - This portion of the blog specifically addresses Intelligent Design
 * First Amendment Schools


 * The Scopes Trial **
 * A Monkey on Tennessee's Back
 * Famous Trials in American History
 * Scopes Monkey Trial
 * The Scopes Trial - This Digital History website offers an overview of the trial and the events leading up to it.

= = =The Giver research: Euthanasia & Corporal Punishment=

Use the following resources to gather information on your topic.

 * **Databases** - Keep in mind that these articles, including the general encyclopedias, will give you the factual information but they may not have the most current (as in: today) information on euthanasia or corporal punishment (not capital punishment) in schools. For current up to date news articles, use the "News" tab on Gale Student Resource Center Junior.


 * **InfoTrac** - Located on the Gale database. Select this for current news stories on the topic.


 * **Print** - Several print resources are also available on the book truck and should be reference

Some keywords to consider as you begin your research: //euthanasia, right to die, death with dignity, assisted suicide, advanced directives, Karen Ann Quinlan, Nancy Cruzan, Terry Schiavo, Dr. Jack Kervorkian.// When researching corporal punishment, make sure to do an advanced search and link the two terms with the "and" Boolean operator and use quotes: "corporal punishment" AND schools or "corporal punishment" AND education. As you continue with your research, add new search terms as you dig deeper into the topics.

** Euthanasia **
Compassion in Dying - This website promotes a choice in death.

Death With Dignity - Newspaper article reviewing Karen Ann Quinlan's right to die case from the 1970's.

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide - This website from Religious Tolerance explains the terms used to describe euthanasia and assisted suicide as well as discussing reasons for these practices.

Euthanasia - This organization is opposed to voluntary euthanasia.

Euthanasia Pro / Con - This website provides a balanced discussion of the arguments for and against the right-to-die.

The Hippocratic Oath Today - How has Hippocrate's oath (the father of medicine) been adapted for today's society? Physicians for Compassionate Care opposes physician-assisted suicide.

Historical Timeline - An annotated timeline by year with linked legal testimony.

Gonzalez v. Oregon - This discusses the Supreme Court decision that allows assisted suicide in specific cases.

The National Right to Life - This organization promotes pro-life, from conception to death. See the pull down menu of "Issues".

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization - This organization is concerned with improving end-of-life care.

To Live Each Day in Dignity - Read what the U.S. Conference of Bishops teach about assisted suicide.

Patient's Rights Council - This website includes a collection of links and an explanation of advanced directives.

Road from Quinlan to Schiavo - A bioethics professor examines several well know court cases regarding the right to die. See also: Cruzan v Missouri Dept. of Health

Vatican Declaration on Euthanasia - Pope John Paul II's declaration examines euthanasia, the meaning of suffering and the use of remedies when death is imminent.

Washington State Death with Dignity Act - This website discusses the state law that allows terminally ill adults to choose assisted suicide under certain conditions. Very similar to the Oregon law of the same name.

World Laws on Assisted Suicide - This website offers information on how governments regulate assisted suicide.

The World Federation of Right to Die Societies - Links to organizations that support right-to-die legislation.

Corporal Punishment in Schools
American Civil Liberties Union - Outlines the rights of children; includes blogs and additional resources

Corporal Punishment in U.S. Schools - Time Magazine article provides statistics and defines corporal punishment.

Corporal Punishment by state - Where is it legal?

H.R. 3027 - "Ending Corporal Punishment is Schools" bill. What is the status? More information on this bill and description of its aims.

Human Rights / ACLU Corporal Punishment - Examines the relationship between corporal punishment and academic success. Note the date and purpose of this testimony.

Ingraham v. Wright - This Supreme Court case centered on claims by a student that corporal punishment violated the 8th and 14th amendments. Listen to the oral arguments.

Spanking Law Upheld - Canada's Supreme Court weighs in on spanking children.

The Center for Effective Discipline - Discusses the effects of corporal punishment on children. Includes statistics.

Why Are We Still Hitting? - Examines the use of corporal punishment and alternatives to the practice.

=Language Arts - 7th Grade=


 * General Poetry Resources**

See also the databases on the Meyers Library Destiny homepage. Gale Virtual Reference Library includes biographical databases and Harlem Renaissance database.

[|American Academy of Poets] - Includes biographical information on poets as well as a selection of poetry.

[|Library of Congress Poetry Center] - Hear audiocasts by poets laureate. This is also the official site of the poet laureate.

[|Modern American Poetry] - Over 150 biographies of poets and analysis of their works.

[|Poetry Archives] - Archive includes full-text poetry and can be searched by author, poem title, and first line.

[|Poetry Foundation] - Search by author or poem title. Part of the [|PBS Newshour Poetry] site.

[|Poet's Corner] - Free site sponsored by Gale. Includes biographical information and selected poems.

Individual Poet Links