Exploring Core Democratic Values Looking at Current Issues in the News

Lesson plan: 1. Spend time introducing the Core Democratic Values and Principles. 2. Once the class is familiar with and can define/discuss CDVs introduce the concept in the !asic !eliefs collection of news articles or "ring in articles from local papers or online news sources that demonstrate that CDVs are in pla# toda# e$er# da# in our current e$ents/issues. %. Define &pu"lic polic#' and differentiate from &Ser$ice Learning.' (. )i$e each group of four students one article to read and discuss. *ost of the articles ha$e focus +uestions to facilitate a discussion in Part , of the -cti$it#. !e read# to present .summari/e don0t read1 the article to the rest of the class and tell wh# it is representati$e of the CDV at the top of the article. Assignment: 2ind an article in an# local newspaper or online news source .*Li$e 3S4 567 etc.1 that presents a local state or national pu"lic polic# issue. Print out for class and attach to this rubric. Summari/e the article. 8 ,dentif# the CDV that is "eing de"ated. 8 ,dentif# the le$el of go$ernment that would ha$e 9urisdiction in this issue. .local state national1 AND the "ranch of go$ernment that addresses this issue )i$e the rationale for choosing the CDV #ou identified and wh# #ou said that. 8 De$elop 2:% focus +uestions that would help another student discuss the issue. 8 !e read# to present #our article to a small group and turn in.

Exploring CDVs in the News Rubric ( !E "E#$LA"E%

&n time "itle'A$A Citation % points -ssignment is on time and a$aila"le for class discussion -rticle is identified using -P- citation format ,ncluded article highlights a =.S. communit# state or national pu"lic polic# issue ;:1 mista<es in grammar spelling and/or punctuation. -rticle is summari/ed clearl# and succinctl# including all important information CDV.s1 identified correctl# Aationale for each identified CDV clearl# descri"ed Correctl# identifies the =.S. le$el of go$ernment with 9urisdiction Correctl# identifies the "ranch.es1 of =.S. go$ernment in$ol$ed 2:% focus +uestions that will facilitate discussion of the issue 1 point 3or< is posted on time "ut not "rought to class for discussion -rticle is identified "# the 7itle Date 5ews Source ,ncluded article is a"out something other than a =.S. pu"lic polic# issue .ser$ice learning etc.1 2 :% mista<es in grammar spelling and/or punctuation don0t affect understanding. -rticle is summari/ed. ,mportant info ma# "e missing or summar# includes too much info. =nclear choice@ not reall# the focus of this article Aationale for identified CDV descri"ed "ut ma# "e unclear =nclear choice or reason@ not reall# the focus of this article =nclear choice or reason@ not reall# the focus of this article 1 focus +uestion that will facilitate discussion ; points -ssignment is late. -rticle is misidentified or not identified 5o cop# of the article turned in with assignment -n# amount of mista<es in writing affect understanding -rticle summar# is missing. CDV identified incorrectl# or not identified Aationale for identified CDV not descri"ed Le$el of =.S. go$ernment missing/incorrect. !ranch.es1 of =.S. go$0t in$ol$ed missing/incorrect. 5o focus +uestions written

.=se 7emplate1
Article ( print an) inclu)e with assignment *rammar+ !pelling+ Article !ummar,

.>3s and ?1 .=se 7emplate1

CDV i)enti-ie)

.=se 7emplate1
Rationale -or each CDV

.=se 7emplate1
Le.el ogo.ernment

.=se 7emplate1
/ranch ogo.ernment

.=se 7emplate1
0ocus 1uestions

.=se 7emplate1

7otal points possi"le: %;@ 3hat do #ou thin<B CCCCCCCC 7otal points earned: CCCCCCCCCC

CDVs in the 5ews 8 =se this template to complete this assignment. Student wor< is inserted in right:hand column "elow for each section 5ame and SS7%;D Section Callie !liss SS7 %;D:;% 7itle of -rticle and -P4udge finds *ichigan ga# marriage "an unconstitutional Citation Ehalil -. .2;1( *arch 211. 4udge finds *ichigan ga# marriage "an unconstitutional. Mlive. Aetrie$ed *arch 2( 2;1( from http://www.mli$e.com/news/detroit/indeF.s Complete summar# of -rticle =.S. District 4udge !ernard 2reidman has ruled *ichigan0s ga# marriage "an .>3s and ?1 .3ho 3hat to "e unconstitutional. 7his ruling was gi$en 2rida# *arch 21 2;1(. 3hen 3here 3h# and ?owB1 ,mmediatel# following the ruling the state filed notice of appeal. 7he ruling comes almost two #ears after 4a#ne Aowse and -pril De!oer filed a lawsuit against the court after the# were prohi"ited from 9ointl# adopting their three children. 7he couple worries that if something was to happen to one of them the other ma# not get custod# of all the children. 7he plaintiffs0 law#er argued that there is no reasona"le e$idence that children must "e raised "# heteroseFual parents. Core Democratic Value.s1 1.G+ualit# 2. 4ustice Aationale for each of the CDVs 1. 7he main CDV "eing de"ated is the issue of e+ualit#. 7his article tal<s .3h# does the CDV #ou chose a"out the de"ate for e+ual rights for same:seF couples. 7his is a "ig argument fit this issueB1 whether same:seF couples "eing refused the legal rights that heteroseFual couples ha$e is unconstitutional. 7he CDV of e+ualit# means that e$er#one has the right to political legal social and economic e+ualit# which are the core issues in this article. 2. 7he CDV of 9ustice is also rele$ant to this article. 4ustice means that all people should "e treated fairl# and no indi$idual or group should "e fa$ored o$er another indi$idual or group. ,n this article it discussed same:seF couples who ha$e adopted children "eing treated the same as heteroseFual couples who ha$e adopted children. 4ustice deals with people "eing treated fairl# in the law and this article addresses eFactl# this issue. !ranch of )o$ernment 4udicial:7his is a matter of e$aluating a law which is done "# the 9udicial indicated in this issue AND how "ranch. 7he 9udicial "ranch is responsi"le for dealing with issues of the law do #ou <nowB through court cases and lawsuits. 7he# ma<e sure that 9ustice is "eing ser$ed and that the rights and laws of the constitution are "eing followed. Le$el of )o$ernment with 5ational:7he ruling of this case was done "# =.S. District 4udge !ernard 9urisdiction 8 AND how do #ou 2reidman a federal 9udge. 7he district courts are the general trial courts of <nowB the federal court s#stem. 7his lawsuit was at a district court meaning that it was at the federal or national le$el. 7he couple in this lawsuit was filing against the state of *ichigan meaning that the# ruling could not "e done at a local or state le$el. 2:% 2ocus +uestions 8 how 3hat Core Democratic Value issues do #ou see in this articleB would #ou lead a su"stanti$e Did the ruling of the 4udge $iolate or enforce the Core Democratic Values of discussion on this article as it the people in$ol$edB ,n what wa#sB relates to the Core Democratic ValuesB