Media, Free Speech, and The Paradox of Democracy

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.6  Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual…

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Voting, Voice and the Constitution

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1  Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4  Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such…

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Copyright Basics

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1.a Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons,…

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Copyright Rubric

Assignment review: Create your own graphic of your understanding including a headline, visual, basic definition, student journalism link, and exceptions to copyright law. Please put your sources at the bottom right-hand corner. Students could either use an online infographic app or draw it and take a picture to upload or send to the teacher.  …

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Basic Libel Law

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish,…

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Understanding and Promoting Student Press Rights

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such…

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Examining states’ student free expression status

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1.a Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1.c Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the…

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Protest songs and the First Amendment

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts and issues, building…

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Overview of the First Amendment

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.9 Analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance (e.g., Washington’s Farewell Address, the Gettysburg Address, Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech, King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”), including how they address related themes and concepts. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and…

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SPLC Media Law Presentation: Press Freedom

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning (e.g., in U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and dissents) and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy (e.g., The Federalist, presidential addresses). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.9 Analyze seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and…

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