Civil Rights Civil Liberties Short Paper Rubric CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES-PSC 311 Spring 2025

This assignment will help you explore the role of civil liberties and civil rights and focus on their historical evolution in the United States. Through this assignment you will be able to develop critical thinking and analytical skills with regard to legal issues that are presented as part of this course. You will also have the opportunity to discuss the importance of civil liberties and civil rights in contemporary society and consider future implications with regard to civil liberties and civil rights. You will be expected to explore the complexities of these concepts and reflect on their significance in today’s society and in the future of the United States. *** I have picked ‘Voting rights in the United States’. For this short paper you will be required to have ALL of the following sections that must be labeled in the short paper: 1. INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH-5 SENTENCE MINIMUM a. A brief introductory paragraph identifying the topic that you chose to focus on. Discuss the impact of your topic on the common citizen and an explanation of why this topic is so important to citizens in the United States. b. Include an attention grabber about your topic (e.g. an important case or news story that reflects on your topic) c. The last sentence of the introduction should state your own thesis/argument about the topic that you chose. 2. BODY OF THE PAPER: a. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT: (INCLUDE IN TEXT CITATIONS FOR THIS SECTION) § Discuss the historical development of the topic that you chose to write about § Discuss landmark US Supreme Court cases, historical events and societal movements that have helped to shape the current situation with regard to your topic § Use relevant examples, legal cases, and/or historical events for support b. CHALLENGES: (INCLUDE IN TEXT CITATIONS FOR THIS SECTION) § Identify and analyze at least 2-3 challenges to civil liberties and/or civil rights that have arisen over time with regard to your topic § How have those 2-3 challenges been addressed by the Supreme Court, by law, the US government and/or by society? § Use relevant examples, legal cases, and/or historical events to support your claims c. COUNTERARGUMENTS: (INCLUDE IN TEXT CITATIONS FOR THIS SECTION) § Present at least 2-3 counterarguments or opposing viewpoints about the topic that you chose and explain such counterarguments in detail § Use relevant examples, legal cases, and/or historical events to support your claims d. CONCLUSION-5 SENTENCE MINIMUM § Summarize your overall argument and main points regarding your topic § Offer a final reflection on the future of civil liberties and/or civil rights with regard to your particular topic § Discuss how society, law, or policy can change to protect these rights in the future and suggest solutions or future directions that can ensure that these rights are upheld by the Supreme Court 3. WORKS CITED PAGE: You must include a separate Works Cited page using MLA format for any sources that were used. Note: This page does not count for the required page requirement for the short paper. a. You must include in-text citations where appropriate using MLA format. b. REQUIREMENTS: A minimum total of seven (7) sources are required for your short paper distributed as follows. § Three (3) U.S. Supreme Court cases § Two (2) Scholarly Journal articles or books • Examples of scholarly journals include political science scholarly journals, law reviews or law journals, etc. § Two (2) Sources that can be your choice as long as they are from reliable and reputable sources (e.g. news or agency reports, journals, magazines, books, documentaries, etc.)