Writing across the Constitution: A Multi-theme Reader for Citizens and Writers
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2017
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Writing across the Constitution: A Multi-theme Reader for Citizens and Writers is a unique composition reader that organizes its topics for discussion and writing around the Constitution of the United States of America. It presents a variety of timely controversial issues–such as free speech, gun control, capital punishment, illegal drugs, same-sex marriage, and many other issues that spring directly from the Bill of Rights and the other amendments to the Constitution. Students have the opportunity to research, discuss, and write about these topics while learning about themselves and the world in which they live.
While other composition readers similarly contain chapters on controversial issues, their topics are largely chosen at the whim of the authors. There seems to be no integrating concept for the books as a whole. While Writing across the Constitution also contains a variety of topics, it is at the same time thematically integrated, making it unlike any other reader on the market.
With its unique method of organization and compelling topics, Writing across the Constitution, as its name suggests, is truly a “writing across the curriculum” textbook. We hope it will be a very flexible tool for instructors of composition, political science, history, sociology, and many other disciplines in which writing is a component and critical thinking is a requirement.
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION: WE THE PEOPLE
CHAPTER ONE: MAKING A CIVIL ARGUMENT
Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
The Toulmin Method
Logical Fallacie
Research
A Note on Plagiarism and Sources
Summaries
Paraphrases
Direct Quotation
CHAPTER TWO: CHURCH AND STATE
Amendment I
Introduction
Alfred T. Goodwin, “from ‘The Opinion: Newdow vs. U.S. Congress’”
Lauve H. Steenhuisen, “Religion in the Public Square”
Noah Feldman, “God, Government, and You”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER THREE: PARTIALLY FREE SPEECH
Amendment I
Introduction
Richard Delgado, “Hate Cannot Be Tolerated”
Tim Robbins, “A Chill Wind Is Blowing in this Nation
Eric Foner, “The Most Patriotic Act”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER FOUR: GUNS IN POST-COLUMBINE AMERICA
Amendment II
Introduction
John R. Lott, Jr., “Take a Gun to the Mall”
The Times Editorial Board, “Ban These ‘Cop Killer’ Bullets”
Ryan Phillips, “Georgia Senate OKs Concealed Carry for College Campuses”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER FIVE: PRIVACY VERSUS SECURITY
Amendment IV
Introduction
www.lifeandliberty.gov, “The USA Patriot Act: Preserving Life and Liberty”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER SIX: DUE PROCESS AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM
Amendment V
Introduction
Jonathan Alter, “Time To Think about Torture”
Richard A. Posner, “Security versus Civil Liberties”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER SEVEN: CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE MEDIA
Amendment VI
Introduction
Jan E. DuBois, “Keep Cameras Out”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER EIGHT: CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT
Amendment VIII
Introduction
J. Edgar Hoover, “Statements in Favor of the Death Penalty”
Aris Pinedo, Jasmine Brown, and Alexa Valiente, “Why an Ohio Judge Is Using Unusual Punishments To Keep People Out of Jail”
Gene Demby, “Is Corporal Punishment Abuse? Why that’s a Loaded Question”
Suggestions for Research and Writing
CHAPTER NINE: THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS
Amendment XVIII
Amendment XXI
Marijuana as Medicine
Suggestions for Research and Writing
APPENDIX: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
MORE SUGGESTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND WRITING
INDEX
WORKS CITED
ABOUT THE AUTHOR