Name_______________________________________Period_____________________Date_____________
English 9—Research Project
Goal: To research and thoroughly understand a significant, interesting, intriguing, and/or bizarre
American court case in order to create an academic paper, visual, and presentation regarding the case
in order to inform fellow classmates.
Select a court case that seems to satisfy the above criteria. You must sign up for it; therefore, no class
has a repeat. You may select one from the following list or you may find one of your own; however,
it must be school appropriate.
 Academic Paper:
 3 to 4 page paper including work cited page.
 Possible topics to cover (should select three)
 Background of criminal
 Background of case
 Jury (how long they deliberated, verdict, significant issues they addressed)
 Importance of case
 Outcome of case
 Impact on society
 News regarding case
 Issues the case caused
 Important people included/impacted by case
 Other interesting and relevant facts
 Must tie back to Twelve Angry Men
 Must find one piece of contextual evidence
 Academic language
 Only write in third person point of view
 No slang
 No contractions
 Appropriate language and usage of court style vocabulary
 Three creditable sources
 Must use direct quotes
 Quotes must be set up and explained
o Set up: You must give credit to sources [title of article, title of
author if applicable, author’s name]
 NO Wiki!!!
 Organization
 All topics should flow
 Transition sentences must be used
 Proper paper set up
 Heading
 Double spaced—no extra spaces between paragraphs
 Two to Three FULL pages of relevant text
 Work Cited page
 Proper grammar and spelling
 Must not be bias—only facts!
 Visual Aid
 Be creative!
 Ideas
 Power Point (minimum 5 slides)
 Two Posters
 Video Documentary (not longer than 5 minutes)
 Musical Interpretation
 Trifold
 Graphic Novel
 Children’s Book
 Courtroom Sketches
 Your own option—be sure to clear it with me first!
 Should visually explain your court case, academic paper, and accompany your
presentation.
 Presentation
 Minimum 3 minutes
 Maximum 5 minutes
 Deductions will be given for 30+ seconds under/over
 You may NOT read your paper
 Must address class
 May use note cards
 Must use academic language, good volume, rate, and speech skills.
 Must include visual aid
 May use footage if available
 Cannot give presentation if academic paper is not turned in.
 Participation Points
 Every day each student is award two points for walking into the classroom.
 Being on task the entire class will allow students to keep their two points
 If teacher(s) remind students to stop talking, be on task, or catches them not
working on project the two points will be removed.
 This is nonnegotiable. Once points are removed for the day students may
not get them back.
o If issues continue detentions will be distributed
 If entire class is not on task points will be removed and checkmarks will be
given. In this case page numbers or minutes will be added to presentations.
 If absent student must write a paragraph on what they are doing outside of the class to
keep them caught up on paper, visual aid, and/or presentation.
 Conferences—Each students will be eligible for two conferences worth 5 points each.
Students must come to conferences prepared to show the development of project.
 If students come unprepared no points will be awarded.
 If students are absent on designated conference day it is their responsibility to
reschedule appointment to obtain their points.
 At all times students MUST be working on something regarding this project.
Plagiarism will cause failure of all parts of the project. No exceptions! Cite properly!!!
Rubrics and point values will be distributed Tuesday January 8th
Court Case Options
1. Dred Scott v. Sandford
2. Plessy v. Ferguson
3. Korematsu v. United States
4. Brown v. Board of Education
5. Mapp v. Ohio
6. Engel v. Vitale
7. Gideon v. Vitale
8. Gideon v. Wainright
9. Miranda v. Arizona
10. Frontiero v. Richardson
11. Loving v. Virginia
12. Gregg v. Georgia
13. Texas v. Johnson
14. Cruzan v. Missouri Department of
Health
15. United States v. Lopez
16. District of Columbia v. Heller
17. Tinker v. Des Moines
18. New Jersey v. T.L.O.
19. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
20. Georgia v. Brailsford
21. Elk v. Wilkins
22. Williams v. Mississippi
23. United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels
(More or Less) Alleged Apple Cider
Vinegar
24. Blockburger v. United States
25. South Carolina v. Ronald P. White
26. Lisenba v. People of State of California
27. Smith v. Allwright
28. United States v. Ballard
29. The United States of America vs. Josef
Altstötter
30. Roth v. United States
31. Speiser v. Randall
32. Hoyt v. Florida
33. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
34. Escobedo v. Illinois
35. Jacobellis v. Ohio
36. In re Winship
37. Williams v. Florida
38. Taylor v. Louisiana
39. O'Connor v. Donaldson
40. Rummel v. Estelle
41. Minnesota v. Clover Leaf Creamery Co.
42. Plyler v. Doe
43. Board of Education, Island Trees School
District v. Pico
44. Florida v. Royer
45. Harper & Row v. Nation Enterprises
46. Vernonia School District 47J v. Acton
47. Hercules, Inc. v. United States
48. Vacco v. Quill
49. Owasso Independent School District v.
Falvo
50. Atkins v. Virginia
51. Elk Grove Unified School District v.
Newdow
52. Gonzales v. Raich
53. Davis v. Washington
54. Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
55. Baze v. Rees
56. Ricci v. DeStefano
57. Find and select one of your own—have
approved by Ms. Brothers/Ms.
Weissmann
Selected and Approved Court Case
Student’s signature___________________________________________________________
Teacher’s signature___________________________________________________________
Tentative Due Date Calendar
Date
1/3/13
Classwork
Research Project Assigned
1/4/13
Sources Lecture
1/7/13
Quote discussion/Outline
1/8/13
1/9/13
Research day
Sign up for Conferences
Rubrics will be given
Research/Conferences
1/10/13
Research/Conferences
1/11/13
Research/Conferences
1/14/13
Conclusion Writing Lecture
Sign up for Conferences
1/15/13
Research/Conferences
1/16/13
Research/Conferences
1/17/13
Research/Conference
1/18/13
Study Guide
1/22/13
Study Guide Review
1/23/13
1/24/13
Midterm
Midterm
1/28/13
Presentations Begin!
DUE
Topic Choice
Due 1/4
Webquest
Due 1/7
Outline
Due 1/8
Productivity sheet
Due 1/9
Work Cited
Due 1/10
Quotes
Due 1/11
Productivity sheet
Due 1/14
Academic Paper 3 extra credit
points
Due 1/15 by end of class
Academic Paper 2 extra credit
points
Due 1/16 by end of class
Academic Paper
Due 1/17 by end of day
Academic Paper
Due 1/17 by end of day
Study Guide
Due 1/22
Midterms
1/23—1/24
Prepare for presentations
Due 1/28
Schedule is subject to change. Be attentive to teacher(s)’ directions and board.
Turned in?